Well, what can I say, but WOW! I admit that I was a bit reluctant to use what will very likely be the only pair of SS devices I will ever see on an amp I had already built.
I put it into the main system. My BabelJ2 with dual IRFPs was the amp that had stayed in a single chassis the longest, and it was the amp against which all others were compared. I had a tough moment removing those boards from the heatsinks. It was my "reference". I am so happy I did it.
Anyone that's read any of my previous rambles re: how things sound to me and in my room and system knows that it's all subjective against what I personally like. There was and is just something about the BJ2 that is just THAT for me. My description of the BJ2 with SS down is that it's the same as the BJ2 with two changes. I wanted to do it while it was fresh in my mind. However, since it's been a few days since I listened to the original... it could be "AllInMyHead". 😀
1) I hear a bit more detail in the mids and highs with no added harshness. Vocal notes and higher notes seem to hang on just that little bit longer and have a more clear beginning and end. Slight vibratos in voices and tone changes in instruments are easier to discern and add to the experience. Yes, it's subtle.
2) Unexpectedly... I hear more / tighter bass. Same speakers, same placement, same room, same preceding gear. Particularly true with drums. Don't really get much more with "e-bass". I was trying to discern if it's the initial attack or strikes that I'm hearing better or the actual note... I dunno, but I like it.
There's an old saying that 50 Million Elvis fans can't be wrong. There's probably a pretty good reason that the J2 has had the longevity it's enjoyed in the market. I'd love to hear a "real one" some day. Until then, this is very, very special.
Huge thanks to everyone in the thread for some tips. Special call outs to Nelson, CodyT, and the Mighty Zen Mod for making this all possible.
I put it into the main system. My BabelJ2 with dual IRFPs was the amp that had stayed in a single chassis the longest, and it was the amp against which all others were compared. I had a tough moment removing those boards from the heatsinks. It was my "reference". I am so happy I did it.
Anyone that's read any of my previous rambles re: how things sound to me and in my room and system knows that it's all subjective against what I personally like. There was and is just something about the BJ2 that is just THAT for me. My description of the BJ2 with SS down is that it's the same as the BJ2 with two changes. I wanted to do it while it was fresh in my mind. However, since it's been a few days since I listened to the original... it could be "AllInMyHead". 😀
1) I hear a bit more detail in the mids and highs with no added harshness. Vocal notes and higher notes seem to hang on just that little bit longer and have a more clear beginning and end. Slight vibratos in voices and tone changes in instruments are easier to discern and add to the experience. Yes, it's subtle.
2) Unexpectedly... I hear more / tighter bass. Same speakers, same placement, same room, same preceding gear. Particularly true with drums. Don't really get much more with "e-bass". I was trying to discern if it's the initial attack or strikes that I'm hearing better or the actual note... I dunno, but I like it.
There's an old saying that 50 Million Elvis fans can't be wrong. There's probably a pretty good reason that the J2 has had the longevity it's enjoyed in the market. I'd love to hear a "real one" some day. Until then, this is very, very special.
Huge thanks to everyone in the thread for some tips. Special call outs to Nelson, CodyT, and the Mighty Zen Mod for making this all possible.
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I think this is one of those games where you find the one that doesn't belong 🙂
In all seriousness though, its a pretty amazing amp. I definitely agree that it has that reference amp quality to it. A great measuring stick for all the others.
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differences between B. J2 and Real McKay FW J2 are on level of personal preference
close cousins, but yet different amps ....... and I can freely say that both are "very,very special"
my intention is never to Babelfish "better" than original; one of most important things why I'm not trying to achieve that, is fact that Pa's intention never is to make best he can and know; context of his products is completely different to that
let's ignore fact - am I able to make "better" .........
close cousins, but yet different amps ....... and I can freely say that both are "very,very special"
my intention is never to Babelfish "better" than original; one of most important things why I'm not trying to achieve that, is fact that Pa's intention never is to make best he can and know; context of his products is completely different to that
let's ignore fact - am I able to make "better" .........
Another question then...
How does the Babelfish J2 compare to the LuDEF? I don't have any of the precious SemiSouth parts, but I do have some LD1014D that appear to be real.
