I'm still holding to my original preference for the EC Leviathan, and am not interested in the Moth.  I trust what Analixus and purrin are doing on the project, and am fine with a higher price for the best SQ option for the group buy.  I'm indifferent to cosmetics as long as the casing isn't a cardboard box.

The discussion earlier in the thread is pretty fascinating.  Love reading about all the research that's gone into this, especially on the transformers, as I've never heard the difference of upgraded transformers in an amp before.

I'm fine either way on the PS tubes.  There's not much risk of them being on the outside, is there?  I do wish there could be some sort of 5 minute startup relay delay rather than two power switches (assuming that would idiot-proof the amp, kind of like how the BHSE has a 2 minute delay on startup), but I'll just be careful not to turn on the amp while fumbling around in the dark.

Btw, re Tari's post, is that $12k Leviathan price tag referring to a special version?

To be clear, there is a risk to consider.  The gas tube rectifiers put out a lot of voltage, 500 volts to be exact.  If something comes loose and you decide to touch it w/o turning the PS off, you could be getting more than twice the 240v that is less than child friendly in Europe.  I mean, it's not as bad as 1300 volts, just ask Craig.

I've tried pushing for the relay many times, Craig is not having it.  He didn't even want to do this PS because of cost, complexity, danger, potential support issues, etc.  At this point I'll take what I can get.  The relay is a problem if you use the Xenon tubes as they don't need 5 minutes and not all Mercury tubes will need five minutes either.  Some will be 2, 3, 7 or more.  Depends on their manufacture and state of usage and storage.  So you can see the complexity.  If a user can manage bias adjustment on the BA, the PS switch should be a non-issue on this amp. Mercury vapor vaporizes and turns completely clear through the tube, turn on B+ = Music.

You can put me down for a Levi.  Don't care where the PS tube is, but if being inside the chassis dries out components at all then I suppose external.  I'll also go on the Moth build as "interested"- depending on how much I like the Levi I'd also get the Moth.

Those are the best kind.


Elysian, just to be clear that previous post was a joke.