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In Reply to: RE: Seduction Transformer Headroom posted by Dr.Toobz on September 07, 2009 at 22:39:01
Thanks for the replies! I didn't realize that the transformer put out such little current - maybe I was confusing it with the power trans in the SEX amp or something. Definitely not a good idea, then - maybe I'll just wait and see what the C4S boards in both amps do for gain before playing around with pre-amps and such.
As for the gain issue, I think part of the problem is that my DAC and CD player are just so darn loud, which is a good thing - the Marantz probably hits 5.0V, and is significantly louder than any of my other components. In comparison, the Seduction then sounds downright weak, with the SEX needing the volume pot at the 3 o'clock position for a lot of records over my cans! Louder records can get by with a lot less, but I still need the pot at least half open. Extra volume would help, since I'm driving Beyerdynamic DT880 Pro's, which are 250ohms impedance and not terribly sensitive to begin with. Speakers are two Klipsch Icon W-series bookshelves, which are probably over-rated at 92dB/w/m. I may eventually build a pair of Voight pipes, but I haven't the tools or facilities in my new, smallish condo. (The other issue is the fact that the room they're in has 10 foot vaulted ceilings and oak flooring.) Everything of >95dB efficiency seems to be very expensive for me, a person just out of a PhD program and paying a new mortgage and student loans!
Also, I've thought about swapping out the resistors in the SEX (and putting in higher voltage caps) to suit 6EM7's, but I've read a lot of mixed things here. Some say they don't have the "magic" of the 6DN7s, which as I recall, Doc B. thought may be due to the wimpier triode halves (compared to the 6DN7s) used for voltage gain. Also, I have not upgraded to the MQ irons, though I'm debating it. With the stock irons and chokes, wouldn't I run into some problems with the core saturating by 2W RMS? It already seems like the audio compresses at close to full output, with a noticeable flattening of dynamics and decrease in low bass. The 6EM7's seem like they should be able to put out about 3W in the SEX with better irons, but the stock ones seem like they would be a limiting factor. Even still, another watt would only be what, a 1.5dB increase in volume, though?
My C4S boards came today, so I'll report back my findings once they're in! Perhaps a "quickie" is in my future after all...though I'd rather save the dough for the Stereomour, personally......
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