How does the Babelfish J2 compare to the LuDEF? I don't have any of the precious SemiSouth parts, but I do have some LD1014D that appear to be real.
again just matter of taste - all of them, frankly and without modesty, being of same high level of SQ
do not forget most important thing - all amps having autoformer based gain - are having certain and greater level of "organicity"of sound; say that level of tiniest details is never going to be the same as well executed amp with active FE and NFB, but "wholeness" of sound is always on side of amp with autoformer gain and no NFB
though, I could live with any of them , as sole exclusive amp
why I'm not, blame Pa ........ as for everything else
do not forget most important thing - all amps having autoformer based gain - are having certain and greater level of "organicity"of sound; say that level of tiniest details is never going to be the same as well executed amp with active FE and NFB, but "wholeness" of sound is always on side of amp with autoformer gain and no NFB
though, I could live with any of them , as sole exclusive amp
why I'm not, blame Pa ........ as for everything else
<Stares at LuDEF boards and parts>
I must show patience, I must show patience, I must show patience, I must show patience.
I must show patience, I must show patience, I must show patience, I must show patience.
Thank you for that..
I'm having fun (this is all for entertainment) switching between all electronic and buffer + transformer front ends with my VFET amp. There are definitely different flavors between these two. Both let different aspects of the output stage shine through.
I'm having fun (this is all for entertainment) switching between all electronic and buffer + transformer front ends with my VFET amp. There are definitely different flavors between these two. Both let different aspects of the output stage shine through.
I should have rephrased and said... must prioritize properly.
Before I do another amp in that "class", I have (okay want) to get two more PSUs built. The Babel J2 w/SS and my big ol' honkin' flamethrowing Burning Amp will likely never leave their respective chassis and are now using all the PSUs I have for ~24V rails.
So, I need more PSUs. Might do regulated supplies this time around. Just something new to try. That means more donuts and more parts that I don't have in my stash. I think I have PSU boards. The LuDEF will go into my other "First Watt Chassis", and I haven't decided what will go into my other "Pico" 4U/500. I was going to put the Singing Bush in that, but I think I need more heatsink. So, I may do monoblocks. Plus dual mono with that is HEAVY!
Mainly, I really want my Singing Bush up and running. It's been stuffed, PSUs are built, and it is just waiting on a home. That must come next, but I have to get off my butt and decide on the chassis configuration.
Before I do another amp in that "class", I have (okay want) to get two more PSUs built. The Babel J2 w/SS and my big ol' honkin' flamethrowing Burning Amp will likely never leave their respective chassis and are now using all the PSUs I have for ~24V rails.
So, I need more PSUs. Might do regulated supplies this time around. Just something new to try. That means more donuts and more parts that I don't have in my stash. I think I have PSU boards. The LuDEF will go into my other "First Watt Chassis", and I haven't decided what will go into my other "Pico" 4U/500. I was going to put the Singing Bush in that, but I think I need more heatsink. So, I may do monoblocks. Plus dual mono with that is HEAVY!
Mainly, I really want my Singing Bush up and running. It's been stuffed, PSUs are built, and it is just waiting on a home. That must come next, but I have to get off my butt and decide on the chassis configuration.
Something else to consider: CRC Power Supply (Class A amplifier)
I used a pair of these CRCRC boards with low Vf bridge rectifiers in my Aleph J. Together with a pair of Antek 300VA toroids, they all fit into a 400mm deep chassis. Just barely. The Aleph J is still my reference amp.
I used a pair of these CRCRC boards with low Vf bridge rectifiers in my Aleph J. Together with a pair of Antek 300VA toroids, they all fit into a 400mm deep chassis. Just barely. The Aleph J is still my reference amp.
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Thanks! I've taken a look at that one.
I have Prasi's LT4320 boards in various formats, and I still have yet to try XRK's SLB. I used Prasi's boards for the Singing Bush, and I still have a few left over along with some parts. However, I hear great things re: the SLB. I lean toward SLB just to try something new.
Edited to add - I still
the Aleph J (and all the Papa amps). Sadly, I can only listen to one at a time. 🙂
Edited again to add rather than throw in an entire new post. Thanks for below too, jwjarch!!!
I have Prasi's LT4320 boards in various formats, and I still have yet to try XRK's SLB. I used Prasi's boards for the Singing Bush, and I still have a few left over along with some parts. However, I hear great things re: the SLB. I lean toward SLB just to try something new.
