Anyone famaliar with the manufacturer,and in particular this pre amp.The credentials and testimonials seem impressive.The advertised 10 day audition is appealing.
My preamp is still as it was. Current output caps are Duelund VSF coppers. I highly recommend the Claritycap MR for the outputs. I still have a back-up pair I'm hanging on to.
I don't pay any more attention to the motherhood statement "sounds better than pre amps costing several thousand dollars more" than I do "he's the best man for the job" without disclosing who the other candidates were. No Sherod I did not sell my original AH,it was a second unit that I had acquired for comparison purposes.I have since sold that unit to a member who has the AH DAC and he's loving it. Does anyone have any more information on Josephs' development of an amplifier line?
Joseph has been spending a lot of time improving his interconnects and power cord offerings. On Friday, when I purchased a digital cable from him, I asked about the power amplifiers.
He has been listening to the 845 amplifier in his system for many weeks now. He is playing with the other tubes in the 845 complement. I didn't get definite information; I did not listen to 845 amp when I saw him that day. Rather, he demonstrated the improvement in the digital cable, which led to the purchase I mentioned above.
My impression is that he is pleased by the 845 amplifier but not satisfied with the development yet. The other two power amps use EL 34 and 811 power tubes, respectively. The EL34 development work is finished. Joseph indicates that he does not plan to make any more changes to it. The 811 power amp is the furthest from completion. My impression is that Joseph will finish the 845 before returning to the 811.
I don't know when Joseph will offer to sell his power amplifiers.
Sherod - I tested my cca's as I took my AH unit part for shipping for upgrades this week. On my B&K 606 tester scores from 65 to 120 are Good. When the cca's were inserted in the AH in April of 2007, they averaged a score of 105. Now over three years later they are reading and average of 102.8. So it looks like we still have much life left on the tubes and the AH appears to be exceptionally easy on them. Joe
Joe, That's good to know. I've often wondered how easy or hard the preamp was on tubes. I'll rest easier now until I can get my own tubes checked. I just missed out on a tube tester on Ebay, but still enjoying the music. (o:
I wish i would have had better luck with my CCAs. I had them tested and 3 of the 4 were not even close. One of the 4 is acceptable barely. I ve had those in since early 08 and play a lot of music daily. Talking to Heinz he was surprised that my tubes had gone down that low in that amount of time. For now i m using 6H23 cryoed and for new they aint bad. I have about 50hrs now and music is sounding real nice. After day by day of listening i guess our brain gets accustomed to what we are hearing. I knew at the end that something was going because i know my system can sound better that it was. So if you havent checked those tubes lately you may be in for a surprise.
Well, I finally found a deal on a tube tester on Ebay. It should arrive soon. In the meantime, I changed out my Siemens cca in location 1 and 3 with nos Siemens cca and the sound is so much more present and alive. I'm anxious to see what my old ones read at.
Sherod I'll be interested in the test results of old versus new. There seems to be quite a variety in sound between cca's - your new ones appear to be some of the great ones, congratulations.
My AH 2.0 unit arrived back in good condition via Fed Ex from “the works” upgrade to 2.2 status (Power supply, Vishays, Clarity caps, g upgrade, fuse holder and tuning fuse.) As always Victor and Joseph were a delight to deal with. Here is a first impression report. Context: I had avoided the upgrade for a long time due to my years of satisfaction with the 2.0. In my opinion the 2.0 is an excellent unit with departures from live music mostly benignly ommissive versus distorted. Both the old and the new units were set up on Hyperion Magnetic decouplers and mass loaded.
Well. I am thrilled with the upgrade even before break in is complete. The overall impression is that whereas the 2.0 eloquently spoke the music, the upgraded unit beautifully signs the music. Yet nothing is softened that should be sharp or edgy. There is distinct improvement in many areas and no downside that I can hear.
I notice a much improved three dimensionality to the sound stage, particularly front to back layering, less congealedness in complex passages and ability to sense small movements. For example with someone in the background clapping you can sense the swing in their body to the beat. The lower bass is more present and weighty without being louder or boomy. The most wonderful thing is an enhancement in the decay of notes: more natural, going on forever, second and third order harmonics more organically present and beautifully interacting with the leading edge of the next note with all timbral differences remaining intact through such transitions as one note faded and another begins.
I find myself lifted in spirit and heart while listening and eagerly wanting to hear all my recordings once again not so much for increase detail as for increased beauty, emotional impact and naturalness. Thanks to all on the thread that experimented where the meek to not tread to suggest many of these improvements to Joseph.
