balderon

I am very pleased with the BA although I have yet to find a reasonably priced Mullard ECC35. Prior to Craig shipping my amp I sent my EML 300b mesh to him as he was interested in auditioning. I wanted to share Craigs responses. A few days layer I received this followup message from Craig. I did notice the difference switching the bias to the PX4 position. It's certainly the way to go with the EML mesh.

RIP

My BA has finally arrived and I am pleased with the purchase. I decided to pair up with a set of EML 300b mesh plates (yes, its a REAL mesh). I sent my glass to Craig so he could compare with several other tubes he had (PX4, SET 300b, EAT, etc). He thought (so do I) the EML 300b mesh sounds great. The interesting part is the tube comes alive if you switch to use the PX4 biasing instead of the standard 300B. According to Craig the PX4 operating points are conservative and is below the EML 300B Mesh maximums. This is a good thing as I would not want to stress out the output tubes. I am bummed that during rolling different driver tubes my Mullard ADZAM 6SL7 driver heater burned out ( I don't know if I didn't wait long enough before plugging it in and a surge killed it.... Either way I am quite bummed it's gone. I really want to get another one but am so hesitant due to the cost. I still have the Tung Sol 6SN7 round plate. It's a little more analytical than the ADZAM but at this level everything is so subtle.

Enjoying this album more than I thought I would.

Happy Birthday. May there be no cheapskates who combine your birthday and Christmas gifts!

Thank you. I have been recovering from a serious case of upgradeitus and I have retired my Bijou. It's been boxed for the last 8 months. I have recently put it up for sale but it's doubtful I can get back anything close to the cost of the parts. Either way DIY is a love not a business.

X2 - Clueless is an understatement.

I think this seller was trying to scam me. Like they say, if the price sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. On a better note. I placed an order for the EML mesh and mailed my deposit to Craig today. I hope his elves are working overtime for Xmas!

I have located a pair of new production Western Electric 300b's for a fair price. Will anyone talk me out of buying those in favor of the EML 300B mesh? I expect I will pull the trigger on a BA this week or next! I am waiting upon delivery of some special components for Craig to install. I wanted to do that myself but he wouldn't honor the warranty if I modified the amp.

5 early 1940's 6SN7GT/VT-231 Tung Sol Round Plate. Triodes were reasonably matched and most were pretty strong. Purchased for a great price although the base was cracked on each one.

Not exactly the solution I was hoping for! I should learn to just keep my mouth shut sometimes. What's done is done. Maybe I can impress the permission gods and get a promotion!

I searched the forums and did not find any posts highlighting this issue. When I am logged in and attempt to view a users profile I am redirected to an error page displaying "[#10245] You are not permitted to view member profiles." Also when I hover over a username I am presented with a "View Profile" hint. When I logout of Head-Case I can view the users profile without error. In addition when I hover over the users name I see a popup containing a summary of the users data. It certainly appears to be just the opposite behavior you would prefer for us mere "newbie" members.

Thanks XXII for your input. I have heard a true mesh plate is something glorious to hear. I checked with Craig and it's not a good idea to change to the higher 300B-XLS operating points mainly because it would exceed the max current ratings of the output transformer. One advantage biasing the XLS as a typical 300B is longer tube life as the XLS is designed for higher ratings. So now I have a choice between the solid or mesh plates. decisions... decisions. LOL

Dry and boring is never any fun but at least I am compensated for my time! For those who like to poke fun, note the last word in the title is not spelled scum.

Sorry, I don't have any sources for tubes outside of the common places. But if I happen to come across anything I'll certainly pass along the information.

Thanks to all for your kind comments. I am undecided if I will use a TSRP. I have spares to try so my ears will have the final say. I have always liked the EML product line as the build and sound quality is top tier. Unless someone convinces me otherwise I will adopt the selections Blubliss and Purrin have made with my own twist! I will likely select the EML 300B-XLS and talk with Craig about incorporating customizations allowing adjustments of the 300B operating points taking advantage of the XLS. Having not seen the detailed pictures of the insides or schematic of the BA, I am not sure on how feasible this will be. I am awaiting a response from Craig.

I replaced my avatar with one from the other place! Are you using vintage AD1's? The socket base on the AD1's triode is vastly different than the PX-4. Did you retrofit your BA or make an adapter? Thanks!

This is my first post but I have been a long time lurker. I am strongly considering pulling the trigger on ECBA. My first inclination is to order a pair of KR PX-4 and pairing with an TSRP driver. Does anyone have experience with this combination driving balanced HD-800's?