darth vader Posted May 20, 2017 Posted May 20, 2017 I did a search or 2 and only found one other thread like this that goes back to 2008. Time for an update I feel as theres many new owners. I'd like to hear from other owners about what gear of Earle's they own, what you have done or had done to it and what tubes you've rolled. Or anything else of interest about them (please save comments about waiting times and just keep it to the amps hey). For my part, I was introduced to them by buzz lightyear. He shared his experience and helped me get a system I'm very happy with. I'm running a Time machine as a preamp with Topaz KT150 mono blocks. I bought the Time machine new and the Topaz mono's secondhand (3rd hand actually) from here. The Time machine has Mundorf coupling caps, RCA red base 2A3's, EML 45 mesh plates and EML 274 rectifier. The rectifier was a nice upgrade. Topaz monos have Tung-Sol 6SN7 GTB, Tung-Sol KT150's and Earles Russian rectifiers (soon to be upgraded), along with Mundorf coupling caps and some upgraded resistors I've tried Sophia Electric 6SN7's and Shuguang Treasures CV181-Z's in the mono blocks, both of which were less than impressive and the stock Tung-Sol's were better for me. Also tried some vintage Russian 6H8C's which were pretty good but not as detailed as the Tung-Sol's. The Mundorf caps were a good step up. I'd like to try some 300B's in the Time machine one day. So what do you have? 8
PorkBun69s Posted May 20, 2017 Posted May 20, 2017 Blast from the past... had a few of Earle's creations, started with the topaz, moved to the tempest, then to a 300b time machine and finally to a 2A3 based time machine pre. These were great pre-loved pieces of gear. I found that the EML's played the best on them, using 45 solid plates and 5u4g mesh rectifiers with the TM pre. Imo, the signal tubes had more of a sonic impact than rolling the power tubes. If you do 300b's, the EH tubes were good value, stay away from JJ tubes, the quality of these tubes were cr@p.., but the JJ's soundwise was closer to the EML's for less cash. 4
Ancientflatulence Posted May 20, 2017 Posted May 20, 2017 Amazing ...... I was this close () to starting a similar thread last night .... My bit of Earle magic is an Artisan KT150 about 2 months old .......... 14
buddyev Posted May 20, 2017 Posted May 20, 2017 (edited) That artisan looks fantastic. I'm not in the club yet - waiting patiently for a Topaz KT 120. Edited May 20, 2017 by buddyev 1
Full Range Posted May 21, 2017 Posted May 21, 2017 My ownership on Earle's amps goes back a long way Back to my single driver speaker days I have a custom built Tweaker Universal Single Ended Amplifier serial number #001 This amp was purpose built to tube roll 4 different tube types Also has switching from Ultralinea Pentode Mode to Triode Mode Depending on the combination it will give the owner a range of A Class watts from 4.3 w to 14 w per channel Tube types are 6L6GC, KT66, KT88, EL34 Bios setting is manual Next Post will be of the custom pre amp 10
Full Range Posted May 21, 2017 Posted May 21, 2017 Next build is of a custom one of a kind preamp serial # 001 Not an ordinary preamp It started with a 6SN7 Tempest circuitry With integrated Philips NOS DAC Headphone amplifier 6
darth vader Posted May 21, 2017 Author Posted May 21, 2017 16 hours ago, katattack74 said: Blast from the past... had a few of Earle's creations, started with the topaz, moved to the tempest, then to a 300b time machine and finally to a 2A3 based time machine pre. These were great pre-loved pieces of gear. I found that the EML's played the best on them, using 45 solid plates and 5u4g mesh rectifiers with the TM pre. Imo, the signal tubes had more of a sonic impact than rolling the power tubes. If you do 300b's, the EH tubes were good value, stay away from JJ tubes, the quality of these tubes were cr@p.., but the JJ's soundwise was closer to the EML's for less cash. I think I'll wait a bit until I can get a chance to borrow some 300B's for a trial as the EML 45 mesh plates owe me a bit of coin. I agree the small signal tubes do have a big impact but I did find the rectifier also had a big say in the sound. I didn't have the foresight to get a pr of EML 45 globes when they were more available. Thanks for the heads up on the JJ tubes. Some nice amps there gents, keep em coming
PorkBun69s Posted May 22, 2017 Posted May 22, 2017 (edited) 21 hours ago, darth vader said: I think I'll wait a bit until I can get a chance to borrow some 300B's for a trial as the EML 45 mesh plates owe me a bit of coin. I agree the small signal tubes do have a big impact but I did find the rectifier also had a big say in the sound. I didn't have the foresight to get a pr of EML 45 globes when they were more available. Thanks for the heads up on the JJ tubes. Some nice amps there gents, keep em coming I have a quad very closely matched set of good old RCA Cunningham 45's, which was an absolute b#$th to find and paid a decent sum for them. Compared them to the EML's, these had a more fluid midrange and a more refined top end over the EML's. The EML's came through with more low end muscle and extended top end - synonymous to that modern tube sound, mid's were much more dryer than the NOS Cunninghams. For what its worth, I wouldnt bother with the EML mesh 45's. Too much coin for what its worth. If you can get your hands on some NOS 45's, i'd go for them. Blast from the past pic below.. Edited May 22, 2017 by katattack74 6
HarbethRob Posted May 23, 2017 Posted May 23, 2017 Can an owner of these superb looking beasts give me some idea of their sound signature? I have a "modern" sounding tube amp - the prima luna dialogue. Are Weston Acoustics Amps (or some of them) in this new tradition of of clean sounding ultra linear quite SS amps or are they old style with a more tube sound? I am looking for a bit of lushness. Cheers, Rob
darth vader Posted May 23, 2017 Author Posted May 23, 2017 (edited) I dont know about others but I find their sound very enjoyable. Non fatiguing and warm but still with detail. They dont have the slam (at least mine dont) of a SS amp, but its not lacking. I can listen to mine for hrs without any strain. They do respond well to tube rolling so you can change the signature a lot Found an old pic of mine when I first got the pre. @katattack74 I was supplied these from Earle when I took delivery of my TM pre, as I'd ordered the mesh plates but they hadn't arrived. They are 2A3's, so not like your Cunninghams. I found them nice, but not as detailed as the 45 mesh plates. Edited May 23, 2017 by darth vader 3
Keith_W Posted May 23, 2017 Posted May 23, 2017 Darth, that amp looks familiar. Did you by any chance, buy it from a guy named Daniel (on SNA as "Snaggs"), and pick it up from an address in Fitzroy?