Sherod when i checked my CCAs triode 1 tested ok on all 4 tubes but triode 2 was low on all 4 tubes i dont know about circuitry but i m guessing Joseph is leaning on the 2nd triode side of the tube. I m guessing i had over 2000hrs on them and there slow decay does lead to your ears adjusting to sound thats not as good IMO. The CCAs i was using were of the 70s version and i was able to bite the bullet and pick up 2 here on the Gon from the early 60s etching and all. Yes they sound fantastic in slots 1&3 using 70s CCAs in 2&4. I wonder if Josephs upgrade will have any effect on the drain of the 2nd triode.
I wish either Joseph or Victor would respond to some of these technical questions. I think they are hesitant in posting for fear of the moderators deleting this thread. I don't know how many hours my original cca had on them, but I'm guessing that they had quite a bit more than 2000 hours. I have a new problem now with my preamp. Last week, before I went to bed, I turned the system off, including my preamp, which is the standard evening procedure after listening. The next morning the preamp was on. I knew I had turned the switch to off and sure enough it was off, yet the preamp stayed on. I had to unplug it to turn it off. I emailed Joseph and he told me either a switch wire was shorted or the switch went bad. He sent me a new switch and I went ahead and changed out the wiring, but guess what? new switch doesn't work. Same problem. I tried to call Joseph, but apparently he doesn't return calls on the weekend.
Thats weird for sure Sherod. I m sure you checked both of those switches for continuity with a meter strange that the new switch was bad. I can understand yours going bad with all of the use it has. I would unplug the unit and use the ohms setting on a meter to see where the problem lies.
I was being conservative on those hours and this time with the nos ccas i m marking the time in a log.
Glad your back in music again Sherod the cold solder joint strikes again. Was a common problem with Westinghouse Elevator controllers the old relay type every connection was soldered a real nightmare for troubleshooting.
Those early 60s CCAs sound great in our favorite line stage but for a lot lower price the cryoed 6h23s are a bargain. You get most of what the CCA delivers not quite the micro detail but most all else. Looking at them its hard to tell the difference in them and a Siemans E88CC tube. Our Russian friends seem to have coped that fine Siemans tube.
Hi guys, Not to take this thread in a different direction,I just want to canvass opinions on Josephs new product,the RTS coupler. Flip me a pm if you're so inclined.Enjoy the holiday weekend.
Upgrade update - AH 2.0nB to 2.2nB using cca tubes. I have over 200 hours on the unit at this time. Basically what I said in my 8/12 review still holds. The unit did go through a an awkward adolescence during which the bass deteriorated in quality and the treble exhibited harshness, but all is well now. Added to the initial impressions would be that the unit now sounds more relaxed, easy, and natural. It quickly becomes hard to remember the previous 2.0 sound and now I am mostly out of the analytical mode and enjoying the music with many CD's producing the thought "Gee, I don't remember this music being this beautiful".
Well, I finally won a cheap old tube tester on Ebay and I'm glad I have it now. When it arrived a couple of weeks ago, I tested my Siemens Cca tubes and although they both measured over 85% good, they both tested gassy. I bought a NOS pair of Cca and both tested great with no gas and the sound is much cleaner and musical. I had known that something wasn't quite right and was trying to blame the cables or AC. Before I got the tube tester, I even shipped my preamp back to Joseph and had to pay him $25.00 to tell me that nothing was wrong with it.
Sherod i feel your pain. My buddy has a tester and it proved i had the same feelings as you with the degeneration of sound in my system, 4 shot very expensive CCA tubes. The Siemans CCAs are getting so darn expensive that i'm going to try something different. I have a pair of Telefunken PCC 88 7DJ8s and a pair of VALVO Hamburg PCC88 7DJ8s on the way. Its really getting hard to find 60s CCAs anymore for a price thats anywhere near reasonable. The Russian rockets do please the ears but cant approach what CCAs deliver IMO. Have you are anyone else tried any other tubes that can be recommenced with AH preamps. My AH preamp is the first tubed piece of gear in over 40 years in the hobby and tube use and differences were the reason i resisted. It seems that one triode gets worked out hard in our favorite preamp does that seem about right or is it the design.
Due to the poor economy, I believe, you can now find a good pair of NOS Siemens Cca for $150-$200. Still expensive, but better than the $300-$400/pr. from not too long ago. I have been reading that the new Gold Lion E88cc/6922 might be a good new tube to try out. They are selling for about $45.00/pair.Here's an example from an Ebay seller:
Thanks Sherod for the link would like to hear from those who have tried Gold Lions out. On the CCAs maybe late 70s and 80s versions for 150 to 200 bucks. And in my case those issues of the tube are no way as good as early 70s and 60s versions the Rockets beat them. Please let me know if you have a source for 60s and early 70 for that price.
