Single ended - by accident?

[JerryT]

Adrian

Yes, 6550 only gets in for a comparison - but I'd take valve rectification with 2A3 if I could have it - does something with June Tabor, Sandy Denny and Christine Collister in P-P that I'd love to apply to the SE 2A3 (chocolate, cream and ...something heady, perhaps alcoholic but certainly addictive). I'd also take more bass snap and drive if I could have it without losing that special zing.

As delivered Goldbaile 2A3 has a soft and slightly recessed bass. Mid and treble are OK but have that odd moment of something rather special! Swapping valves made a big difference for me. 'Los gatos' 12AU7 and Sovtek 2A3 from Watford. I paid £160 plus £80 for the new valves and it is certainly worth the cost of two or three meals out with the family! I wouldn't pay more, though. Neither will I willingly go back to push pull, though so it may be onward and upwards (don't tell the wife or the bank manager).

Please note: my amp had no mains earth connection when delivered despite having a metal chassis connected to signal and HT earth - and no in line mains fuse. So for your own safety be prepared to address these issues before you use it.

I'm investigating one of 'those chinese 845 amps' at the moment to see if it can keep the strengths of the 2A3 whilst addressing some of the problems in the Goldbaile implementation.

Andrew

And there was I hoping for sanity by next week! I've got too many variables at the moment and no control - so I'll just have to keep listening to the music!

Jerry

[buddam]

Andrew, I'm merely an amateur dialectician, but could you perceive that your speakers are better because your hearing is worse?!!

Adrian

[andrew ivimey]

silly boy!

my hearing is fluctuating. I have had a bad patch and am so much better now, though this week I have not been well either (blimey!).

My fostex can always be compared against my main listening speakers - which do not manifest change. I am sure the Fostex have improved enormously from when first fitted. The first qualitative leap was after about a week and I still had to fit a step correction to get some bass. Now they are sounding so much 'fuller' with much more balanced detail.

I think I have been told that Fostex need 100 hours or something burning in time. Perhaps they do ...