Edited to add - I still
the Aleph J (and all the Papa amps). Sadly, I can only listen to one at a time. 🙂Edited again to add rather than throw in an entire new post. Thanks for below too, jwjarch!!!
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While we're on the topic of 24v power supplies, I'll throw this one in as well. The CapMx boards that came out of the Juma's Easy Peasy thread are awesome for Class A as well. I have a pair running dual mono duty on an F7 clone.
https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/pow...sy-capacitance-multiplier-74.html#post5980254
Here's a better picture after I re-mounted the transformers. This is in a 4U Deluxe chassis.
https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/pow...sy-capacitance-multiplier-74.html#post5980254
Here's a better picture after I re-mounted the transformers. This is in a 4U Deluxe chassis.
Attachments
SLB's are great too! Go back to post #560 to see my implementation. They aren't cheap to build and take up a considerable amount of space in the case, but they work VERY well and don't have a ton of voltage drop considering how much they clean up the power. I'm running dual Antek 400va with 22v secondaries and ending up with 26.9v under load. So only dropping about 4.2v, maybe less, through the whole system including sag from the transformers. I really need to go to 20v secondaries and scrub some extra heat off though.
A Week With The BJ2 SS Down
I only write these b/c there are so many people that ask either through PM or directly in the forum, "How does it sound?".
Standard BS caveats apply. My ears, my brain, my room, my gear. I'm deaf in one ear and can't hear out of the other. What I think will likely not translate to what you hear etc. etc. However, some useful trends seem to be evident.
It's gotten even better re: being the "most listenable" amp I have. I think there is a reason some people describe a certain indescribable sonic character as "warm". If you're one of those people, this amp is "warm" without being warm and fuzzy. It has all the detail (lack of fuzz) you'll likely appreciate, but it never whacks you over the head. I use Adele's Rolling In The Deep and Boston's Foreplay / Longtime as tracks to see if I can tolerate them. Some exceptional amplifiers make crappy recordings unlistenable (or vice versa). I listen to a lot of crappy recordings, so I adjust accordingly. I've since learned that my copy of Boston's first album on CD from circa late 80s has a "fault" that is known and fixable through some sort of digital trigger that can be added when re-ripped. It makes my ears bleed with "normal amps". I'll be exploring that. The Adele album is just overly compressed (IMO). I like both with this amp.
Female vocals absolutely shine. No issues with what I may perceive as sibilance or harshness. Quite the opposite. Every utterance is clearly heard, but never, ever cringe-worthy. Alisson Krauss and Annie Lennox are artists I use for some observations.
Horns and cymbals have no "edge", but are appropriate. They sound right to me. As previously stated, I prefer "shimmer" to "sizzle" with cymbals.
Bass seems more controlled and more authoritative. It may be the most obvious / least subtle change. Still don't know why. Makes no sense to me.
There's 'Something In The Air' - I think this is what ZM calls spooky. I like the presentation A LOT. Discernment among singers / instruments is even better, and the music just emerges in space. It's odd. It's different than what I perceived the presentation of the SissySIT to be. Sissy was/is "precise"; things are "anchored". With the BJ2 things "float". I dunno... I'll stick with ZM's "spooky". It works. I love CSNY. Helplessly Hoping and Find the Cost of Freedom are definitely "spooky".
It's a wonderful all-day amp. Some amps don't seem to convey all the music until you get them to some volume level. Some seem to "break up" at some point well prior to clipping or become harsh or imbalanced. In this case, I find the whole range enjoyable. Very much so. It's better at low volumes than before, and before it was very, very good. I may try to learn why. I'm now curious how some amps measure at say 1/4 to 1/2 a watt. If pressed, I'd say it sounds better at wake the dead levels too (probably ~10W), but I can't be sure.
It's more goosebumpy - You either know what I mean, or you don't.
tl;dr - It's the BJ2, but better. It's just so special. If you can build a BJ2, build one. If you are one of the lucky people that have a spare pair of SS devices; it's worth considering using them in this amp. The differences are subtle, but I'm very glad I took my favorite amp and made it even better.
<Insert more caveats re: confirmation bias.> 😀
I only write these b/c there are so many people that ask either through PM or directly in the forum, "How does it sound?".
