bullpup
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Post by bullpup on Feb 23, 2017 16:50:22 GMT
Well I'm not sure how I missed this little beauty first time around! On the basis that I think it can also be used as a pre-amp / dac it looks to be ideal for my needs.
Has anyone got one for sale please?
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 23, 2017 20:30:22 GMT
Well I'm not sure how I missed this little beauty first time around! On the basis that I think it can also be used as a pre-amp / dac it looks to be ideal for my needs. Has anyone got one for sale please? Hi David, Yes. I have a very special two tone (black and silver) T1.... it's the only one of its type. Not a mark on it, absolutely pristine / boxed and it will ship with a precision matched valve. Best regards, Mike. |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 23, 2017 20:38:32 GMT
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bullpup
Been here a while!
How much is that doggy in the window?
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Post by bullpup on Feb 24, 2017 10:53:11 GMT
Mike that is very nice indeed! I had rather anticipated either no response at all or that a dusty neglected gem might eventually surface.
I'm afraid I am acting a bit like a child in a sweet shop at the moment trying to go from no music to everything at once! Along the way I have my Tannoys to re-cone, power amp to get repaired etc and as you know an X-pre to have refurbished.
However I will ask the vital questions - can it be used as a dac / pre and of course how much please?
Many thanks
David
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 24, 2017 12:38:27 GMT
Mike that is very nice indeed! I had rather anticipated either no response at all or that a dusty neglected gem might eventually surface. I'm afraid I am acting a bit like a child in a sweet shop at the moment trying to go from no music to everything at once! Along the way I have my Tannoys to re-cone, power amp to get repaired etc and as you know an X-pre to have refurbished. However I will ask the vital questions - can it be used as a dac / pre and of course how much please? Many thanks David Yes to DAC / Pre and £85 shipped seems a fair price. |
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bullpup
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How much is that doggy in the window?
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Post by bullpup on Feb 25, 2017 22:03:51 GMT
Yes please Mike - that would be great thank you very much.
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bullpup
Been here a while!
How much is that doggy in the window?
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Post by bullpup on Feb 28, 2017 10:09:39 GMT
Good morning Mike. YHPM.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 28, 2017 19:42:52 GMT
Hi David,
All boxed up and ready to go, I'll get it in the post tomorrow afternoon. I've matched a perfect Voskhod 6H23N (December 1982) and you will find it in the packaging..... it's under the little plastic foam plug. I gave it a good testing before boxing it up and had forgotten just how good these sound...... really nice!
let me know how you get on with it mate.
Mike.
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bullpup
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How much is that doggy in the window?
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Post by bullpup on Mar 1, 2017 12:20:02 GMT
That's fantastic Mike thank you very much indeed!
I am really looking forward to hearing this!
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bullpup
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Post by bullpup on Mar 4, 2017 13:45:18 GMT
Well the parcel arrived yesterday - thank you Mike.
It stared at me reproachfully for most of the day as I resisted the opportunity to play as I had an unfinished report... by tea time - that wonderfully imprecise time, I had to give in and at the very least unpack it. What a real pocket Venus - both hefty and shapely with interesting protuberences. Of course I had to have a play.
Unfortunately to reduce temptation I have no music on my work PC but at least I had an ipod to hand together with some venerable HD580s so within very short order we were up and running.
To put it very politely I was massively underwhelmed. Volume to max - a mouse could fart louder. I was forced to do what no man admits to - whisper it -read the bloody instructions. Ah gain controls - give them a go, all 3 settings. yes an improvement but overall not really acceptable. I know my hearing isn't good but really. Must be a problem with the ipod or dock lead.
All pretence at work vanished. I dug out my Samwha'd X-can V1. I have to confess this gets no where need the use it deserves. A bit of searching and the psu was discovered - a 3 amp Maplin special so plenty of grunt there - and wow! no problem with source and speakers after all. To Hell with the Aune back to the report and the music.
Thinking about things over night I had a moment of potential inspiration - you bought this as a USB Dac and amp for computer music. Try it that way you BF.
So the family are out, the communal PC is available, give it a go. Fire up Itunes...
And silence lots of silence. Switches to go - check. PC recognising the Aune - check. More fiddling and adjust volumes and what was that - a beep through the headphones. Diagnosis itunes is playing silly buggers.
Try a different source - youtube and hit the first song playable and music fairly nice albeit Ed Shearin.
So the Aune confirmed as interfacing with the PC so back to iTunes and the settings you never touch.
