I just saw this on Lloyd's website, and he has a newsletter describing the various technical changes that went into the new model:

http://hollowstate.netfirms.com/Branches5.pdf

looks nice, haven't heard any of the mapletree stuff, so i can't comment much after that...

I've heard the HD150, which is not bad at all with the RS-1s I had at the time.

According to Lloyd, the power into 32ohms has been quadrupled from 80mW to 320mW, which should really give better control of Grados.

Am I the only one turned off by magic eye tubes? They just strike me as a bit gimmicky especially on something that looks as nice as that amp does already.

Am I the only one turned off by magic eye tubes? They just strike me as a bit gimmicky especially on something that looks as nice as that amp does already.

That is the first thing I saw as well.

Am I the only one turned off by magic eye tubes? They just strike me as a bit gimmicky especially on something that looks as nice as that amp does already.

Nope, you're not the only one, I don't like them at all. It's too bad, too, since I just love the burgundy finish.

What are magic eye tubes? Are those the three tubes in the front?

Anywho, the extra power increase sounds like good news for Grado owners. not this specific grado owner, but you know.

When I first looked at it I though, damn a 6 tube single ended amp... sweet!

But then I saw the magic eye tubes, wtf? What is the point?

What are magic eye tubes? Are those the three tubes in the front?

They're like the tube equivalent of a VU meter, at least the type that I'm familiar with are. I didn't both to look up the specific type that this amp uses but odds are that they don't do anything other than complicate the build (two more heaters to wire) and are only there for aesthetic reasons. [edit]According to the info presented so far they look something like this:

and act something like this:

The one in my Dared knockoff is similar and is annoying as hell with the lights off, it's fracken bright as hell.

Am I the only one turned off by magic eye tubes? They just strike me as a bit gimmicky especially on something that looks as nice as that amp does already.

I completely agree with you. Once the novelty wears off....

I completely agree with you. Once the novelty wears off....

Magic-eye tubes are definitely gimmicky, but just take them out if you don't want to see them

Magic-eye tubes are definitely gimmicky, but just take them out if you don't want to see them

Yeah, nothing says "quality" to me like two empty tube sockets.

Am I the only one who thinks magic eye tubes are cool?

A theremin! I actually had one in my apartment in NYC for awhile! I think my ex was using it, or thinking of using it (I don't remember) on an album he was working on, and a friend of ours had been working on a documentary about it, had just gotten back from Russia where he'd been following an elderly crazy lady, Clara Somebody, who was the last great (or maybe only great) theremin player, around. I think Robert Moog had lent it to him, and somehow we had it. The documentary turned out pretty cool, now that I remember. That instrument, though, is damn near impossible to learn.

How does the Mapletree stuff compare to Singlepower's offerings?

Yeah, nothing says "quality" to me like two empty tube sockets.

Ditto again.... love those empty sockets....

Finally a Mapletree amp that looks nice in the pic!

Vicki -- Clara Rockmore?!?!? Yeah, she was the greatest. Dang thing is well nigh impossible to hold a steady note on. I had a friend who went to Robert Moog's Theremin Workshop weeklong thing.

Am I the only one who thinks magic eye tubes are cool?

Jury's still out with me -- I like novelty (want to get myself a Nixie clock at some point), haven't had to live with it, don't know if I will tire of it (I tire of sugar and salt, so I tire rather easily).

Voodoochile's looks pretty good in pics

Amen, but it's almost not fair to call that a Mapletree amp especially from an aesthetic point since Mark did all that himself.

Am I the only one who thinks magic eye tubes are cool?

That's what it's looking like.

That's what it's looking like.

I'm betting Billy would love them too.

Don't knock the doc. The original HD+ was/is a very nice headamp whose sonics shine only with 5751 3MBPs from the likes of RCA, Raytheon and Sylvania ($70-$120 a tube). Mine drives both my old 100 Ohm HD-595s and my AKG K-701s, so it was no slouch on power even with a 5751 driver.

I am sure this will be a nice-sounding unit, green eyes and all!

they generally aren't as good (to my ears), but they are cheaper, and still pretty nice. at least the ones i heard at Earl's... i can't remember what he had (i think one stock and one custom, unless my memory is deceiving me).

The custom amp I had built was the basis for the HD200. He was running the 12b4a's way to easy. He is now getting multiple times the power the Ear+ developes.

Don't knock the doc. The original HD+ was/is a very nice headamp whose sonics shine only with 5751 3MBPs from the likes of RCA, Raytheon and Sylvania ($70-$120 a tube). Mine drives both my old 100 Ohm HD-595s and my AKG K-701s, so it was no slouch on power even with a 5751 driver.

I am sure this will be a nice-sounding unit, green eyes and all!

The best sounding input tube I tried in the Ear+ was the Tung Sol 12AZ7 @ $6 each. I sold the amp to a guy on head-fi and he liked the 12AZ7 better than the TM BP RCA included in the sale. There are so many good sounding and inexpensive tubes out there that stomp the over-hyped 12AX7/5751/ 6922 etc... I cringe when I see people drop a fortune on them.