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In Reply to: Chinabest on ebay, good source of tubes, also first impressions of my Don Allen 45 amp posted by 2chJunkie on October 28, 2006 at 10:03:43:
It great to read that you have the same experience that I had with the Don Allen 45 amps. I also had Don modify my Morrow 300B monoblock amps. I was very happy with the Morrow 300B and was concerned when Don suggested changes. However, he took them to a new level.A couple of observations from what I experienced with my 45 amp:
- With the TJ 45 tubes the 6bk7 seems to sound the best.
- With the RCA, NU the 6bq7 sounds better.
- Agree that the TJ 45 sounds the best
- I found a couple of Mullard 6bk7's and they improved the sound further. The 6bk7's are so cheap you can have fun tube rolling.
- Don's cables really improved the sound and are inexpensive. The best sound for me has been using his cables from the preamp to the amp and Grover cables from the cd player to the pre. (I am using a Esoteric 50s while my Sony SCD-1 is getting additional mods). With the Sony I use Don's cables exclusively. They are better than the truly expensive (for me)cables I had been using. ($800 -$2,000 range)
- Don's preamp is unbelievable for the price. I have an ArtII and it is real close in performance. I have been told that if you use a Brightstar stone on top of the preamp and a Herbie tube damper the preamp performance improves further. That is my next step.
- When Don's amps have had a chance to break in their performance is incredible.One final note: Don is one of the nicest and most honest individuals I have dealt with.
Follow Ups:
One final note: Don is one of the nicest and most honest individuals I have dealt with.That really sums it up. Guys who do work like this (and for price.....I feel guilty considering the performance) are far and few between. To call him an asset is an understatement. The thing that awes me the most is how knoledgable he is. Ill throw some idea his way or put fourth a scenario and nearly every time hes a step ahead of me. I swear hes tried nearly every trick in the book. I was very sad to hear John Hogan passed on. While Ive never tried or heard any of his gear he sounds much like Don in his gear’s performance and the kind of man he was. I almost fell off my chair in laughter when one poster told of how he witnessed John pull an 845 out of a running amp and pop another in.
My 45 amp has the James output transformers. These really are a sleeper deal at $150 a pair.
On the note of tubes used in the 45 amp. I know Don also feels the 6bk7 is choice when paired with the TJ tubes but I feel, after a long night last night rolling inputs, that the 6bq7 tubes are my fav. Heres how I hear things tube wise in the 45
6bk7 It has the widest soundstage of the inputs Ive tried. Gives that, mellow warm “tube” sound more than any other. Has a bit bloated bottom end though. It kind of has what many describe mullard tubes as so to speak (not to knock mullard in anyway, best EL84 sound to me). However I found myself yearning for more top end and more detail/resolution. They kind of sound rolled off on top to me. I really wish I could meld the characteristics of these and the 6bq7 togeather. Ahhh in a perfect world. I should note I prefer this tube in the CD player. Seems to compliment my 6bq7 in the amp. It makes CDs sound great, Im guessing its kind of a tameing effect.
6bq7 I should note that right now all I have are NOS Brimar (england made, have the acid etches to prove validity) 6bq7 tubes (snaged 7 of these on ebay for about $40). Ive bought some NOS sylvania and RCA 6bq7 to try and compare with but for now the Brimars are all I have (not that Im complaining). As stated these are my fav with the TJ tubes. Yeah I loose a bit of soundstage but they image better IMO. But more so they seem to have far more mid/high detail than the 6bk7. They dont have that fat tube sound as the bk do. But rather are tighter sounding. There not thin which brings me to the 6aq8
6aq8 Similar to the 6bq7 in that it reveals far more mid/high detail but at the sacrafice of tone and body. These do infact sound thin to my ears. They had bottom end but were almost compressed. They just plain lacked the fufilling tube sound and just had a narrow/thin sound to em. And they image real short. Its like the sound is fighting to get to you.
Again all these comparasons were done with the TJ tubes. Im sorry but it wasnt worth my time to roll with the OS tubes. Again, to me, there is just no competition.
You know Ive been meaning to ask Don about those cables he sends along. Im using them on the Don CD player and (I didnt mention I also have his modded Pioneer PL-L800 linear turntable) turntable. BTW if you listen to vinyl his setup is great (again for the money.....) I also use his newcomb and bogen mic transformers for MC trannies, amazing bargin. I do however use several Cardas neutral reference cables. I have a cardas phono NR going from the trasformer box to the phono pre. I also have cardas cables going from my DA on the dvd player and to and from the pre and amps. While these are not cheap cables they can be found used for around $300 for a meter pair. Far more than many could justify (I imagine it would be a cold day in hell before Don would). However like yourself I have gone the $$$ route before finding Don. I will have to do an A/B on his cables and the NR.