Lots of fiddling later and success, the Best of Nina Simone is belting out of my phones. Nice in fact very nice but again a touch missing. So I went back to the device manager and turned the default volume to max ah now heading in the right direction. So then back to iTunes preferences and playback settings ah what is this ? Current settings 16 / 44.1 that is like running a v8 on 2 star surely. 2 fiddles later 24/96 and Miles Davis and Sketches of Spain thats more like it ! Atmospheric, delightful, beguiling. Back to some female vocals - didn't realise I was such a fan Natalie Merchant and Tigerlily especially San Andreas Fault very good. Now listening to Tanita Tikaram's Lovers in the City which sounds awful on a poor system - very nice indeed.
I think it's time to go and have a fiddle with the gain controls as I think I am hearing the Sennheiser veil. Time to ALSO pinch my son's Superluxes I think.
So initial impressions have gone from a bit diappointed to very nice indeed. I'm not yet at the stage to really comment anymore as itunes is playing up again
I also need to find out why the line in isn't producing the same sound levels as the usb section
Many thanks
David
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bullpup
Been here a while!
How much is that doggy in the window?
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Post by bullpup on Mar 18, 2017 12:56:51 GMT
Well not a lot happened for a while and then last night - driven to distraction by the awful sound quality coming out of teenage son's bedroom it was action time.
Further investigation revealed that he is driving his itube via the headphone out of his laptop useing spotted dick or is that spotted face or breezer geezer or something - any way horrendous. The suggestion that he uses his headphones fell on deaf ears.
So in a moment of madness I grabbed the Aune and a few cables and well blow me what a staggering change in sound quality so much so that both wife and and very not so loving sister both trotted into the room saying that sounds nice. Son was still at the gobsmacked and grinning like an idiot stage.Well in truth so was I.
All parties were further delighted with the headphone performance - he with the sound quality and sister with the fact he doesn't keep her awake.
The only discordant note is in fact with me as it is obvious that I have lost this! Very disappointing but perhaps not too bad a price to pay for domestic Harmony?
The only anomaly appears to be that the lineout signal is not controlled i.e. the Aune is not acting as a pre-amp and I wonder if this is linked to the line in performance noted earlier. Is there a jumper to connect?
It does sound absolutely fantastic though - thank you Mike!
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bullpup
Been here a while!
How much is that doggy in the window?
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Post by bullpup on Apr 3, 2017 15:58:52 GMT
Well I thought I would try and reclaim this by substituting a well reviewed and cheaper alternative - the Maplin /Lindy DAC which is actually made or distributed by Shin Kin Enterprises. What a mistake - I actually prefer the sound direct from the laptop. Admittedly this is with the USB feed with no burn in but really awful. I should have an optical cable somewhere so I will give that a try. Failing that I have the other budget giant killer on the way - a little Fiio Taishan D03K. I must confess to not expecting mutch as the Synergy between the Aune and Fatman is fantastic.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Apr 3, 2017 19:05:56 GMT
Hi David, I haven't forgotten about the 6N2P.... Viktor has gone off the radar in deepest Smolensk (he does that from time to time) but he's sourcing some Russian radio parts for me so he will be back in touch at some point. Glad the synergy between the Aune and Fatman is good...... have you tried rolling some different valves into the AUNE? I've got a few used but strong valves kicking about and would be happy to send you a couple FOC..... will keep you occupied until Viktor appears back on the radar  ATB Mike. |
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bullpup
Been here a while!
How much is that doggy in the window?
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Post by bullpup on Apr 4, 2017 17:52:58 GMT
Mike that would be great - yes please!! Thank you very much indeed. I'm starting to think I may need a 2nd Aune.
If you get a chance a comment on my Fatman upgrades would be great please.
However in the interim the Fiio arrived but I can't find my optical lead and the PC doesn't have a co-axial out!
So in order to do a bit of a comparison I slipped into the loft and retrieved an old Marantz CD873 that I literally pulled out of a skip several years ago thinking it may do for the children one day however CD's are so yesterday Dad but Vinyl.. Any how I digress.
Take I craptastic CD player - it literally sounds awful and plug in relatively modern / new DACS and... I don't have a co-axial lead. So I use a RCA lead instead together with a USB PSU.
