CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS

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Author Topic: bottlehead mainline  (Read 737 times)

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Judeus

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bottlehead mainline
« on: September 27, 2015, 12:51:39 AM »

http://bottlehead.com/?product=mainline-headphone-amplifier-kit

any reason why this isn't talked about more?
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shipsupt

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Re: bottlehead mainline
« Reply #1 on: September 27, 2015, 02:21:47 AM »

I think only a few have built one here, and a few others have heard it. I think Mr Rodgers did a build. Mine was almost finished before I had to pack for a move.

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Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

DubiousMike

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Re: bottlehead mainline
« Reply #2 on: September 27, 2015, 04:39:24 AM »

I was in on the preorder and am still totally enamored with mine two years later.  I had hoped to bring it along to the early summer meet in monrovia, but life got in the way.  Maybe next time.

There is another changstar thread on the topic but it kind of fizzled: http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,1601.0.html
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MisterRogers

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Re: bottlehead mainline
« Reply #3 on: September 27, 2015, 01:09:40 PM »

Mainline really is a fantastic amp. It has a very smooth, refined sound to it. The only reason I sold mine, is, well... I'm restless; there's always one more amp to listen to / own. I have to say though, owning a modded S7 and waiting for my Studio - I'm finding I very much like the EC house sound. It tends toward, natural and very dynamic.
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cspirou

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Re: bottlehead mainline
« Reply #4 on: September 27, 2015, 03:23:15 PM »

I wonder how it compares to the Woo WA7 since that is also a 6c45pi amp.
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DubiousMike

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Re: bottlehead mainline
« Reply #5 on: September 27, 2015, 05:38:50 PM »

The WA7 is desktop art, not a serious amp.  The now discontinued ECP L2 is the only fairly comparable production amp to the mainline.  Although employing some different tricks, both are highly regulated, constant current loaded, parafeed amps, running 6c45pi's, and designed by guys who really know their stuff. 

I also agree with misterrogers that eddie current amps have a great house sound.   If I didn't own a mainline and was looking to buy a [prebuilt] tube amp, I would look no further than Eddie Current (or ECP, whenever Doug puts out his next tube amp.  As an aside, his upcoming Torpedo 3 hybrid kit sounds like it is going to be amazing).
« Last Edit: September 29, 2015, 06:00:17 AM by DubiousMike »
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