Havent heard Dons pre yet but Im not worried. I dont think hes capable of dissapointment. Im having him build a pre with two line outs and Im working with him on putting a fixed line out on it also as I would like to be able to archive some of my vinyl to the computer while listening. Plus as with any manufacurer, these a synrtgy to be had with mateing same builder gear with one another.
I have this TAD 1602 woofer Id like to turn into a sub. The woofer is rated at 97db but in practice..... It would be in a ported box. I told Don about my plan and he said a PSE amp would likly be the trick. So I want to have him build a 6550 PSE amp that gives about 20watts. Should be enough for such a sub. Id like to have one line out off the pre go to a Velodyne SMS-1 processor then the amp. Those SMS-1 units are a heck of toy.
I will also be building Dons speaker. I have the Eminence CX15 driver and Dons modded HF compression drivers. I just need to find a builder near me for cabs. Or Id be happy to pay anyone out there for it and pay the ship cost. Just want someone I can trust to do a good job.
Anyway this thread has gotten large enough.... :-)
Nice chatting with ya
Dave
Does Don make a el84 set?
Don Allen does make an exceptional single ended EL84 amp, his popular "cake pan" amp is a budget version of this design. It is actually SEP, Don and I tried both triode and pentode mode, the latter being a clear winner for the EL84 in this design. I've EL84 monoblocks that Don built using better iron etc., and after I had them installed Don brought over his 300B amp and we did a comparison. In my system the EL84 SEP was the winner, we both agreed. His 300B amp was spectacular with his system, which design would sound better with your speakers in your room is unknown.I met Don over 10 years ago, and he has been a true friend since that day. His experience is ..well.. he estimated years ago that he had worked on over 800 tube amp chassis in his lifetime, and this experience is evident with his designs. He has repaired or upgraded several vintage amps I own, plus I have 2 of his CD players, his preamp with phono stage, and 8 (gulp) custom monoblock amps. The value of his gear is tremendous compared to what is out there.
Boyd
If you'd care to see some pics of Don's amps, mine are pictured on this link, amongst the speakers.
I'm looking for a bed room buddy...don't like big tube amps emitting a lot of heat. thanks!
Don Allen's stereo 'cakepan' EL84 amp can built on as small as a 9" x 13" chassis, maybe a bit larger if you choose upgraded iron, etc.E-mail me if you'd like Don Allen's contact info.
Boyd
Care to talk about Sunday night?? [-;What convinced me to take the initial plunge with Don's products was the fact you had some true horn exotica, yet chose Don's products to source and drive these magnificent speakers.... Along with being floored when I found how reasonably-priced (if not underpriced) Don's products were. All the rest was history.
What kind of got me was that I was aware of Don's products for three years prior to that (with Peter Clark's fine system), but I didn't make a move because I presumed Don's amps would cost at least four times what they actully cost.
And in retrospect, I really think I would have been a good ten grand poorer had I continued riding the merry-go-round for my second system, had I not discovered Don's products. For sometimes value is best served from **not** purchasing gear afterwards. And I feel as if I haven't missed a thing in the world of Stereophile and high-priced audio. (I know, I bought those V-Caps.)
Hi Todd,
That was Sunday ??Thanks for your praise, had you heard my systems "without" Don's electronics and assistance, your opinion would be much different!
Agreed, we can talk superlatives and the wonderfulness of Don Allen's gear, but as all who have found once they make the plunge, Don's gear makes this hobby much more pleasing on the EARS and POCKETBOOK!
Boyd
Yup, I'm finding out more and more these days that there's some particular magic brew with single-ended pentode EL84. I usually do not particularly like the "lush" and "liquid" school of SET, and while 45SET can be very nice without being overly lush, I still think SEP EL84 I have now is more satisfying to my tastes.
I dont like speaking for him, however I imagine he could. He has been great in designing around my needs.I would say that if you were going for a single EL84 wired in set, unless you were trying to avoid the cost of 300B tubes, I would go with a 300B set amp. Your getting around the same power output. I know Don feels triode tubes such as the 300B, 45, 2A3.... so on do yeld some of the best sound. However his PP amps sound quite good also. His 6W6 PP amp has a number of happy owners, this is around 11 watts I believe. I have an old RCA console stereo amp that was rebuilt by him which is EL84 PP. I would guess it to be around 12 watts or so. It did MANY things better than my stock 300B amps. Hence my sending them to him for a re-work :-)
All the best
Dave
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