more topless than open guts ;-) but I re-animated the Bottlehead Paramours last week in preparation to loan 'em out to someone and snapped a photo whilst they were warmin' up...
... just another opportunity to suck someone in to the high-sensitivity loudspeaker/single-ended, direct heated triode amplifier sickness... The first hit is free. Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahhaaaa...
Simple in design but big on sound. My preamp build............Bottlehead Quickie battery powered pre.
Thanks for posting that!
Funny you should mention the Quickie ;-) I had my first aural Quickie experience a couple of weeks ago - one of the local tube guys brought one over. We listened to it through my SE 2A3 amp (JE/Angela "Simple 2A3" variant) and the Duplexes... and it sounded really dandy to me. Quiet and silky smooth. It looks like a toy in every respect, and of course it is cheap... but it acquitted itself very nicely.
The only real drawback (if any) -- besides, of course, the complete lack of 'snob appeal' ;-) -- is that it offers rather low gain (6 dB, if memory serves). If that's enough for one, it's an excellent gateway drug kind of little preamp, I'd opine!
Indeed, even its owner was impressed by its "synergy" (probably impedance related) with the SE 2A3 amp. He's used it with a solid state amp, and he found it microphonic and touchy in that setting.
It was really dandy on my hifi.
EDIT: What ancillary equipment are you using your Quickie with?
Toy? Why I would put this thing up against any Fisher Price contraption that is made in China? ;-)
I have the Quickie feeding a Adcom GFA-545. To cure the microphonics that is inherent in the Q I went through a few tube brands. Finally settled on a RCA version. Almost cured the microphonics. The little preamp does a good job if you can control it. I have been tweaking the tubes with home made dampers to try and get them to a euphoric state. At this time I have it sitting on a 2 inch concrete cap block out in front of the amplifier on the floor. This weekend I am thinking of wall mounting behind and above my gear. I am getting good battery life from the preamp, better than I expected. With my listening habits I should spend about $60 per year on them.
Interesting to hear that your friend experienced a less microphonic environment with your tube amp than with the SS gear. I am headed in the tube direction. As you mentioned if you are not a tube guy this is a way to get your pavlov experience started!
The Quickie was impeccably behaved with a CDP as the source and driving the JE/Angela Simple 2A3 variant. I rapped on the preamp's panel and it didn't whimper. The tubes in it were (AFAIK) those supplied with it.
....I've asked my wife for a Quickie for Christmas. ;-)
I firmly believe that any wife out there worth her weight can provide their husband with a Quickie. ;-)
I feed the Q with a CDP. My interest is still peaked concerning the Quickie's response especially when you tapped on the case. The supplied tubes that I received were the devil! Not knocking Bottlehead as I am happy to have a preamp that performs so well for $99. But they were highly microphonic even when enveloped with heater hose which is a home remedy I was taught. Great to hear that it performed so well with your 2A3 amp. It seems I need to study up on what the causes of microphonics are SS vs. tube. It sounds that there is a difference between the two.
Hmm... we should probably start a Quickie thread... ;-)
The tubes used in the Quickie are notorious for microphonics; it's "just" an old battery radio tube (3S4); not exactly designed for hifi. Presumably the only - possible - salient difference in interfacing the preamp with different flavors of power amp would be match of the the output impedance of the preamp and the the load presented by the power amp.
"....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
Hmm... we should probably start a Quickie thread... ;-)
The tubes used in the Quickie are notorious for microphonics;
That's disheartening. Why did they choose them, low power requirements or cost?
"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
Acurus A250, recently acquired. The insides need some cleaning. Upon removing the top, I was surprised at how physically imposing the power transformer looked, rated at 1KVA. Upgrades planned including re-cap, adding bypass caps to the DC rails, and adding output relays/DC protection. One of the output posts is missing its plastic cap. I have a set of new WBT Midline posts on hand, and will use them to replace the stock posts.
Main System: Denon DP-59L | Audio-Technica AT33EV | Marantz SA-11S2 | Classe DR-10 | Classe CA-300 | Classe RC-1 | PSB Stratus Gold i's | DIY Balanced AC Power Conditioner | Acoustic Zen and NeoTech cables | Oyaide and Furutech power connectors | Dedicated 20A isolated ground line.
Appreciated. It looks like one of my early 1970s DIY 6BQ5 efforts.
Main System: Denon DP-59L | Audio-Technica AT33EV | Marantz SA-11S2 | Classe DR-10 | Classe CA-300 | Classe RC-1 | PSB Stratus Gold i's | DIY Balanced AC Power Conditioner | Acoustic Zen and NeoTech cables | Oyaide and Furutech power connectors | Dedicated 20A isolated ground line.
