nurxhunter

Funny, not only Earl, but three other buddies tell me to hold it, all four fellers I respect and trust. Lately I have been listening on Monitor Audio Silver 9i with Abraxas 807. Jeff sure knows how to build a swell amp, I must say. The 807 sounds to me much different that 6L6G, the latter is much more 'tubey' sounding (which is charming) the 807 sounds much more linear and transparent--but--might be the circuits I am hearing and not only tubes, as I am comparing amps. The 807 sound to me like a 7591 (which was in my Sansui 1000A)--linear, and the 6L6G sound like what I imagine a SET amp driving high eff. speakers would sound like--charming. The 6V6-G sounds right in between these two. But, I may be speaking through my glass here.

The Power Transformer is from Sansui 1000A It sound greats on Senns and Grado. Sounds great on 90db and up speakers. Jeff Larson the builder is great in supporting, no matter who was first owner (I am second). Audio Art.

Odd that the question was on the Earmax, but no replies on this amp? Is the EM/EMP rare in headphiler's inventories? I recently bought a near-mint EMP used with Philips E188CC NOS and good testing TFK ECC801S (yes, those) tubes. The trio is considered by many--but not by me in my circuit--as the best available. After some rolling of the outer tubes to Amperex ECC88 (6922) Holand OG and USA WS (both shield-halo construction, both 1960s) and rolling dozens of 12AT7s to select the handful of finest sounding ever made (have tested almost all and I do not rank the TFK abong the best)--and a bit of cable rolling, I find the Earmax Pro (EMP) absolutely charming with Senn HD650/Cardas. Transparent and musical with great bass, though with intense bass (rare even for this RAP/RnB listener) is can get flustered. For Jazz and vocals, it's spectacular. I also own the SP PPX3-6CG7 (P2P with upgrades) running with a NOS GE 6GU7 and a pair of NOS RCA Blackplates. The SP is super (but not SUPRA) as well. Both the EMP and PPx3-6CG7 are around the same price used. After several weeks of listening to both; frankly, I cannot decide--but--if pressed to take only one to an island and live with it forever, I might choose the EMP. Both amps are quite responsive to tube rolling; however, great 6CG7s are cheap--great 6DJ8s are expensive (but great 12AT7s may be had relatively cheaply as well). A full tube rolling experience with 6CG7/6GU7 will cost about $100 on ebay for the PPX3, a full roll with the EMP could go over $500 (exclusing pinched waist and CCa breeds). The SP has the upper hand in power and impact, the EMP wins tone and musicality--and--I do not find it 'tubey' at all, nor underpowered with the Senns. They are both roughly equal with most bass. If, however, you prefer low impedence phones, you should definately lean to the SP line, without question. The stock tubes that come with both are mediocre and mask the potential of these fine amps.