Standard BS caveats apply. My ears, my brain, my room, my gear. I'm deaf in one ear and can't hear out of the other. What I think will likely not translate to what you hear etc. etc. However, some useful trends seem to be evident.
It's gotten even better re: being the "most listenable" amp I have. I think there is a reason some people describe a certain indescribable sonic character as "warm". If you're one of those people, this amp is "warm" without being warm and fuzzy. It has all the detail (lack of fuzz) you'll likely appreciate, but it never whacks you over the head. I use Adele's Rolling In The Deep and Boston's Foreplay / Longtime as tracks to see if I can tolerate them. Some exceptional amplifiers make crappy recordings unlistenable (or vice versa). I listen to a lot of crappy recordings, so I adjust accordingly. I've since learned that my copy of Boston's first album on CD from circa late 80s has a "fault" that is known and fixable through some sort of digital trigger that can be added when re-ripped. It makes my ears bleed with "normal amps". I'll be exploring that. The Adele album is just overly compressed (IMO). I like both with this amp.
Female vocals absolutely shine. No issues with what I may perceive as sibilance or harshness. Quite the opposite. Every utterance is clearly heard, but never, ever cringe-worthy. Alisson Krauss and Annie Lennox are artists I use for some observations.
Horns and cymbals have no "edge", but are appropriate. They sound right to me. As previously stated, I prefer "shimmer" to "sizzle" with cymbals.
Bass seems more controlled and more authoritative. It may be the most obvious / least subtle change. Still don't know why. Makes no sense to me.
There's 'Something In The Air' - I think this is what ZM calls spooky. I like the presentation A LOT. Discernment among singers / instruments is even better, and the music just emerges in space. It's odd. It's different than what I perceived the presentation of the SissySIT to be. Sissy was/is "precise"; things are "anchored". With the BJ2 things "float". I dunno... I'll stick with ZM's "spooky". It works. I love CSNY. Helplessly Hoping and Find the Cost of Freedom are definitely "spooky".
It's a wonderful all-day amp. Some amps don't seem to convey all the music until you get them to some volume level. Some seem to "break up" at some point well prior to clipping or become harsh or imbalanced. In this case, I find the whole range enjoyable. Very much so. It's better at low volumes than before, and before it was very, very good. I may try to learn why. I'm now curious how some amps measure at say 1/4 to 1/2 a watt. If pressed, I'd say it sounds better at wake the dead levels too (probably ~10W), but I can't be sure.
It's more goosebumpy - You either know what I mean, or you don't.
tl;dr - It's the BJ2, but better. It's just so special. If you can build a BJ2, build one. If you are one of the lucky people that have a spare pair of SS devices; it's worth considering using them in this amp. The differences are subtle, but I'm very glad I took my favorite amp and made it even better.
<Insert more caveats re: confirmation bias.> 😀
Those are good notes, thanks for sharing. “Something in the air tonight” is also one of my favorite tracks for the ‘goosebump’ test. I’m just a sucker for Phil Collins 🙂
I’ve always thought of this amp as having all the sonic virtues of a good single-ended amp (like an Aleph), but with the ‘speed and handling’ of a good push-pull amp (like an F5).
I’ve always thought of this amp as having all the sonic virtues of a good single-ended amp (like an Aleph), but with the ‘speed and handling’ of a good push-pull amp (like an F5).
I'm always trying to finalize amp to have broadest possible 2nd dominant... if possible all the way to full power
with some constructions that is natural, with some I did invest substantial elbow grease
with some constructions that is natural, with some I did invest substantial elbow grease
Hi ZM. Trying to figure out input impedance of Babel J2. Is it similar to Papa J2 at 100k or a different beast altogether?
as always with JFet input, resistor which is shunting input node to GND is dominating force
it can be altered pretty much all up to 220K without too much fuss, if using only SE input
if using Bal input, things are little more complicated - series resistor in input node is main Honcho and increasing it is ......... asking for trouble
in short - as is - SE Rin is approx 100K
Bal Rin - approx 18K
it can be altered pretty much all up to 220K without too much fuss, if using only SE input
if using Bal input, things are little more complicated - series resistor in input node is main Honcho and increasing it is ......... asking for trouble
in short - as is - SE Rin is approx 100K
Bal Rin - approx 18K
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