It's a console pull, from a Canadian console - a little beefier all around than the typical US offerings of its day... sounds darned good on the Duplexes, in fact.
Main System: Denon DP-59L | Audio-Technica AT33EV | Marantz SA-11S2 | Classe DR-10 | Classe CA-300 | Classe RC-1 | PSB Stratus Gold i's | DIY Balanced AC Power Conditioner | Acoustic Zen and NeoTech cables | Oyaide and Furutech power connectors | Dedicated 20A isolated ground line.
Main System: Denon DP-59L | Audio-Technica AT33EV | Marantz SA-11S2 | Classe DR-10 | Classe CA-300 | Classe RC-1 | PSB Stratus Gold i's | DIY Balanced AC Power Conditioner | Acoustic Zen and NeoTech cables | Oyaide and Furutech power connectors | Dedicated 20A isolated ground line.
CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
Man, this thread is still going? Too bad it has been decimated by the Photobucket Ransom Grab.
I know right so much lost:(
I dunno - to some extent I get some perverse joy* from seeing Photobucket's pathetic business practices consigned to digital eternity as the sad grab for revenue that they are (were). Morons.
_____________________
* Schadenfreude might be an even more apt description of my reaction
Comments
paramours 112413 by mhardy6647, on Flickr
... just another opportunity to suck someone in to the high-sensitivity loudspeaker/single-ended, direct heated triode amplifier sickness... The first hit is free. Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahhaaaa...
Pretty cool. This must have a powerful sound. I guess it would be perfect for multichannel home theater project.
How are you liking this amp? Looking to get one to replace my NAD and run my Sonos connect into the Peachtree DAC.
Amps: Jolida FX-10, NAD 3045, NAD C320BEE, Sansui G-9700
Speakers: Polk Monitor 7A's, KEF Reference 104aB
Sources: ProJect Debut Carbon, Sonos streaming FLAC
Marantz CD5004
Adcom GFA-545
Bottlehead Quickie Tube Preamp
Marantz CD5004
Adcom GFA-545
Bottlehead Quickie Tube Preamp
Funny you should mention the Quickie ;-) I had my first aural Quickie experience a couple of weeks ago - one of the local tube guys brought one over. We listened to it through my SE 2A3 amp (JE/Angela "Simple 2A3" variant) and the Duplexes... and it sounded really dandy to me. Quiet and silky smooth. It looks like a toy in every respect, and of course it is cheap... but it acquitted itself very nicely.
The only real drawback (if any) -- besides, of course, the complete lack of 'snob appeal' ;-) -- is that it offers rather low gain (6 dB, if memory serves). If that's enough for one, it's an excellent gateway drug kind of little preamp, I'd opine!
Indeed, even its owner was impressed by its "synergy" (probably impedance related) with the SE 2A3 amp. He's used it with a solid state amp, and he found it microphonic and touchy in that setting.
It was really dandy on my hifi.
EDIT: What ancillary equipment are you using your Quickie with?
Toy? Why I would put this thing up against any Fisher Price contraption that is made in China? ;-)
I have the Quickie feeding a Adcom GFA-545. To cure the microphonics that is inherent in the Q I went through a few tube brands. Finally settled on a RCA version. Almost cured the microphonics. The little preamp does a good job if you can control it. I have been tweaking the tubes with home made dampers to try and get them to a euphoric state. At this time I have it sitting on a 2 inch concrete cap block out in front of the amplifier on the floor. This weekend I am thinking of wall mounting behind and above my gear. I am getting good battery life from the preamp, better than I expected. With my listening habits I should spend about $60 per year on them.
Interesting to hear that your friend experienced a less microphonic environment with your tube amp than with the SS gear. I am headed in the tube direction. As you mentioned if you are not a tube guy this is a way to get your pavlov experience started!
Marantz CD5004
Adcom GFA-545
Bottlehead Quickie Tube Preamp
....I've asked my wife for a Quickie for Christmas. ;-)
I feed the Q with a CDP. My interest is still peaked concerning the Quickie's response especially when you tapped on the case. The supplied tubes that I received were the devil! Not knocking Bottlehead as I am happy to have a preamp that performs so well for $99. But they were highly microphonic even when enveloped with heater hose which is a home remedy I was taught. Great to hear that it performed so well with your 2A3 amp. It seems I need to study up on what the causes of microphonics are SS vs. tube. It sounds that there is a difference between the two.
