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Author Topic: Eddie Current Electra Q&A  (Read 12756 times)

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Marvey

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Eddie Current Electra Q&A
« on: July 12, 2012, 09:51:56 PM »
Couple of answers:
  • Pricing will be just below $4k with the changes. He went far above the $2.8k target, but honestly at that price, it was just too shitty sounding. There's a reason why I sort of kept my mouth shut. Other than the fact that I didn't want to comment on something still being tweaked. The latest changes are almost a re-design. And the amp sounds much different than from what people heard at T.H.E SHOW. Although it seemed that most people who heard it at T.H.E SHOW liked it.
  • It's possible there may be early-bird pricing a la S7. $3.5k?
  • The BHSE has never been a favorite of mine. It's a little flat sounding to me. Not as flat as the KGSS, which I feel is very flat sounding. What the BHSE provides is excellent control over the driver, great treble and bass extension.  But the bass doesn't slam (I'm a slight bass-head). The BHSE does cover all the technicalities very well, has an incredible amount of refinement, but I never found it involving sounding. It's one of the reasons I sold off my SR-009s early on in favor of keeping the BA and staying with dynamics - that is until the T2DIY.
  • I like the LL. The only thing is that I look to see what's inside the box. And then I have hard time with the price. I have nothing against Alex and I actually love a lot of his designs. Honestly, I need more experience with the LL to say more about it.
  • Electra is now using EL34s instead of 6L6s. EL34 have more low-end.
  • The previous iteration of the Electra was just too muddy and veiled. Honestly, I felt the BA (KR PX4) right next to it with the LCD2r2 was better sounding than the Electra+SR009
  • The revised Electra is a totally different sounding amp. Whereas the SR007mk2.5 just sounded like mush with high-frequency rolloff on the previous iteration, the SR007mk2.5 sounds really darn good. Treble is extended. Bass is controlled (but still not as good as the T2DIY.) The T2DIY still has better driver control and precision over the Electra.
  • The revised Electra still maintains the strong bass and lushness, but it now also has that trademark Eddie Current "speed."
  • T2DIY "gets of out of the way" more. The Electra is about on par with the ZD or any other EC amp in terms of getting out of the way, which in proper context still means better than anything else except for the Dynahi or T2DIY.
I'm trying to get in a lot of listening these next two days to see which amp I gravitate towards to.
« Last Edit: July 12, 2012, 10:17:38 PM by purrin »
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Tari

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Re: Eddie Current Electra Q&A
« Reply #1 on: July 12, 2012, 10:16:57 PM »
That pricing is actually a good thing in some ways - many on HF think pricing is always in direct correlation with quality.  Therefore, a 2.8K Electra would have been second tier.  At that price though I would like Craig to maybe spruce up the chassis a little bit - nothing fancy, maybe a piano gloss top plate option like the BA has if possible.

I have the KGSSHV and if by flat you mean uninvolving I hear you. But when I want that I always have my dynamic rig.  I feel like neutrality to the source and an "involving" sound (which I'm bringing up, maybe I'm misunderstanding your meaning of "flat") are largely mutually exclusive. 

I agree with you on the LL - I enjoyed my time with it, but I personally have a hard time with the price.  It's all a sliding scale though - comparative to the BOM on the Electra it may not be as much of a "value", but relative to so many other things in audio it is.

I really hope this is the final prototype iteration so I can get my pre-order in.

 

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Marvey

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Re: Eddie Current Electra Q&A
« Reply #2 on: July 12, 2012, 10:28:37 PM »
I'm sure the production version will look better considering how the S7 changed from prototype (WTF is that!) to production (Wow, that's nice and cute). Just be sure to mention a gloss panel on top to him.

As far as the "flat" thing, it's a matter of micro-dynamics and quick little swings in volume which to me bring immediacy to recordings. The Orpheus does this very well. So does the BA with a capable dynamic.

This should be the final prototype. There's nothing which can be done to the existing design without creating an essentially different design. I don't think Craig would have brought it over to my house (1 hour drive at least, more in LA traffic) if he didn't feel confident about it - considering that Anax (Mike) and I gave it a thorough trashing a very constructive critique last time we heard it. And Craig knew it sucked too. He just desperately wanted to hit below a $3k price point.