Well what a transformation - detail, loads of detail, too much detail? Too bright? Too soon to say. It / they certainly sound dramatically different to the original Marantz output.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Apr 4, 2017 19:40:33 GMT
Dave........ PM me your details again, will save me hunting around..... I remember "Station Road" but's that's all I'll fire over a Mullard ECC88 (6DJ8) and a JAN Philips 6922....... I may even have a few EH 6922 that measure strong so will have a look. I don't sell used valves so am more than happy to fire a few "strong / used" ones your way, they will give you an idea of what's what and introduce you to the "house sound" of a particular valve manufacturer. Mike. |
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bullpup
Been here a while!
How much is that doggy in the window?
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Post by bullpup on Apr 6, 2017 16:50:55 GMT
That's very kind of you Mike thank you very much - I will send you a pm.
Son is away for a week so I have "borrowed" it while he is away. Still not sure what is happening on the line in / pre situation but as a usb Dac it does sound fabulous.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Apr 6, 2017 21:04:03 GMT
That's very kind of you Mike thank you very much - I will send you a pm. Son is away for a week so I have "borrowed" it while he is away. Still not sure what is happening on the line in / pre situation but as a usb Dac it does sound fabulous. I'll sort you out a few over the weekend Dave and will post on Monday. My AUNE T1 has been an absolute stalwart..... totally bullet proof and great as a DAC / Headphone amp. Miguel, many years ago, sent me over a Musical Paradise MP-302 Class D integrated amplifier and that has been another stalwart.... a pretty much unknown Chinese amp but my god has it been good! Plugged into the USB port with a pair of JBL Control 1 pro speakers..... it does the job very nicely. I don't really use the computers as a "source" these days and most of the stuff that is fed into the MP-302 is low grade "youtube" stuff BUT the thing has stood the test of time and is as reliable as a sunrise I seem to be going "retro" at the moment (it's so much simpler)..... just added another radio to my collection and it's a Russian Selena B215..... lovely piece of kit from the 70's / 80's. Totally over engineered, crap FM section, BUT the AM section is possibly the best I have heard! Radio 4 on LW (Longwave) will give FM a very good run for its money.... seriously, it just takes hold of the signal and keeps hold of it..... I can now see why these are so highly respected for their AM sections, I have never before heard such quality from a LW transmission. All of the caps were shot.... the "best" one was 2ohms (ESR) and the worst was possibly the worst I have ever witnessed...... a whopping 27 ohms (ESR)!!!! Thank f**k there were only ten of them to replace, easy peasy and once recapped WOW what a nice radio! The very best Hacker radios I have cannot come anywhere close to the Selenas AM section.... it truly is spectacular. Pity about the FM performance but that could be down to dirty contacts on the turret selector.... I'll clean all the turret connections next time I'm under the hood. It's actually quite liberating "denouncing" all the latest technology Dave No need for backups / no stress / no wallwarts all over the place / No snooping from itunes / Google / Facebook (or all of the other snooping bastards out there)........ quite happy playing the occasional "CD" and listening to the "radio"..... no need to "stream" or be "tracked / monitored" when I'm listening to music. There's a lot to be said FOR the way things are today but also a lot to be said against it. The plus points are far outweighed by the negatives IMO and going off the "radar" is the way to go......... It's quite disturbing when you think about it....... your phone, your Hi-Fi, your computer, your TV, your bank card (and lots more) are all reporting back to Big Brother. I believe the natural trendy trend should be avoidance but so many folk have been programmed into acceptance........ "latest Generation Firmware" apparently gets a thumbs up from the latest generation of morons. Off to tune into a random Russian Station on SW |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Apr 6, 2017 21:08:34 GMT
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bullpup
Been here a while!
How much is that doggy in the window?
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Post by bullpup on Apr 21, 2017 17:49:45 GMT
Hi Mike
I am not ignoring you just suffering from the pleasures of rural broadband which required a new router before a problem with the exchange was diagnosed!!
The parcel has arrived thank you and I hope to try some rolling later on.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Apr 21, 2017 20:43:34 GMT
Hi Mike I am not ignoring you just suffering from the pleasures of rural broadband which required a new router before a problem with the exchange was diagnosed!! The parcel has arrived thank you and I hope to try some rolling later on. Didn't have time to give them an audio check Dave.... all were free / used.... the Philips 6922 measured stronger than any "new" Philips 6922 I have ever measured so it is possibly the jewel in the crown The markings on the Philips valves are SHIT...... rub them with a duster and the markings disappear / awful! I stopped selling them because of that..... they looked "used" the moment you took them out of the carton / markings made out of icing sugar. See how you get on with them David.... remember, they are all used but good. The 6922 JAN / Philips measures better than a new 6922 and is perfectly matched per triode.......... quite a strange occurrence Viktor is still off the radar and that can only mean one thing........ He isn't able to find any valves for me..... worrying. Best, Mike. |
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bullpup
Been here a while!
