General Asylum: REVIEW: JWN Amplifiers Macho EL34 Amplifier (Tube) by nurxhunter

Model:	Macho EL34
Category:	Amplifier (Tube)
Suggested Retail Price:	$800
Description:	Superb Push Pull EL34
Manufacturer URL:	JWN Amplifiers

Review by nurxhunter on August 22, 2009 at 15:29:05
IP Address: 96.227.56.198 Add Your Review
for the Macho EL34

JWN Amplifiers Macho EL34

Jim Nicholls came onto the DIY scene around 2007. He is an electrical and mechanical engineer by training and is a controls maintenance engineer in downtown Philadelphia. I bought my first amplifier from him off Ebay, which was a PP 6V6/6L6 cathode bias amplifier. I took a chance, and was very pleasantly surprised. In fact, I became a 6V6 junkie based on this amp and a PP monoblock using the same circuit, also purchased from EBay.

The amp under review is a push pull EL34 cathode bias that also used 6550/KT88/KT90 all equally well. The first tube is a 12AU7 (a great tube I feel, and over-maligned by the Joe) into a pair of 6CG7--another signal tube I really like a lot. The JWN design puts around 520 V on the plates (nice value, IMHO) and draws around 35 mA from an EL34--more with the other power tubes. The PT gets warm to touch, and if I crank the sound, can get quite hot; however, operation has always been bullet proof and I have never fired a tube or popped the fuse.

Because the VSA Audio VR3.5 are on the lean side, and ultra transparent, I prefer EL34, finding the others a tad too shrill in the upper mids, which I am very sensitive to.

I have owned some decent SS, like Ayre 3-X, Aragon 8008, NAD S2500, Monarchy SM-70 Pro. I simple prefer tubes. I've owned Sansui 1000A, Sherwood S-5000-II, Conrad Johnson MV55 and MV-52 (Bill Thalmann mod), Quicksilver M-60 monblocks.

The JWN Macho competes with all these amps; in fact, I sold them all and kept the JWN amplifier.

I am not sure what Jim does to the circuit. I understand he is a student of 'Lance' (Lance Cochrane) from Ebay, who is held in VERY high regard as an amp builder. The following test is from a description on Ebay, which I find totally valid:

" I used to be BRAND minded until one Gentleman (we'll call him Just Steve) When I met Steve he told me he was making homebrew vacuum tube amps and yes I have seen quite a few but nothing like what he and his teacher (the Creator)(we'll call him Lance) have built. I have compared all the above brands and many more to both Lance's and Steve's creations and they are without a doubt worlds apart. There is something magical about Steve's and Lance's amps.. they have more then the Stereo effect (which we all know is standard) they have what I call the "Z" demension. This is Depth (X = left Y = Right and Z = depth) call it 3D if you wish. (Something only most dolby 5.1 surround systems can boast about) Here we are talking about a 2 channel "TRUE" Hi-Fi Vacuum Tube amp with depth. Its not subtle either its right in your face. You can put on a Record, CD, Tape or Tuner and hear things in a song you have virtually heard hundreds of times and hear things in it you have not heard. The secret of these wonderful amps lies in the simple design and the mathematics of it and even better my golden rule I like to follow. (The K.I.S.S. Rule Keep It Simple Stupid). The more parts the more potential problems, more parts equals overkill and something has to give. The more controls the more noise. I could go on about this for hours. The fidelity of these amps are second to NONE out there in the entire world and they are push-pull 6BQ5 or 6L6 or KT88's. But they are not limited to just that. They are AUTO-BIAS and AUTO-BALANCE. Yes I know its hard to believe and you would think hmmm how is it done. Well I am sure that Lance had to think outside the box when he started this design and came to the conclusion there must be a better way to do it and he took it upon himself to do just that. He has build over 300 of these and if you lucky enough to find one he has put up for sale here on Ebay don't think twice and BUY IT!! (Yes I own 2 of Steve's Creations and yes they are the same design as Lance as Lance taught Steve!) The story gets even better as you can swap out 6L6 ouputs for EL34's. Preamp 12AU7s can be subbed for 12AV7's, 12AX7's and 12AT7's and even this is a small list of what can be DIRECTLY subbed. (By subbed I mean you unplug your tubes and just plug in the sub it is that simple). This is simple unheard of. A Retail amp (MacIntosh, Dynaco, Fisher) cannot boast this. Also they are generally not auto-bias or auto-balance! Here you get the best of all worlds and the price is more then fair. All resistors are new and so are the capacitors so you are sure to have years of trouble free enjoyment. You can pay a starting price of $1,500 for a used MacIntosh or you can usually pick up one of Lance's amps for less them 1/2 that price." See drwho1963 review:
http://reviews.ebay.com/WHICH-HI-FI-VACUUM-TUBE-AMPLIFIER-SHOULD-I-BUY_W0QQugidZ10000000008713938

I just read the above review 2 minutes ago--which validates what I have heard with my own ears. Only the RM9 Mk2 gives better depth than the JWN EL34 I owned and have enjoyed for 1.5 years.

To me, a hallmark of a good amp is if you can EASILY discriminate Holland DD EL34 from xF1 Blackburn and xF2. These sound VERY different on the JWN amp. The 12Au7 has a profound impact. I prefer Siemens Chrome Plate or Mullard D-getter '57 12AU7. I tried other types in the 12**7 family, but the 12AU7 really sounds the best, as Jim designed it, I assume. Another hallmark to me is that an amp. will sound best with the tubes it was designed for. Others may prefer 6550/KT88, which are fine and sound as they should--I am an EL34 guy.

If you see JWN amps on Ebay--grab them; they sometime under sell. You can visit Jim's site at:

http://www.jwnamplifiers.vpweb.com/AboutUs.html

I have no commercial interest in JWN, I simply am a fan of his work. I realize that DIY amps from reputable builders are a great value. Electronic art, in my view. In fact, the Music Reference amps can be seen as an evolution of an expert DIY-er whose talent became appreciated over time. Burgress, Abraxas, McCormik and other as well are not legendary or will one day be. Their work is to DIY for.

Thanks for reading.

Product Weakness:	None for the price.
Product Strengths:	Excellent DIY build quality. Bulletproof operation, cathode bias to use different tubes in same family, runs reasonably cool, well designed. FANTASTIC DEPTH of stage, excellent lateral stage and image placement. Great value.

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Music Reference RM9 Mk-2
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): EAD Ovation+
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Squeezebox Red Wine audio (RWA)
Speakers: Von Scheikwert VR3.5
Cables/Interconnects: VD and Luminous Audio
Music Used (Genre/Selections): All, Classic Rock, RnB, Jazz
Room Size (LxWxH): 25 x 20 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments: Finished Basement--Treated
Time Period/Length of Audition: 18 months
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition): As above--swapped JWN Macho with CJ MV-52, QS M-60. Preferred JWN.

Amplifier:	Music Reference RM9 Mk-2
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	EAD Ovation+
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Squeezebox Red Wine audio (RWA)
Speakers:	Von Scheikwert VR3.5
Cables/Interconnects:	VD and Luminous Audio
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	All, Classic Rock, RnB, Jazz
Room Size (LxWxH):	25 x 20 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	Finished Basement--Treated
Time Period/Length of Audition:	18 months
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition):	As above--swapped JWN Macho with CJ MV-52, QS M-60. Preferred JWN.