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Author Topic: RUMOR MILL: EC 4x2A3  (Read 5492 times)

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gurubhai

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Re: RUMOR MILL: EC 4x2A3
« Reply #20 on: May 08, 2013, 04:20:35 PM »
^ These tubes have a filament rating of 5 Amp.
You can't just slip them into any tube rectifier PS, most likely you would end up frying the transformer.

I was speaking to my tube vendor about these Xenon rectifiers and he said that about 30 years back these used to cost 5-10 times a regular rectifier.
When asked for the reason, he said that "cause these are the Ferrari of rectifiers!"
 
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shipsupt

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Re: RUMOR MILL: EC 4x2A3
« Reply #21 on: May 08, 2013, 04:22:24 PM »
Where did I suggest that?

Quote from: gurubhai on May 08, 2013, 04:20:35 PM
^ These tubes have a filament rating of 5 Amp.
You can't just slip them into any tube rectifier PS, most likely you would end up frying the transformer.

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

gurubhai

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Re: RUMOR MILL: EC 4x2A3
« Reply #22 on: May 08, 2013, 04:42:29 PM »
Quote from: shipsupt on May 08, 2013, 04:22:24 PM
Where did I suggest that?

Quote from: gurubhai on May 08, 2013, 04:20:35 PM
^ These tubes have a filament rating of 5 Amp.
You can't just slip them into any tube rectifier PS, most likely you would end up frying the transformer.


Guess I jumped the gun but you did seem give an impression that this would be a fairly simple thing to do which it isn't.
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shipsupt

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Re: RUMOR MILL: EC 4x2A3
« Reply #23 on: May 08, 2013, 05:02:34 PM »
Sorry I wasn't clear... My point was it's just a rectifier, so the mod wouldn't be that hard, but far from a drop in.

   ;D
« Last Edit: May 08, 2013, 05:07:50 PM by shipsupt »
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Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

Stapsy

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Re: RUMOR MILL: EC 4x2A3
« Reply #24 on: May 08, 2013, 05:16:19 PM »
Man you guys are killing me..so the solid state damper diodes are not as good eh.  It probably makes more sense with the 2A3 being only 3 watts if you are trying to drive speakers. I think for the 4x2A3 having 6 watts would make using tube rectifiers make a lot more sense.
I have been talking to Craig about the 4x2A3 and 445. I am dying to try a 445 but the cost of the tubes is kind of high with less 45s being around.  He told me I could still get a 4x2A3 or 445 instead of the 2A3 if I wanted (He already has my money anyway aha). I am still waiting for him to get back to me with some more details and to confirm the pricing. From what you guys are saying it seems like a no brainer for the relatively small increase in cost.
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Marvey

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Re: RUMOR MILL: EC 4x2A3
« Reply #25 on: May 08, 2013, 05:56:01 PM »
  • The solid-state damper diodes in the BA PS are better overall (especially for speakers) than the existing 5AR4 or 5UG4s PS for the EC 2A3.
  • On the Levi/445 development unit, neither the solid-state damper diodes nor mercury vapor tubes are as good as the Xenons or 6D22s.
  • The Xenons and 6D22 appear at this moment to have the "right" sound. Whether one is better than the other (I think it will be close) remains to be heard in a direct comparison.
  • I get the feeling that event the regular EC 2A3 will eventually get the 6D22s since they are really not much pricier than the solid-state damper diodes.
  • As Guru indicated above, the Xenon tube dedicated PS needs bigger dedicated "stuff"
  • Yes, the EC 4x2A3 is better. Whether $1000 is a small increase is up to you. A lot will also depend upon the quality of the rest of your chain (DAC, headphones, speakers, etc.)
« Last Edit: May 08, 2013, 07:00:27 PM by purrin »
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Stapsy

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Re: RUMOR MILL: EC 4x2A3
« Reply #26 on: May 08, 2013, 06:41:45 PM »
Thanks for clarifying. What I meant was that for what you are getting with the 4x2A3 the price increase is providing good value. The 4x2a3 price includes the tubes, the partial silver output transformer, the interstage transformer, and 6 watts of output for more options with speakers. I think it may also be balanced.  The way I had the 2A3 with the tubes and a p&g pot it was going to be almost an extra 500 bucks (not that it is necessary). I figured that the price gap between them would be much higher.

Edit:  Spoke with Craig, he told me that the 4x2A3 will be shipping with a full set of tubes and will cost $3800 for a limited time only.  It looks like he was listening to purrin because it will be using 6d22s rectifier tubes "if they sound better than the SS damper diodes".  He is expecting them to be ready in 6-8 weeks.
« Last Edit: May 08, 2013, 10:04:54 PM by Stapsy »
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Anaxilus.

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Re: RUMOR MILL: EC 4x2A3
« Reply #27 on: May 08, 2013, 10:38:24 PM »
Both 2A3x4 builds are SET so not audiophile balanced or push/pull.  They are actual balanced amps but do not have balanced input only SE.  So you would need XLR>RCA cables.
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twifosp

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Re: RUMOR MILL: EC 4x2A3
« Reply #28 on: May 09, 2013, 12:56:04 AM »
Is there a difference between the 2A3x4 and Leviathan build, or is the 2A3X4 THE Leviathan build.  I had thought it was going to cost a lot more.  3800 has me interested for sure.
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Tari

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Re: RUMOR MILL: EC 4x2A3
« Reply #29 on: May 09, 2013, 01:10:41 AM »
Yes there is a difference.  IPTs and rectification for starters.


The price that's being bandied about for the current version of the Levi (not the moth amp) is not much more expensive than the X4 either.
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