September 25, 201312 yr comment_600680 http://www.head-fi.org/t/683115/the-apex-high-fi-audio-teton http://www.ttvjaudio.com/Apex_High_Fi_Audio_Teton_Preamp_and_Headphone_amp_p/aaa0000020.htm The Apex Teton - NEW from Apex High Fi Audio and TTVJAudio! Come to RMAF CanJam and be one of the first to hear it!!! The Apex Teton is a single-ended output-transformer-less (OTL) vacuum tube preamplifier and headphone amp. Its roots lie in the Wheatfield Audio HA-2 from nearly 15 years ago. While similar, it is far superior to the original design. Retaining the same tube compliment and amplifier topology, it has been greatly improved through the use of a better power supply and higher quality components throughout. The all-tube Teton uses a single voltage amplification stage followed by a current amplification stage. There are no transformers in the direct signal path, and only one coupling capacitor*. To provide low noise and solid bass response, the Teton uses a vacuum-tube rectifier and a multi-stage LC filter. Like other Apex tube headphone amps, the input stage uses the venerable 6SN7 tube, often regarded as the best tube ever made for audio voltage amplification. The power stage uses a 6080 dual triode, which can optionally be replaced with a number of other power tubes like the 7236, 5998, or 6528, tailoring the sound to the owner’s headphones and musical preferences. This combination, along with massive polypropylene output capacitors, gives the Teton a powerful sound along with the musicality that only a single-ended tube amp can give. The Teton is a fully unbalanced, single-ended amplifier. The input and output selections are made via a front panel switches, which activate relays that are strategically located to keep the signal path direct and pure. Like other Apex products, the Teton is designed and hand-built in the USA, using high quality components sourced largely from the US and Japan. Specifications Tube complement: Input - 6SN7. Output - 6080 standard (optionally 6AS7, 7236, 5998, or 6528). Rectifier - 5U4GB standard (many options possible, including GZ34/5AR4, GZ37, etc.) Inputs: Three unbalanced RCA connectors Line output: One unbalanced RCA connector Volume control: High quality TKD potentiometer Headphone output: 1/4" TRS unbalanced. Can drive loads from 16 ohms and up Dimensions: 17" wide x 7" tall x 11" deep Power: 120V or 240V, 50/60Hz * Regardless of what some people may have you think, the power supply circuitry as well as any bypass capacitors are actually also in the AC signal path. Even though they are not as critical as components like coupling capacitors, because of this, only high-quality capacitors Edited September 25, 201312 yr by shellylh Report
September 25, 201312 yr Author comment_600684 I bet the fact that it is "fully unbalanced" will keep people from buying it. Report
September 25, 201312 yr comment_600699 Unbalanced is a turn off, especially if your already all balanced up. But that's one heck of nice looking amplifier. Report
September 25, 201312 yr Author comment_600701 Evidently I cannot spell Millett correctly. Could a mod change the title to the correct spelling? Report
September 25, 201312 yr comment_600702 Evidently I cannot spell Millett correctly. Could a mod change the title to the correct spelling? Done. Also, based on recent discussions surrounding the HD800 I'd wager that this stands a good chance of being an excellent amp for those cans. Report
September 25, 201312 yr comment_600705 I bet the fact that it is "fully unbalanced" will keep people from buying it. One could always buy two... Report
September 25, 201312 yr comment_600706 Evidently I cannot spell Millett correctly. I have a HeadRoom product I should show some time... Report
September 25, 201312 yr comment_600711 unlike some other product we have been discussing recently, sure looks built really nice with premium grade parts. especially the output caps. and since this is basically a singlepower extreme done to the extreme, its going to kick ass for high impedance headphones. cathode resistors are visible and are bolted to the heatsinks. betcha no ground loops inside this thing. sure looks to be leaning a bit to the left however. I wonder why that is. Edited September 25, 201312 yr by kevin gilmore Report
September 25, 201312 yr comment_600712 Done. Also, based on recent discussions surrounding the HD800 I'd wager that this stands a good chance of being an excellent amp for those cans. I think so too. This looks pretty similar to the Menace (half the tubes) and that's one of maybe 3 amps I've ever enjoyed the HD800 on. Report
September 25, 201312 yr comment_600740 [joke] Its a shame its not balanced, I have a hard time believing Pete would stoop so low as to build something that looks really pretty, and knowing what it is based on probably sounds realllllly nice with the HD800 without conforming to non-tech-peoples' preconceived notions. [/joke] sure looks to be leaning a bit to the left however. I wonder why that is. Photographer was not perfectly squared up with the amp and we have perspective distortion. The reason the ""45* view" shot works so well for so many things is that it works from about 30-60*. Just get in that general area and fire. perfectly straight shots of things with hard lines need to be perfectly straight, like within a few degrees. Report
September 26, 201312 yr comment_600751 sure looks to be leaning a bit to the left however. I wonder why that is. Politically, or otherwise? Aye keed, aye keed... Report
September 26, 201312 yr comment_600786 [joke] Its a shame its not balanced, I have a hard time believing Pete would stoop so low as to build something that looks really pretty, and knowing what it is based on probably sounds realllllly nice with the HD800 without conforming to non-tech-peoples' preconceived notions. [/joke]. Oh! "Fully unbalanced" refers to the AMP! I thought maybe it meant, well, us. Report
September 26, 201312 yr comment_600830 I was making a joke about the weight distribution All the heavy stuff on the left. Might prove a little unstable depending on its centre of gravity? Personally I prefer a more symmetrical layout Report
September 26, 201312 yr comment_600833 Personally I prefer a layout that favors function over form, which this does. I think Innerfidelity needs to review this amp. Report
September 26, 201312 yr comment_600844 ^ don't you mean function over form? EDIT: or form follows function? not sure how you say this in a PC manner Edited September 26, 201312 yr by Pars Report
September 26, 201312 yr comment_600852 Finally a good reason to pull my 6528 collection out of storage! Report
September 26, 201312 yr comment_600864 Personally I prefer a layout that favors function over form, which this does. I think Innerfidelity needs to review this amp. Agree; but that should not mean you have sacrifice this for aesthetics. Good "industrial" design can be very attractive indeed Report
September 26, 201312 yr comment_600871 I'd argue that the amp in question is attractive. Well as they say "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" Personally I thinks its butt ugly given it costs $5,000. Would not get SWMBO approval in most houses Perhaps a perforated metal cage over the top to cover it up like a power amp might be an improvement? Edited September 26, 201312 yr by complin Report
September 26, 201312 yr comment_600872 Classic Wheatfield HA-2: Layout seem to be the mirror opposite: What is that heat sink dissipating? I love that the headphone jack label explictly says "UNBAL OUT" Report
September 26, 201312 yr comment_600878 I think it looks great. Certainly better than most of the current alternatives. Report
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