AOS Exclusive Review of Eco-Fan Sound Pre-Amp and Power Amp

[Jack Williams]

Well, i have just spent a few hours listening to another of the above 6A3amps just completed. Admittedly it is still running in, but yes the amount of bass for just 5wrms is pretty amazing, although it does not have the damping factor of the SEOTL, which has totally spoiled me over the couple of years or so that it has been in use. Compared with the SEOTL, the 65khz top end sounds dull against the SEOTL's 100khz. You wouldn't think you'd notice. However, the SEOTL has died rather over the period, so now i have the opportunity of checking it out on the bench and making necessary adjustments. Because of the weird circuit and partly direct coupling, the biasing is somewhat bizarre and i could be thrashing one half of a 6080 but not the other, sort of thing. Soon i will find out, and will update shortly. Jack.

[Jack Williams]

Well, i guess the Triode6A3 amp has "burned in" a bit now, because the tops seem to have sparkled up, and an evening with my friend Dennis included a DVD of Etta James, and that band sounded HUGE! And i just measured it at 5wrms! the speakers are 95db, 12" bottom,(4cuft Thiel), professional pressure mid and top horns. I get a very believable female speaking voice (a difficult test for speakers) while having smooth bottom to 25hz. The room was rockin'! Not having heard one for a while i'm impressed with my own little amp! The SEOTL is on the bench. Both halves of each 6080 seem to be aging the same. Of the four, three were well down while one was 100%. Puzzle. What does Giant Haystacks reckon?

[Giant Haystacks]

hi jack maybe you could write a little on amplifier construction, as there are lots of silent readers out there who do not contribute, but im sure they are very interested in reading ,
there is another valve engineer who explains things very well and interestingly.he trys very hard and is not outspoken.
i think personally this sort of amp ,is seen as something that cant possibly provide a good sound and cant work ,and tared and feathered ,
you could explain a little from time to time on your ideas or tell about some of your history ,help to educate hobbyists like myself chat soon

[Spectral Morn]

Hi Jack

A few photos of the Eco-Fan products you are talking about would be helpful as not everyone knows what they are...I don't mean the 6A3 though as my review has photos of this amplifier. Get Adam to take some digital shots and upload them onto your posts.


Regards D S D L

[Jack Williams]

A bunch of us had a good session on Saturday evening with the resurrected SEOTL and the 6A3 amp. Really, after a "few", everything sounded great on either amp! Yesterday new 6A3amp owner (Barry) brought over the John Blue 4s. The amp was still on the 12" drivers, so we listened to his CD of a Beethoven piece i had never heard before (a Beethoven joke piece Barry said) comprising big orchestra, huge choir plus soloists and a ringing, obviously Steinway piano. That certainly sounded impressive. Then we swapped to the John Blues, without altering volume setting or anything. The effect was the same! Same decibels, weight of orchestra, swelling of choir, ringing piano. I thought the tops of the John Blues sounded sweeter than my phenolic domes. But it was astounding hearing all that power and performance coming from those tiny cabinets on that 5wrms little amp. Then i put on the DVD called Celtic Woman, which opens with a muscular drummer, club-like big drumstick in each hand pounding shit out of a huge high-mounted bass drum, with lilting melody from orchestra and the beautiful singers parading in formations outside an excellent castle. That was all handled with alacrity. The recording was quite a bit louder than Barry's Beethoven CD, OK for me but too powerful for Barry. No problem with headroom that's for sure. Barry has another bigger Ecofan amp and a pair of Keffs (G-H has seen those) and i mentioned his then comment that only the Ecofan amp was the reason for an acceptable sound from the Keffs. Barry said he'd try the John Blues on that system (another room). He might be amazed.

[Jack Williams]

Jack back. Yes, i can take shots with my Canon digital. Not sure what of at present, the SEOTL is in lashup form (but tidied up a bit now) and i have the same Line Amp as in the photo above

[adam_ecofansound]

hi,

good quality professional pictures of ecofan gear can be seen at www.ecofansound.com - just click on the name of a model on the left of the page.... doesn't give you a sense of the relative size of the equipment though, the 100W single ended monoblocks are a challenge to carry compared with the compact 6A3 stereo amp...

cheers, adam

[Spectral Morn]

hi,

good quality professional pictures of ecofan gear can be seen at www.ecofansound.com - just click on the name of a model on the left of the page.... doesn't give you a sense of the relative size of the equipment though, the 100W single ended monoblocks are a challenge to carry compared with the compact 6A3 stereo amp...

cheers, adam

I see the websites been updated excellent.


Regards D S D L

[adam_ecofansound]

hi,

comparing jack william's comments on the JB4 with those of the 6moons* reviewer is an interesting exercise

from 6moons: 'No bass to speak of, an inability to play loud... you can imagine that the JB4 is no champ at playing large orchestral pieces...'

and,

'My issue with the JB4 is that it does not like anything but violins and women's voices and it certainly does not like anything played at any sustained sound level.'

just goes to show what a difference the right amp can make,

rusty


*www.6moons.com/audioreviews/johnblue5/jb4.html

[Jack Williams]

"6moons should get hold of one of those amps alright. He may be amazed. Jack.
P.S.''Giant Haystacks'' has one, perhaps he can lend his.