Marantz CD5004
Adcom GFA-545
Bottlehead Quickie Tube Preamp
The tubes used in the Quickie are notorious for microphonics; it's "just" an old battery radio tube (3S4); not exactly designed for hifi. Presumably the only - possible - salient difference in interfacing the preamp with different flavors of power amp would be match of the the output impedance of the preamp and the the load presented by the power amp.
Keep in mind, "Its just a quickie" :biggrin:
Home Theater: Toshiba D-VR5SU | Laptop #1 |Outlaw Audio OAW3 wireless audio system | Marantz SR-19 | Phase Linear 400 Series 2, modified | AudioSource 10.1 EQ (for subs) | Axiom M3 v3’s | Axiom VP150 | Optimus PRO-X55AVs | Dayton 12” powered subs (x2) | Belkin PureAV PF-60 line conditioner.
Party System: Laptop #2 | Audioquest Dragonfly USB DAC | Technics SU-A6 | Acurus A-250 | Radio Shack 15-band EQ | Pioneer SR-9 reverb | Cerwin Vega DX9's | Dayton 100° x 60° horns with titanium HF/MF compression drivers.
Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |
ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4
Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |
Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |
Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |
Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's
Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
EDIT: is is probably the best sounding $30 amplifier I've yet heard. PP 6AQ5 is essentially identical to PP 6V6; probably about 10 wpc.
Home Theater: Toshiba D-VR5SU | Laptop #1 |Outlaw Audio OAW3 wireless audio system | Marantz SR-19 | Phase Linear 400 Series 2, modified | AudioSource 10.1 EQ (for subs) | Axiom M3 v3’s | Axiom VP150 | Optimus PRO-X55AVs | Dayton 12” powered subs (x2) | Belkin PureAV PF-60 line conditioner.
Party System: Laptop #2 | Audioquest Dragonfly USB DAC | Technics SU-A6 | Acurus A-250 | Radio Shack 15-band EQ | Pioneer SR-9 reverb | Cerwin Vega DX9's | Dayton 100° x 60° horns with titanium HF/MF compression drivers.
Home Theater: Toshiba D-VR5SU | Laptop #1 |Outlaw Audio OAW3 wireless audio system | Marantz SR-19 | Phase Linear 400 Series 2, modified | AudioSource 10.1 EQ (for subs) | Axiom M3 v3’s | Axiom VP150 | Optimus PRO-X55AVs | Dayton 12” powered subs (x2) | Belkin PureAV PF-60 line conditioner.
Party System: Laptop #2 | Audioquest Dragonfly USB DAC | Technics SU-A6 | Acurus A-250 | Radio Shack 15-band EQ | Pioneer SR-9 reverb | Cerwin Vega DX9's | Dayton 100° x 60° horns with titanium HF/MF compression drivers.
Home Theater: Toshiba D-VR5SU | Laptop #1 |Outlaw Audio OAW3 wireless audio system | Marantz SR-19 | Phase Linear 400 Series 2, modified | AudioSource 10.1 EQ (for subs) | Axiom M3 v3’s | Axiom VP150 | Optimus PRO-X55AVs | Dayton 12” powered subs (x2) | Belkin PureAV PF-60 line conditioner.
Party System: Laptop #2 | Audioquest Dragonfly USB DAC | Technics SU-A6 | Acurus A-250 | Radio Shack 15-band EQ | Pioneer SR-9 reverb | Cerwin Vega DX9's | Dayton 100° x 60° horns with titanium HF/MF compression drivers.
... guess I'll have to get out the screwdriver and a camera again, sometime fairly soon...
HRT Music Streamer HD USB DAC that I recently purchased:
Sony SS-M9; LSA Statement Amplifier; VPI HW-19 Mk3/Sumiko Premier FT-4/Audio Technica AT15SA; Pass Labs DIY Pearl Phono; Sony SCD-C333ES SACD Changer; TEAC UD-301 DAC; Dell/WYSE 5010 (running Daphile); Sony ST-SA5ES Tuner; Nanotec Golden Strada speaker cables (SR+#79 Shotgun); Audioquest Coral interconnects
I know right so much lost:(
I dunno - to some extent I get some perverse joy* from seeing Photobucket's pathetic business practices consigned to digital eternity as the sad grab for revenue that they are (were). Morons.
_____________________
* Schadenfreude might be an even more apt description of my reaction
My turn:
Linn LK240
And the Vincent PHO 701 (pre side)
HT - Panasonic BDP/Tivo Bolt - Marantz SR5013 - Def tech C and In ceiling - Sony XBR 75"