Oh man, I've just found out he likes paraphase phase splitters. Respect. The man knows something.
Oh man, I've just found out his amps are as ugly as .... My eyes, my eyes! I take a little of that respect back.
Hey guys,
I sell a lot of amps, and that's because they look as great as they sound. I personally bring an amp of the client's choice to his home for a demonstration. He takes out the amp he has now, and puts in mine. This is the best test there is. I always say to the potential client, "Understand, that before you hook up my amp, you're going to be taken to a place you've never been before, and it's going to knock your socks off, so be forewarned!" They still connect it up, and they always end up buying my amp. It's that simple. The amp sells itself. They first choose one of my amps based on how it looks, and they buy it based on how it sounds.
I like a clean look hence why I paint over the screws, and just for your information, I have never ever had any kind of failure with any of my amps. Even a shorted power tube will not take out an output transformer. There are fail-safe features in place to prevent blowing either the power or output transformers. This is how Lance taught us.
To copy one's work is highest form of praise one can give, and I see that GloBug has admitted to copying one of my designs. I'm very flattered by that! I know that MANY people have copied my designs, and that's fine by me. I know how good my amps look and where they fit sonically amongst what's out there, which is way near the top of the heap! In fact, I have yet to hear an amp that sounds better. I don't claim to make the best sounding amp out there, but I honestly have NOT heard one that has been sonically better than what we, as Lance Cochrane's students make. Again, look at what my clients have to say on my site. What ever amp they had, ends up on Audiogon, or one of those HiFi for-sale sites. It happens all the time.
I only make ten amplifiers per year, and I sell every amp I make. I only make a design once, I sign, date, and number each unit, as they are truly custom, one-of-a-kind creations. The amps I sold three years ago will sell today for nearly double what the clients paid for them. That's why I give my clients full credit back if they decide to up-grade to a newer/larger amp after a few years of owning the original one they bought. In other words, if someone bought a 6BQ5 amp three years ago from me for $1,500.00 and now have the money for an 807 amp, but can only afford to keep one, I gave them the full $1,500.00 back for the 6BQ5 unit as a credit towards the 807 amp that costs $3,800.00, knowing very well I can resell the 6BQ5 amp now for $2,500.00 That only proves that my designs are desirable and by keeping production levels down, I manage to make an appreciating product that ends up being an investment for my customers. They get to use their amp for free, knowing very well they can sell it for more than they paid for it. With that said, try to get one of my customers to sell you his amp, I dare you! Also, most of my customers have more than one of my creations for a reason. I have two clients that each own multiple units I made. One owns four, and the other owns five. Try and tell them there is a better amplifier on the market.
Steve White
Empire Electron Amplifiers
I sell a lot of amps, and that's because they look as great as they sound. I personally bring an amp of the client's choice to his home for a demonstration. He takes out the amp he has now, and puts in mine. This is the best test there is. I always say to the potential client, "Understand, that before you hook up my amp, you're going to be taken to a place you've never been before, and it's going to knock your socks off, so be forewarned!" They still connect it up, and they always end up buying my amp. It's that simple. The amp sells itself. They first choose one of my amps based on how it looks, and they buy it based on how it sounds.
I like a clean look hence why I paint over the screws, and just for your information, I have never ever had any kind of failure with any of my amps. Even a shorted power tube will not take out an output transformer. There are fail-safe features in place to prevent blowing either the power or output transformers. This is how Lance taught us.
To copy one's work is highest form of praise one can give, and I see that GloBug has admitted to copying one of my designs. I'm very flattered by that! I know that MANY people have copied my designs, and that's fine by me. I know how good my amps look and where they fit sonically amongst what's out there, which is way near the top of the heap! In fact, I have yet to hear an amp that sounds better. I don't claim to make the best sounding amp out there, but I honestly have NOT heard one that has been sonically better than what we, as Lance Cochrane's students make. Again, look at what my clients have to say on my site. What ever amp they had, ends up on Audiogon, or one of those HiFi for-sale sites. It happens all the time.
I only make ten amplifiers per year, and I sell every amp I make. I only make a design once, I sign, date, and number each unit, as they are truly custom, one-of-a-kind creations. The amps I sold three years ago will sell today for nearly double what the clients paid for them. That's why I give my clients full credit back if they decide to up-grade to a newer/larger amp after a few years of owning the original one they bought. In other words, if someone bought a 6BQ5 amp three years ago from me for $1,500.00 and now have the money for an 807 amp, but can only afford to keep one, I gave them the full $1,500.00 back for the 6BQ5 unit as a credit towards the 807 amp that costs $3,800.00, knowing very well I can resell the 6BQ5 amp now for $2,500.00 That only proves that my designs are desirable and by keeping production levels down, I manage to make an appreciating product that ends up being an investment for my customers. They get to use their amp for free, knowing very well they can sell it for more than they paid for it. With that said, try to get one of my customers to sell you his amp, I dare you! Also, most of my customers have more than one of my creations for a reason. I have two clients that each own multiple units I made. One owns four, and the other owns five. Try and tell them there is a better amplifier on the market.
