So there's a hybrid head amp in the KIN?
Don McCorleone
Location: Galashiels
Posts: 13,696
I'm inthescottishmafia.
So there's a hybrid head amp in the KIN?
“Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of fuel. Sentimental people call it inspiration, but what they really mean is fuel. I have always needed fuel. I am a serious consumer. On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio”
Hunter S Thompson
Senior Member
Location: The Black Country
Posts: 6,089
I'm Alan.
Not a separate head amp as such, but the KIN is a hybrid design.
Senior Member
Location: The Black Country
Posts: 6,089
I'm Alan.
Just measured it Barry and it is 3K ohmOriginally Posted by Barry
Senior Member
Location: The Black Country
Posts: 6,089
I'm Alan.
Valve organics.
Well there is definitely something gelling here.
This valve head amp has been built as a bit of an experiment but it's blowing my socks off
It's remarkably low noise and there is a bit of a hum (probably need a quieter heater supply) but you don't hear it when the music is playing.
I've been spinning some albums from Dire Straits and a Strauss Gala on Decca (very well recorded) and there is a real wow factor.
Nothing I can really describe that will make much sense unless you hear it, but there is a better placement of instruments and a greater fullness to the whole sound.
Not something I really expected with a change of head amp/input method, but I'm enjoying it immensely.
Senior Member
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 6,811
I'm James.
Valves doing their magic again.
Main system : VPI Scout 1.1 / JMW 9T / 2M Black / Croft 25R+ / Croft 7 / Heco Celan GT 702
Second System : Goldring Lenco GL75 / AT95EX / Pioneer SX590 / Spendor SP2
Trade: Longdog Audio
Location: Halifax, UK
Posts: 1,399
I'm Nick.
I did say some time ago that a valve is the best by far, if you can get the noise down enough :-). TBH, one of the reasons I designed the reference phono stage with its 53dB of gain, its front end is just about quiet enough for a 0.3mv cartridge directly into it. Some hiss, but its less than the noise floor of clean vinyl. No hum of course, the two box layout and shunt regs sort that. I would suggest you try the power supply separate from the valves. Chokes are good things in power supplies, but can be a mixed bag for phono stages as they will emit a fair amount of RFI.This valve head amp has been built as a bit of an experiment but it's blowing my socks off
Nick.
Senior Member
Location: The Black Country
Posts: 6,089
I'm Alan.
Cheers Nick
No doubt I'll continue to meddle with it.
Senior Member
Location: The Black Country
Posts: 6,089
I'm Alan.
That's what it is James, magic.Valves doing their magic again.
I've cured the hum by fitting a steel shield between the valves and the PSU end
Been doing a comparison between the cascode JFET MC input on the KIN and using the valve head amp into the MM input (direct to the first valve).
There is a difference and neither is bad in any sense, but the valve head amp offers more space and definition to my ears.
YMMV
Senior Member
Location: Glasgowshire
Posts: 9,663
I'm Gary.
Just a gut feeling, but I think there's something special about surrounding valves with sand...
Never heard better, put it that way.
Alan,
get on the case....! (or Nick)
Make something affordable to the masses and it'll be a game changer.
AC POWER
Hardwired 10kVA balanced mains powering entire system
AMPS
Meridian 557 power Amp (Modded) / PS Audio BHK Preamp (Modded)
SPEAKERS
Wharfedale Evo 4.4
DAC
PS Audio Directstream (Modded)
TURNTABLE
Pro-Ject X8 balanced output via XLR / Ortofon Quintet Blue cartridge
PHONOSTAGE
Pro-Ject DS3 B balanced Input (TT and Phonostage powered by Pro-Ject Power box RS2 linear psu)
DIGITAL
OPPO 203 (Modded: Linear PSU, i2s output to Dac) - Roon Endpoint, HDMI input used for all things Streaming/ PS5 /AppleTV ... also good for movies apparently?
MUSIC PLAYBACK
Tweaked AP-Linux based Roon Server into Oppo 203 as Roon endpoint
Ipad Roon Remote.
Apple Music/ YouTube via AppleTV, fed to Dac via Oppo HDMI input/i2s output to Dac.
SPEAKER CABLES
Biwired: Duelund DCA10GA (Bass) Duelund DCA16GA (mid & treble) Duelund 12DCA used as jumpers (On "Blackcat Cable" Chris Sommivigo's advice - yup, even with biwire it sounds better - and it does)
INTERCONNECTS
All Balanced: Ghost+ recording studio XLR cables
Don McCorleone
Location: Galashiels
Posts: 13,696
I'm inthescottishmafia.
Yep, I'd buy one!
“Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of fuel. Sentimental people call it inspiration, but what they really mean is fuel. I have always needed fuel. I am a serious consumer. On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio”
Hunter S Thompson
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