My Tube Distinctions Copper Amp...
Been polishing the Copper amp today, in readiness for firing her up in the first time in a long time - spent nearly 2 hours cleaning it and my hands are now numb, lol...
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Looking pretty good I think...:cool:
This is my pride and joy - hand-built from scratch by Anthony Matthews, point-to-point wired throughout internally, featuring hand-wound output transformers and Sowter mains transformer. 40W Class A, when fitted with Cryo-treated Tung Sol KT-150 output valves, NOS 1950s Russian Melz 6H8C (6SN7 equivalents) driver valves, plus NOS RCA 5U4GB rectifiers.
At the rear, Furutech FP-901 rhodium over pure-copper phono sockets have been fitted, along with Cardas solid-copper speaker terminals and a Furutech FI-03 rhodium over pure-copper IEC socket, all to ensure maximum conductivity and signal transfer. Plus also mono variable-feedback controls. Amp weighs 40kg.
It forms a formidable combination with my modded Croft preamp, and drives my 95db 15" Tannoy MGs in Lockwood cabinets, erm, rather nicely!:D
Marco.
Vintage Koss PRO-4AAAs arrive chez-moi...
From earlier...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Marco
Ok, headphones.... Since I've got a new headphone amp, I also thought about a headphone upgrade. Now I primarily love high-quality vintage headphones, as much like speakers, the best ones have a 'sound'/tonal richness and musicality all of their own, and so thought 'what if I could find a minty pair of original Koss PRO-4AAAs at a good price?':hmm:
Well I did, and so today bought these beauts:
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Looks like they've hardly been used! So it'll be interesting comparing the originals, which you can see are much better made, with the modern reproductions:cool:
Those have now arrived and have certainly lived up to my expectations! Firstly, they're in every bit as good condition as the pics on the seller's entry on ebay showed, with hardly a mark on them:thumbsup:
Secondly, I'm also pleased to report that they're considerably lighter than than the modern replicas I own, I suspect due to the slightly smaller earpieces and therefore the presence of less of the 'khaki green' hard-plastic shell covering them, which is rather heavy, and thankfully also absent on the headband of the originals. Modern equivalents shown below for comparison:
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I haven't weighed both pairs of headphones yet, but the originals must be a good few ounces lighter, so that certainly helps on the comfort front, plus the padded section of the earcups is rounded, rather than oval-shaped, as with their modern counterparts, so they fit your ears better. Furthermore, the originals don't 'clamp' onto your ears like the modern versions, so there's none of that feeling somewhat of having your head in a vice...
Therefore the originals feel altogether much lighter and more comfortable to wear, and so can be used for longer periods without any fatigue whatsoever. However, the most important thing is that they SOUND significantly better than their modern counterparts, so my not inconsiderable investment in them has thankfully paid off!:)
The most notable differences are firstly that they are more efficient, and so easier to drive, not that the valve headphone amp I'm using struggles any way in that regard (quite the opposite, as there's oodles of gain and ability to drive even the most inefficient designs), but rather like the difference between the original Ditton 15 speakers and the less-efficient XRs, it makes for a bigger and more effortless sound overall, and the lack of any need to turn the volume up much in order to create very dynamic and believable sounding music.
Secondly, and most importantly, the midrange and top-end (again much like comparisons between the Celestion speakers mentioned) are more open and lucid, in fact shockingly so, such is the crystal-clear clarity of instruments and vocals, with upper-frequencies being very detailed and extended, plus having an addictively 'creamy', almost electrostatic-like quality, and for headphones, a cavernously wide soundstage.
Consequently, this makes their modern counterparts sound rather muddy and constrained in comparison, adding a 'cuppy' colaration to vocals, rendering them notably inferior to the originals, in terms of sounding faithful to the recording and therefore musically 'lifelike'.
The bass end of the originals is also quite different, being marginally lighter in touch, with no overhang (in reality probably just less coloured and more accurate) than that of their modern counterparts, but also deeper and more rhythmic, imparting palpable weight and gravitas to lower frequencies with suitable material, such as orchestral crescendos and rock and dance/electronic music, whilst never sounding boomy or overblown.
Overall, they have a very 'widescreen' open, airy and dynamic sound with bags of finesse and subtlety, also when the music demands, and so sonically and musically several classes above their modern replicas. When listening to these original Koss PRO-4AAAs, it's patently obvious why they're sought after by discerning audiophiles and command such high prices on ebay. In that respect, I'd comfortably compare them with most of today's top designs, and certainly anything up to around £800, so a veritable bargain for the £210 I paid!
Anyway, I'm delighted with them, and off now to listen to some more choons before bed, even though it's rather late as it is!:cool:
Marco.