Steve White
Empire Electron Amplifiers
My guess is that the floating paraphase splitter is the key sonic feature used, since that has been mentioned. Morgan Jones points out an issue with the paraphase (page 403, 3rd edition, "Valve Amplifiers") in that the output of the two splitter sides are not of equal impedance, and so suggests a "build-out" series resistor on the V2 side to equalize this.
Does Lance Cochrane and students use this extra part? My guess is that leaving it out (which was apparently the usual commercial practice) gives the amplifier some SE sound signature at the HF end. But would account for the paraphase circuit falling from favor eventually (replaced by an LTP stage) due to higher harmonic distortion when test equipment came along.
Does Lance Cochrane and students use this extra part? My guess is that leaving it out (which was apparently the usual commercial practice) gives the amplifier some SE sound signature at the HF end. But would account for the paraphase circuit falling from favor eventually (replaced by an LTP stage) due to higher harmonic distortion when test equipment came along.
Do you have any links to "good" paraphase medium size (10-20W) circuit diagrams might be worth a build to hear an example..🙂
Regards
M. Gregg
Yes, I would be interested in seeing a schematic too to see what circuit is being used to get the quoted 0.0001% THD .
Well, given the tube lineup and the fact that you use a floating paraphase splitter, anyone can get pretty close. A few minutes tracing things out from the photos will get anyone who is interested a bit closer. It doesn't look like anything mysterious, the art is in the paint job. Another guy who does excellent bright-colored amps is Raymond Koonce (timebanditaudio.com).
There's a very nice exposition on paraphase splitters in Crowhurst's "Understanding Hifi Circuits." I'd encourage any potential cloners to read it so that they understand the advantages and disadvantages of that circuit.
Was that really claimed? Love to see the measurement conditions.
I've got to say that 0.0001% THD is an excellent level to achieve in circuit design. Especially vacuum tube amplifier design. Congratulations! I can see why they are so sought after. I'd be willing to bet at that THD the sound may even be approaching esoteric solid state! Wow. Great job!
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Sure, if you say so, go right ahead. But I will tell you this, I've had numerous people try to reverse engineer one of my amps with limited success. Like I said on my site, it is all in the tuning. That is the art-form. Anyone can follow a schematic and make a working amp, but it takes the fine skill of an experienced "tuner" to make it sound right. Remember that. There is a reason Lance Cochrane and his student's work is highly respected. It's not JUST the superior circuit, it's the builder's ability to tune the finished unit.
Steve White
E E AMPS
Steve White
E E AMPS
SY- Thanks for the link on Raymond Kooce's work. Very Nice indeed! Love his work! Certainly hits a nerve with me!
Steve White
E E AMPS
Steve White
E E AMPS
No Problem: http://www.audiofanatic.it/Schemi/Tipo/Valvole/finali/pic_finali_PP/EL84PP_Pilot_Angleterre.jpg
Let me put it this way. Your amplifiers aren't anything special. Standard tubes and standard topologies. Of course, I can't see under the chassis, but my experience says, that this one here ( http://vacuumtubeart.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/dsc023241.jpg) has the simple, everyday Push Pull 12AU7-6AQ5 schematic. No myth, no tuning just plain simple. And with that crappy 12AU7 you will never get anything like 0.0001% THD. That THD value is lie. It just is. If you achieve that over a specific freq. range and more than a few miliwatts, the patent office should be your way to go. Even the OPTs look like some old trashy ones from a radio console or something. Really nothing special maybe worth 150-200$ of parts.
No, please, I don't want to badmouth anything here. Your amplifiers look nice and as I said before, I like those shiny colors. But you gave the answer already yourself:
"If this amp were for sale today, it would be priced at $1,800.00 Since this was my second sale back in 2008, it remains a solid investment, as the customer bought when my work was not known."
It's about the people who buy the stuff and the reputation. These People aren't interested in the circuit or anything. They just love something new and shiny and when it sounds different, too, the better. To many people, tube amps are something mystical and their makers are like gurus or something. You just have to find your customers and nice, hyped words about your products are profitable.
But this is a forum where technical aspects matter. Circuits are discussed, calculated and simulated. Lots of people build with tubes just for fun. They know that a SS amp will achieve a much lower THD than that old tube stuff. But that doesn't matter. Thank god!
Me and for sure many others here are glad to see your amplifiers and that you found happy customers. No jealousy. But you don't have to tell me or other here about a superior circuit or "tuning". 🙂
But I do! I don't have problems with that even as a poor student. Since you used the 1625 you may try this scheme. Amp is playing here atm and my others are out of use now 🙂
Maybe this is more superior than yours ? (you seem to like plate caps, too)
When I come to Canada I will pop around and give your superior circuits a try, OK ? 😀
I've just been looking through Crowhurst's writeup on the paraphase and floating paraphase in "Understanding Hi-Fi Circuits" pgs. 81-86 (that Sy mentioned). The standard paraphase is dependent on the tube parameters for balance (so it will drift) and has unbalanced phases near the frequency margins.
