NKOTB - TTVJ/Millett 307A Headphone Amp

[aerius]

Originally Posted by aardvark sandwich

I think a little more attention to detail would help greatly; for example, the hex bolts or whatever they are on the transformers; surely these parts can be ordered in black?

Take a Sharpie to them!

And couldn't the transformers be mounted so that you are not looking dead on at the bolts, and instead are viewing the smooth thin side of the transformer? (maybe not, I dont know, but I think it would look nicer)

You could, but then they'd be more likely to pick up hum from the power transformers and chokes.

I'd also prefer to see the tubes in front of the transformers, but I guess that is subjective too.

It's a form follows function issue, the signal path of the amp is laid out from back to front to give the shortest possible signal path. The input goes in the back and comes out the front in a straight line. If we do the standard layout where the tubes are in the front and the transformer out back, the input signal has to be brought up to the front, then fed through the circuit, and the output brought from the back to the front panel. Signal path is longer and there's more chance for picking up hum & noise.

Misc. notes. A CCS for the DHT filament supply and choke input HV PSU, nice.

[aerius]

Originally Posted by EdipisReks

are there any pics of Frank Cooter's amp out there?

Mayberry on Acid meet impressions thread. It's the big 4 chassis amp, you can't miss it.

[deepak]

I think the amp looks great- simple, nice text, no garish logos. I'm going for a similar look for my next one.

[guzziguy]

There are pictures all over the MOA impressions thread on HF. Here are some from the thread to whet your appetite:

[EdipisReks]

wow, that's ridiculous.

[guzziguy]

Originally Posted by EdipisReks

wow, that's ridiculous.

It looks great, not the typical DIY job. More importantly, it sounds better than it looks!

[ojnihs]

what tubes make that blue fog? that's insane

[aerius]

Originally Posted by ojnihs

what tubes make that blue fog? that's insane

Mercury vapour rectifiers. Let's just say dropping one would not be a good thing.

[guzziguy]

Originally Posted by aerius

Mercury vapour rectifiers. Let's just say dropping one would not be a good thing.

Yep, they're not exactly Eco-friendly.

[n_maher]

Originally Posted by aerius

Mercury vapour rectifiers. Let's just say dropping one would not be a good thing.

Yeah, I can't imagine someone using them in a commercial application. And I wish Frank the very best of luck if he brings his amp to market.

[ojnihs]

Originally Posted by aerius

Mercury vapour rectifiers. Let's just say dropping one would not be a good thing.

they sure look pretty, but i agree, mercury isn't something to be toyed with

[tkam]

That's about as impractical as it gets for headphone amps and again if your going to spend that much just get a speaker rig .

As to the TTVJ/Millett amp, I'm ok with the industrial look as long as it sounds good. But really the idea of a $5k headphone amp just doesn't make much sense to me.

[n_maher]

Originally Posted by tkam

But really the idea of a $5k headphone amp just doesn't make much sense to me.

Given the hand-crafted nature I don't think it's aimed at making sense to very many people.

[Voltron]

I didn't know Todd was announcing it yet! I dig the look for the most part, and think it is well thought-out. I really want to hear this thing! Very curious and looking forward to CanJam to do that.

[Dusty Chalk]

Originally Posted by tkam

... if your going to spend that much just get a speaker rig .

As to the TTVJ/Millett amp, I'm ok with the industrial look as long as it sounds good. But really the idea of a $5k headphone amp just doesn't make much sense to me.

It's not that one is better than the other, headphone listening is just different from speaker listening. If I had that kind of money, I'd definitely be spending it on the best headphone amp (probably commission another Dragon) I could.

[aardvark baguette]

Originally Posted by ojnihs

mercury isn't something to be toyed with

Breaking Bad Spoilers

reminds me of the season finale of Breaking Bad. "Heisenberg" smashes a piece of fulminated mercury on the ground and blows out all the windows of the room he is in.

[Spiug31]

Originally Posted by n_maher

Wow, that looks heavy. I'm going to stick with a beta22 as I'm fairly confident I could lift it if I need to (my wallet is happily nodding ).


p.s. It was breathing the mercury vapour that caused many of the "Mad Hatters" to be mad.
http://www.hgtech.com/Information/Mad%20Hatter.htm

[Smeggy]

Now that's an amp just crying out for a nice black perforated metal cage cover on it. I think that, and a black faceplate would negate most of the 'looks' complaints. As to sound, I'd love to hear it with my K1ks. Sadly, along with the rest, it's way too expensive to ever afford. Anyway, it's nice stuff like this is still viable and being made even if only for a select lucky few.

I like

[guzziguy]

Originally Posted by n_maher

Yeah, I can't imagine someone using them in a commercial application. And I wish Frank the very best of luck if he brings his amp to market.

I would also assume that any commercial version would have non-mercury tube rectification, not that I know anything though.

[Beefy]

Originally Posted by guzziguy

I would also assume that any commercial version would have non-mercury tube rectification, not that I know anything though.

I don't think that it would be that much of an issue anyway. Most fluorescent tubes still contain a fair amount of mercury, and nobody seems too concerned about that.

PS..... bloody hell, this forum has the most bizarre selection of smilies I've ever seen!