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MuppetFace

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Re: Eddie Current Electra Q&A
« Reply #3 on: July 12, 2012, 10:48:36 PM »
This is good news. While I liked the thought of another sub-$3k commercial stat amp, I think it's better that Craig show just what he's capable of, and if that means more expense so be it.

Since I've decided to sell off most of my collection and stick with a few favorites, I'll be in the market for some new amps. On the stat front I'm in that predictable position of trying to decide between the LL, BHSE, and Electra. It's really between the latter two, mainly.
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rhythmdevils

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Re: Eddie Current Electra Q&A
« Reply #4 on: July 12, 2012, 10:54:19 PM »
Quote from: Tari on July 12, 2012, 10:16:57 PM
I feel like neutrality to the source and an "involving" sound (which I'm bringing up, maybe I'm misunderstanding your meaning of "flat") are largely mutually exclusive. 

I disagree.  If something sounds "off" (to a rational, experienced person) that is most likely a deviation from source.  Neutral/accurate/true to source is all qualities at once, and none at the same time. 
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Marvey

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Re: Eddie Current Electra Q&A
« Reply #5 on: July 12, 2012, 10:56:34 PM »
Quote from: MuppetFace on July 12, 2012, 10:48:36 PM
BHSE, and Electra. It's really between the latter two, mainly.


Get both. The BHSE is a two year wait anyways. The Electra probably six months.
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Tari

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Re: Eddie Current Electra Q&A
« Reply #6 on: July 12, 2012, 11:03:02 PM »
Quote from: rhythmdevils on July 12, 2012, 10:54:19 PM
Quote from: Tari on July 12, 2012, 10:16:57 PM
I feel like neutrality to the source and an "involving" sound (which I'm bringing up, maybe I'm misunderstanding your meaning of "flat") are largely mutually exclusive. 

I disagree.  If something sounds "off" (to a rational, experienced person) that is most likely a deviation from source.  Neutral/accurate/true to source is all qualities at once, and none at the same time.

I guess what I mean by "involving" is "forcibly involving" instead of just "naturally involving."  I believe this is just a matter of different people using different syntax. 
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LFF

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Re: Eddie Current Electra Q&A
« Reply #7 on: July 13, 2012, 04:38:59 AM »
Can't wait to hear this tomorrow!  :)p1 :)p7 :)p2
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Re: Eddie Current Electra Q&A
« Reply #8 on: July 13, 2012, 04:11:21 PM »
Thanks for the assessment Marv. Also wished I lived in SoCal right now  :)p12
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dBel84

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Re: Eddie Current Electra Q&A
« Reply #9 on: July 13, 2012, 05:07:46 PM »
I don't want to distract from the Electra by derailing into a cost discussion but as this has been commented on a few times I feel it worth noting, at least in regards to the LL. There are more than a few hidden costs in the LL which betray it's "off the shelf" appearance. Aside from custom metal work and painting etc the jack's were a custom design and manufacture ( albeit a tight fit ) , the piezo switch is custom made in 2 stages ( a pia and possibly not worth it ) , the FETs which have caused a little rumbling are not something you can order from mouser because they are both high voltage and low capacitance, the braces, pot extension , coupling etc . The actual BOM is obviously a small part of the total accrued cost but it is the fact that there are so many custom parts that makes its production an expensive venture. I know Alex has scouted for more common "off the shelf" parts to see if he could keep costs down and it may come to a redesign in order to do this. I am not sure how Craig does it but he manages to manufacture at what I would consider less than an optimal profit margin to keep the business going. Kudos to that ! ( edit - to clarify , I think it should cost $5-7K )

back to the subject at hand, the Electra sounds very promising indeed. Hopefully Tari will get his hands on one and I will be able to hear it too, or I may have to trek up to RMAF again this year. Has the look changed at all Marv or is it all internal ? 

..dB

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« Last Edit: July 13, 2012, 05:40:32 PM by dBel84 »
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