The floating paraphase on the other hand sums the 2nd harmonic distortion from its two tubes instead of canceling them out and has unbalanced output impedance from the two sides.
These would not seem to be optimum choices for a super low distortion amplifier. Perhaps some new innovation in the paraphase design is hidden here?
I don't usually expect to hear claims of super low distortion and of how it sounds ultra superb in the same design. Usually vanishing distortion leads to comments about it being "flat and lifeless". Can it be both ways? Nothing wrong with making it sound lively, I just like to understand what design subtleties are left in play, like some SE unbalance for example, or enhanced imaging from a common cathode resistor for L and R channels.
The floating paraphase on the other hand sums the 2nd harmonic distortion from its two tubes instead of canceling them out and has unbalanced output impedance from the two sides.
These would not seem to be optimum choices for a super low distortion amplifier. Perhaps some new innovation in the paraphase design is hidden here?
I don't usually expect to hear claims of super low distortion and of how it sounds ultra superb in the same design. Usually vanishing distortion leads to comments about it being "flat and lifeless". Can it be both ways? Nothing wrong with making it sound lively, I just like to understand what design subtleties are left in play, like some SE unbalance for example, or enhanced imaging from a common cathode resistor for L and R channels.
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I see you use archaeological parts in your amps , I mean this old Frako capacitors and those Philips ( the Philips is much better than the Frakos ) you don't have any leakage current problems with them? , and the resistors nothing special too .
The scheme is pretty smart , but its sound is depending a lot from the cathode capacitor in the second stage , as for distortion there is many tube amps with low THD in our days , I have been experimented over the years with different topologies and different circuits to achive low THD in my amplifiers , but the problem is what is good for you its not for others , and in fact we don't need very low THD in tube amps , because then they will sound clinical ( or if we make an tube amp with very low THD , then we can use a little bit "shiny " components to fix the sound a bit , something like cooking ) we must found the "silver line " in our tube amps , thanks .
Dimitris AR .
You have no idea what you are talking about.
I don't need to defend my amplifiers or myself for that matter to you or anyone else. I am where I am in this business because of the quality and superiority of my work and who I learned under. You can sit there and twist things to suit your argument all you like, but in the end, I'm the one who has built and maintained a reputation for making a superior product, and until you actually hear one of my amps you can't assume that they are not anything special. Like I've said over and over, all you have to do is read what my customers have to say, or take the time to listen to one, and you'll see very quickly that they ARE very special, very special indeed!
Steve White
E E AMPS
From the EEA website:
I've been scratch building amplifiers for many years. Not for sale, only for myself. Tuning is part of the normal finishing process. I call it tweeking instead. Nobody has a corner on that. I do, however, like some of the layouts used, and will keep them stashed in the memory banks for the future.
I watched the video in the website and think I know why the underside is hardly ever shown. The wiring is not very neat, and much could be done there to improve it. Other posters have commented on the over painting of hardware and transformers. I agree that I don't like it. Since I'm old school and quite traditional, these amps remind me of gaudy pimp-mobiles. It isn't necessarily the bright colors, (well somewhat) but the way they are applied. They look like the fit & finish just isn't there.
I'm sorry if I come off like an insulting old grouch. I'm not purposely trying to be. I'm just airing my 2¢. I do appreciate and empathize with the effort and work it takes to build all these amps as well as the fun of doing so. I wish I had more time to do so myself.
That's very curious. I've been in the test equipment business for many years. And I'm here to tell you that there is no signal source that will produce that level of purity. Nor is there any analyzer that would measure it. It's below the current state of the art noise floor. Hewlett-Packard, Tektronix, General Radio, Krohn Hite and even the master Bruel & Kjaer can't make these. .0001% THD is total bull turnips.
I've been scratch building amplifiers for many years. Not for sale, only for myself. Tuning is part of the normal finishing process. I call it tweeking instead. Nobody has a corner on that. I do, however, like some of the layouts used, and will keep them stashed in the memory banks for the future.
I watched the video in the website and think I know why the underside is hardly ever shown. The wiring is not very neat, and much could be done there to improve it. Other posters have commented on the over painting of hardware and transformers. I agree that I don't like it. Since I'm old school and quite traditional, these amps remind me of gaudy pimp-mobiles. It isn't necessarily the bright colors, (well somewhat) but the way they are applied. They look like the fit & finish just isn't there.
I'm sorry if I come off like an insulting old grouch. I'm not purposely trying to be. I'm just airing my 2¢. I do appreciate and empathize with the effort and work it takes to build all these amps as well as the fun of doing so. I wish I had more time to do so myself.
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