shelby1420

How does one post pics?? I do have a digital camera.... Rick

Hi all, I am the fellow that originally bought Craig's "prototype" stereo amplifier about a year ago with the idea in mind to give a listen and offer any suggestions towards the finished product. About two months ago Craig called me up and informed me that he was ready to build the finished product and asked for my input. Craig also asked if I would be interested in the finished product ( does a bear shit in the woods kept running through my head when he asked.......) HELL YEAH!!! First thing I noticed when I went to meet Craig to pick it up (thanks for that Craig, don't trust the Gorillas at the shipping companies) was the size of the irons on this thing, easily double the prototype, easier access to the bias adjusters and about an inch and a half taller!! We flipped them both over and swapped bottom panels so I got to have a good look of both of them side by side--everything was bigger and extremely clean and neat, even neater then the prototype!!! System used for this was the same as with the prototype: Ohm I speakers 90db Bottlehead Foreplaylll Pre with optional upgrades ( with Mundorf Silver and oil output caps) Bottlehead Seduction Phono with optioanl upgrades ( also with Mundorf Silver and oil coupling & output caps) Sansui SR 929 TT with SME lll with Shure V15V-MR cartridge. I decided to put on one of my all time favs along with a glass of red - Zeppelin lll Holy friggin tight clear and defined bass, the Ohm I's have a built in sub 12 inch that take a fair bit of convincing to move..... as good a job as the prototype did in the bass department this amplifier is quicker faster deeper and definitely with more thumping controlled bass!!! While the bass was a great addition to an already great amplifier I think the thing that has had a longer lasting impression on me is how "clean" everything seems to sound now.... my second album ( all albums, very rarely listen to cd's anymore) was John Lee Hooker - Serves you right to suffer-- Again, when bass was needed this amp delivered[Y] with absolute ease, never seeming to be pushing or straining. Again though the thing that really struck me was how clean it sounded, while closing my eyes I could almost see Johnny strumming away, each one of the " strings" on his guitar vibrating with each stroke!!! I have been listening to this amp for the past 2 and a half weeks and every day love it more and more, great bass, silky smooth mids and highs that do not make me wanna turn it down!!!! Thus far I have only listened to it in A/B, I have not tried straight class A yet ( in my mind there is no need at this time......) I am currently breaking in a pair of back loaded horns (Fostex 206E design) so sometime in the near future I may run this amp in triode mode( if this is the wrong terminology, hopefully Craig will come in and sort it all out.....) but for now I'm gonna give two thumbs way up for this finished NOSValves amplifier!!!! Rick

Hello all, this is my first post here at Klipsch....I am the proud owner of the prototype "stereo" amp built by Craig, I have been listening to it for about 8 months now and have loved every moment of it!!! Of course when Craig called and told me he had finally gotten the time to do the final version I jumped all over trading in this amp for his final version!!! I run this amp with Bottlehead Foreplay lll and the Seduction phono pre (a lovely combination.....) the only worry I had was the speakers I was running ( Ohm I's) these babies are my all time favs but they need a very VERY true, quick amp to do them justice.....Up to this point I had always had 200 + SS watts to make the 12 inch woofs come alive! I hooked up Craigs amp ( Valve art KT88, Mullard GZ34, Mullard CV4003 and Brimar CV4004 as the tube compliment) and was instantly floored as to how incredibly fast this amp was BUT, without giving up any warmth at all!!! Music not only came alive but the bass was actually thumping in my chest, absolutely delightful!!!! I can't wait to get my hands on Craigs finished product, he tells me it will be even better then what I hear now, lets just say this is gonna be a difficult thing to accomplish.............lucky me!!!! Rick