HarbethRob Posted May 23, 2017 Posted May 23, 2017 They really are very beautiful looking amplifiers!
darth vader Posted May 23, 2017 Author Posted May 23, 2017 @Keith_W No mate, my monos came from @frankn the Time machine was bought new. 1
k-k-k-kenny Posted May 28, 2017 Posted May 28, 2017 (edited) Artisan 300B. Good in every way that matters. It makes me go ... Edited May 28, 2017 by k-k-k-kenny 23
Volunteer sir sanders zingmore Posted May 28, 2017 Volunteer Posted May 28, 2017 That is a thing of beauty!
HarbethRob Posted May 28, 2017 Posted May 28, 2017 What an astonishingly beautiful amplifier. It is almost evil it looks so good! You have a steered me in a direction now that I won't be able to get out of my head. How many Watts? That is an important question for me. I have Harbeth SHLs. I have a tube amp with 22 watts which can drive the Harbeths very well indeed.
k-k-k-kenny Posted May 28, 2017 Posted May 28, 2017 Rob, it's 16 or 17 wpc: 2 x 300B in parallel per side. I would guess it'd sound lovely with the Harbeths, although they aren't the most sensitive of speakers. Whether it would be sufficient grunt probably depends on your room and what sort of material you like to play.
Hergest Posted May 28, 2017 Posted May 28, 2017 'Scuse my ignorance though k-k-k-kenny but what exactly is it as I can't find it on Earle's website? Like many others probably my first port of call after seeing your stunning amp was http://www.westonacoustics.com/default.htm to find out power output, price etc.
Full Range Posted May 28, 2017 Posted May 28, 2017 (edited) 15 minutes ago, Hergest said: 'Scuse my ignorance though k-k-k-kenny but what exactly is it as I can't find it on Earle's website? Like many others probably my first port of call after seeing your stunning amp was http://www.westonacoustics.com/default.htm to find out power output, price etc. Its in the price list section And Its also in light blue text Artisan KT150 $7995.00 (Dual mono class A KT150 push-pull amplifier. Upgraded components and large 620mm x 450mm chassis)Artisan 300B $9995.00 (Dual mono parallel single ended 300B amplifier. The ultimate 300B experience. Edited May 28, 2017 by Full Range 2
Hergest Posted May 28, 2017 Posted May 28, 2017 Thanks, I never thought to check through the price list. There I was clicking on everything in the amplifier sections.
HarbethRob Posted May 28, 2017 Posted May 28, 2017 I play largely classical and I have a medium size room. Might just make it I reckon. As I say 22 watts is amazingly sufficient - it is a primaluna and in triode mode I think it is only 22 watts or so. Anyway, I rarely have the volume beyond 3 or 4. 12 is very loud. In the picture you even organised to have the sunlight glinting off the tubes in the most alluring way ... I am being led into temptation.
k-k-k-kenny Posted May 28, 2017 Posted May 28, 2017 (edited) Yep, it is not cheap, but if you can live with its modest power output it is a destination amp. My background is more in playing - piano, accordion, electronic versions of these - than audiophilia, and I don't have the vocabulary for proper audio review. And I haven't gone through dozens of other devices with which I can compare it. I can say that it sounds satisfyingly right - timbrally and dynamically - on a wide variety of material. I can't speak of large orchestral or pipe organ things, but something such as 18 foot of grand piano duo in Liszt's Concerto Pathetique involves some big noise - and sounds thrilling through it. Elsewhere I've mentioned that Leon Russell's Hard Rain's Gonna Fall just grips and rocks. Or the smoothness of St. Germain or the ugly biting electro-noises of something like Hecq - Conversions, it just does it. The sort of device that allows you to hear small details that would otherwise escape your attention, but doesn't force you to do so. Edited May 28, 2017 by k-k-k-kenny 2
Full Range Posted May 28, 2017 Posted May 28, 2017 (edited) 1 hour ago, k-k-k-kenny said: My background is more in playing - piano, accordion, electronic versions of these My wife studied and plays the piano accordion When she was young she played in concerts after we married I was always on the lookout for music sheets / scores written for Piano Arcordion Over the years I have collected a few records with Arcordion as the feature instrument But I digress as I would like your opinion Guy Klucevsek as I use some of his compositions as speaker test tracks Edited May 28, 2017 by Full Range
k-k-k-kenny Posted May 28, 2017 Posted May 28, 2017 Helluva player, FR. I'd put Klucevsek and Richard Galliano at the top of the heap of living players for their musicality across a range of genres. 1
Hergest Posted May 28, 2017 Posted May 28, 2017 14 minutes ago, k-k-k-kenny said: Richard Galliano Interesting, I was just playing a Richard Galliano Quartet cd, New Musette as it fits a Sunday afternoon mood almost perfectly. I'm sure I've seen you mention it somewhere else but while you're here, what speakers are you using with the Artisan?
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