Keep your eyes open for a few German dealers on Ebay. Occasionally they come up with some nice Cca tubes for a great deal. The ones to look for are the early 60's with grey plates. I just got in a pair from one dealer for $150.00(1960 dates) and another pair for $199.00(1962) The later 70's with the silver plate aren't as good, but for locations 2 and 4 in the AH preamp, they work well for me( especially the A-frame model). Also, remember that the stock tubes that Joseph puts in the pre are the EH 6922. Maybe you should pop those in again for a listen. (o:
I got ya will do. I picked up a pair of early 60s here at the Gon for a bit more than you mentioned a short time ago. When i bought my AH i upgraded to Siemans tubes i believe they were e88ccs 6dj8 steel pins. Like you discovered i put the best i have in slots 1 and 3 and use others in 2 and 4. Thanks for the info
I don't know the seller, but he's selling here on the Gon a pair and a quad of Siemens E88cc. The quad is relabeled CBS, but they look like the real McCoy to me. I'd be curious of what the date codes are.
Hi guys, Mark here,visit the Canadian equivalent of audiogon.www.canuckaudio.com.Last week there was a trio of CCa's for $225.Also,ECC88 gold pins and Amperex come up from time to time.If you see something you like let me know and I'll ship them to you from my MI address.
Markwatkiss thanks for the link i' ve been tempted to try the Amperex ECC88s with 2.1 i have 2 VALVO Hamburg PCC88 7DJ8 - Single Tubes MINT NOS 1959-60 Hamburg Production and 2 Telefunken PCC88 7DJ8 - MINT NOS 1960s Bundeswehr Falcon Logo Diamond Bottom - Germany to audition looking forward to hearing the differences.
now that ive tried the above tubes and volvo/amperex e188cc along with my 64 ccas and others no doubt they all have there own character and sound. the ccas are more thin sounding compared to the e188s while the amperex have better bass and mids IMO. in the end i believe until you audition a verity of tubes in AHs preamps you may be missing sound that appeals to you better. like finger prints and ears we are all different and what sounds better to me may sound like crap to you. i'm sure most of you have taken the time to experiment on your own and already know its worth the trouble and expense for better sound.
You are right on about experimenting with different tubes in the AH preamp. I just bought a pair of older(1958) Amperex e88cc I am going to experiment with. I found that so far my preamp sounds best with a pair of early 60's Siemens Cca in locations 1 and 3 with a pair of early 70's Siemens A-frame e88cc in 2 and 4. All Cca seemed to be too smooth, lacking in spatiality and air. The AH preamp also responds to power cords. No matter what power cord I try on the preamp, I can hear the difference, for better or for worse. Also, Victor just informed me in an e-mail that Joseph will be announcing this next year a new tweak for all his preamps. Stay tuned for an announcement soon from one of his Beta-testers. I don't know the details of this new tweak.
Oops! I just looked at my e-mail from Victor and this new tweak will be a bi-metal wiring harness said to "give the music more warmth, richness and purity of tone". Cost is estimated at $300-$350.
Sherod do you are any others AH users float your tube PCB. i checked back in the thread and did not read all but thought there was a kit or mention of this. as time when by this tweak slipped out of my thoughts but seems logical. i believe your going to like the Amprex tubes. after a long time enjoying my ccas and then finding out there fate was shot i' ve been on the tube rolling plan very interesting for sure.
The only float I use(if you can call this a float) is a suggestion that Pat(Rx8man) gave a couple of years ago by using small o-ring gaskets between the screws and the Pcb. I think this is just an isolation rather than a true float. I'm not sure if Joseph is using this method or another type of isolation in his current preamp versions. I use a mix of Herbie's Feet and Isonodes under my preamp which provides for isolation and improved sonics. It's amazing how various feet can change the sound so much. I've read some good things about these Mig cones from Synergistic Research that I might try out some day. I've tried a few o-ring-type tube products that deadened the sound too much.
Rhyno, Rolling tubes in 2 and 4 also made a difference to my ears. Joseph told me from day one that 1 and 3 were more critical to the sound, but 2 and 4 also play a role in the overall sonics, IMHO. (o:
Recently I aquired a AH TP2.0. This particular one has no output transformers. Were these transformers offered as an upgrade at the time of its conception?
Phd, I think you are referring to the output transformers that would be used for balanced output. Yes, the output transformers were an upgrade from the base model. I think you could have your unit modified by Joseph. As Gammajo suggested, talk with Victor.
Cedar, thankyou for answering my question. I called Joseph Chow on the phone and he suggested I send an email with questions. I did several days ago but I haven't received a reply. Probably just a busy time of the year.
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