n_maher

Do you have some more recent pricing information? The last I heard it was: My math puts the total at: $899 base +$199 module upgrade +$399 Home DAC +$199 SA + $399 DPS = $2095. It'd be a shame if the base price has already gone up $200 more since I'm assuming they have the module and SA upgrades priced accurately.

I give up, I give in...

You're my boy, Blue, you're my boy!

I caught that it was GE, the rat-bastard! And sorry about the initials thing, I caught it but couldn't change it, being a mere mortal I was left powerless after 5 minutes.

Looking forward to your impression of the amp.

aty999, I think the annoyance was simply people wanting to share in your excitement and see what is, as far as I can tell, a fricken gorgeous amp. Hell, I tried to post your own picture of it, thinking that was what you wanted after you hinted that the pictures were there if you just looked, but I was then told I was "un-fun". So please, take nice pictures and post them up for us to drool over. When you get around to critical listening post up some impressions if you want. But I agree that the most important thing would be to just enjoy the amp. Nate

Is there really any mystery here? I can certainly understand the joy of receiving an amp after such a prolonged wait but this is quite the to-do about the patron of bee-culture.

I'm gonna guess... "don't ruin the fun"

Amazon says $444.12.

FIFY Nothing like having someone follow up on a reference only to find that you stole information (however trivial or whatever your intentions) from your employer.

With Justin's new modules I believe it's no longer really a valid comparison. I could be wrong though.

Eh, my 2? is that it is what it is. If he's running an audio related business then he's an MoT and subject to the rules of the board. He probably brought it on himself with the whole RA-1 thread which was idiotic, especially from someone who's been around as long as he has. I think it'd be in Head-Fi's best interest to keep going with the MoT tags and hopefully create a more level playing field.

How long till the 701s get recabled, Ethan?

Eh, random junk pretty much.

Bob, If he answered every email he got he'd never get any amps built. I've seen the man's inbox, it is a scary, scary sight. I hear what you're saying though about the chain of communication but seriously, he'd be answering emails all day every day. Here's a funny, vaguely related comparison for you - for the most part I've stopped posting pictures of the stuff that I build on Head-Fi simply because of all the idiotic PM's that I get afterwards asking if I'll build someone something, where I got parts, how I did this and that, etc., etc. I can't imagine what it's like for someone like Mikhail.

Ditto on that one, it worked a few times after the upgrade and now it's on the fritz.

Well, he was flying back and forth to Florida so I'd give him a bit of time to respond. If I were in your shoes I'd pre-order a PPXE. If you decide to sell it I doubt you'll have any trouble getting most, if not all, of your $$$ back since the price is going to go up after the initial run. Are there better amps out there? Sure, but at some point you just have to find something that sounds good and enjoy it. My 2?

Disregard my previous statement, I think I misunderstood what the Monarchy does. D'OH!

Based on Earl's comments in this thread it's likely that Tyll got that detail wrong and the tubes are 6AS7's and not 300Bs. They do kinda look similar. 6as7 300B

Recent searches I've done have turned up nothing in the way of 4-gang pots. Any links would be greatly appreciated. And as far as I know it SFT's website is pretty much toast, none of the images work anymore and there isn't a link to a parts section like there used to be.

The second PS probably isn't needed but if I was going to go balanced I'd go fully balanced that's the way I'd go. The real impediment in my eyes is the volume control issue along with the case requirements. Going balanced to me means either a 4 gang stepper or 2, 2-gang steppers. Neither of those options is going to be cheap when compared to something a $15 alps pot and probably going to be 10x as expensive. I won't even go into cases as the options are just too numerous and varied to bother, but you're right it's not going to be cheap any way you slice it. Certainly interesting and definitely more affordable. My biggest hurdle is the complete lack of a balanced source and no plans to do anything about that in the near future. I'm really hoping that my current single-ended project will make me forget about going balanced for a long, long time. Or at least until Headroom builds a balanced Desktop DAC .

Are you sure . Or should I say, I'll believe it when I see it!

What makes you think it's not going to be expensive? I'd love to see your numbers since in my preliminary estimates I had it in the neighborhood of $600 (4 channels @ ~$100ea + 2 power supplies at ~$100ea) before even thinking about a pot or a case. The cheapest volume control I could come up with would run another $100 and the case(s) would be another $100 easy and I'd be tempted to spend more. So I'm sticking to 3-channel, single ended for now, if I build it at all. I'm not saying it couldn't be done for less but the β22 is going to be one of more expensive DIY designs out there.

The first and most important question is, "Do you have a balanced source?"

Naw, it lacked the requisite "my friend" and "to military specifications".