How much is that doggy in the window?
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Post by bullpup on Apr 27, 2017 8:37:22 GMT
Thank you Mike. I regret that I still haven't managed to pry this back and give it a go yet - but I will! I ike the idea of that Radio - I googled it and found a few pics and I assume you found this circuit diagram etc - www.radiomuseum.org/r/minsk_radi_selena_b_215b21b_21.htmlLooks so much better than their cars of the same era. You were right about Fatman 4 - not just a simple fuse fix so I was out of my depth and ended up taking it to a man that can and it turned out the rectifier circuit was blown!! Well having bought 2 others that simply needed new valves it was bound to catch me out sooner or later. Thank you for the valve update - never mind I will see what I can find elsewhere. I the older the better for Russian tubes? I find I am in need of new interconnects. I am sure you did a brief tutorial which I can't find. Do you remember what cable and plugs you used please? |
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Post by coil on Nov 20, 2018 14:04:24 GMT
Headphone amplifier board opamp change (NE5532 -> AD8599ARZ): www.head-fi.org/threads/the-opamp-thread.432749/page-421#post-14608984Have fun modding! Will probably try out 2 more opamps (OPA1612AID & ADA4084-2ARZ). Will share impressions when I have done comparing. Anyway, FYI, Burson V5i-D didn`t work instead NE5532, though power feed was totally fine (no idea what is the issue, installed right way for sure). Btw, my wooden T1 shell mod will be finished sometime soon ;P |
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Post by coil on Jan 9, 2019 13:53:25 GMT
OPA1612AID works nicely instead NE5532 and has quite similar sound to it OOTB. Will let it play for about week and then report back.
By initial impressions I like it more than AD8599ARZ due to latter being too "details thrown in your face". Of course, depending on tube pairing, AD8599ARZ could bring improvement in details and clarity. With Siemens E88CC goldpin, I find it littlebit too much and it ruins dynamics and naturality of soundscape.
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Post by coil on Jan 23, 2019 11:10:02 GMT
Woah! Didn`t expect this out of OPA2228 used as HO opamp with Aune T1!
Very organic, natural and open sounding! And seems to deliver lot of details.
Soundstage seems VERY open and airy but not sounding distant/laid-back with Siemens E88CC tube.
Every instrument and sound has it`s clear own "space" without mixing into others.
Bass & percussion hits hard, tight and clean. Vocals/mids seem very natural. Guitars full and weighty.
Seems 45mA per channel output does its work better than stock 38mA.
I`m suspecting this will be best for my ears out of NE5532P, AD8599ARZ, OPA1612AID but will let it "burn-in" for week and do more proper comparing along with ADA4084-2ARZ which I will receive in few days.
Initial impressions - OPA2228PA put a BIG smile on my face and head bangin! ;P
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Post by coil on Jun 5, 2019 8:56:01 GMT
Update about opamps (with upgraded capacitors and Siemens E88CC goldpin tube / Fideio X1 with custom low-impedance cable):
1) OPA2228PA - most natural, organic, open, airy, balanced (think of Harman target), large soundstage & "holographic", layered, best imaging, sounding out of those.
It is just so coherent and revealing without being "hollow" or "details in Your face" (like AD8599).
2) OPA1612AID - well balanced but doesn`t sound so organic/natural and "misses something" that OPA2228PA has. Nothing bad, nothing really great - which makes it kind of "boring sounding". It just doesn`t grasp You into music like OPA2228PA.
3) NE5532A / NE5532PA - open/airy soundstage and pretty great imaging/layering but misses some mids timbre and bass/percussion tightness/thump (which sound laid-back sometimes). Very good opamp actually but some details/instruments may sound slightly "out of balanced/subdued".
4) AD8599 - this is detail-monster like I said previously. Soundstage is very open/airy and bass/percussion is tight/punchy (beating 5322 & 1612) but highs can sound somewhat sibilant/harsh & "strident" depending on record/genre. I imagine if I had HPs with less highs/details and warm source - this opamp could do wonders.
5) ADA4084-2ARZ - first thing I notice with this opamp is slightly boosted mid-bass / low-mids "glare", which ruins overall "picture". I imagine this opamp would suit source gear with recessed mid-bass/low-mids as otherwise it sounds pretty good in other areas. In my rig - no go.
X) Burson V5i-D - did not work
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