I have nothing much to contribute these days. I'm waiting on some cables from Grover, a good moment to send my CDP back for more modding and a response from the guy who built my speakers about a tweeter up-grade, so basically I'm just lurking on the sidelines. But, I do peruse what's going on at AC. I'm intigued by this Niteshade amp stuff. Within a short period he has managed to vitually monopolize the tube section, with lots of pretty pictures and he sure talks the talk. The work looks good, as do the designs (as far as I can judge) but has anyone actually heard anything he builds?
Quote from: shep on February 14, 2010, 02:44:56 AM
I have nothing much to contribute these days. I'm waiting on some cables from Grover, a good moment to send my CDP back for more modding and a response from the guy who built my speakers about a tweeter up-grade, so basically I'm just lurking on the sidelines. But, I do peruse what's going on at AC. I'm intigued by this Niteshade amp stuff. Within a short period he has managed to vitually monopolize the tube section, with lots of pretty pictures and he sure talks the talk. The work looks good, as do the designs (as far as I can judge) but has anyone actually heard anything he builds?
Shep he has intriuged me as well. One of our members bought an amp which he will have in his hands in about 2 weeks. Afer some break - in we have a date to bring it over to my place for a listen.
I will write up a review compared to a AR Classic 60 and modified Cyber 211 SETs. Our club member mentioned how nice it was to deal with Bill. Very helpfull and engaged. Good to hear, now if the amp sounds as promised cool.
charles
I thought his name was Blair? Is it Bill? Regardless, seems like a neat idea to recycle old transformers and put them into new gear that uses vintage design concepts. Or at least, that's what I get by reading his site. Is he a hobbyist selling a few amps or a real business looking to sell a lot of stuff? I would think he'd run out of NOS transformers... maybe there are more out there than I thought.
-C
Quote from: Carlman on February 14, 2010, 05:00:47 PM
Regardless, seems like a neat idea to recycle old transformers and put them into new gear that uses vintage design concepts. -C
There is an "art" to winding transformers... some of the older UTC, Peerless, etc. designs & craftsmanship get big bucks on the used market... the fidelity of the old transformers is something else, too. I have an old (early 60's) Fisher 500C receiver in upstate NY at my Dad's home. The thing must weigh at least 50 lbs due to the iron (power supply & 2 output trannies)... sounds heavenly with ~ 35 watts a channel. Appears to have all the original caps as well...
We really haven't come very far... people still copying & making the old 1938 design for the Western Electric 91A amplifier...
His name is Blair Lamphere and he is a business. I also had been watching.
He'll make anything custom too. The retro look to his equipment looks pretty cool. Prices reasonable.
Some of the old Dynaco Trannies are supposed to be pretty good.
I have not read anywhere on how his stuff sounds, so I'll be looking for Charles' report.
From his intro at AC:
Hello! I am Blair Lamphear, owner of Niteshade Audio and Lamphear Electronics.
Lamphear Electronics is registered New York State business dedicated to the construction of high performance computers (not basic office computers) as well as computer repair, renovating and upgrades.
Niteshade Audio is a branch of Lamphear Electronics dedicated to audio engineering. I design the following:
Amplifiers
Preamplifiers
Power supplies
Cables (interconnect and power)
Please keep in touch! Don't be shy about posting. I enjoy answering questions about my products as well as general electronics and systems questions.
D
QuoteI have not read anywhere on how his stuff sounds...
Right.....no one has posted any reviews....at least I've not seen or heard them.
Looks like an audition tour may happen....we'll see.
I don't mean to be disparaging, I was just bemused how he suddenly appeared like the Good Humour man in his white truck (red) with bells and whistles; kind of like the tube savior. He sure jumped in the deep end of the pool. It's a fiercely contested patch, where the tubes grow, and AC has it's share. He's kind of like a modern version of Harvey Rosenberg, or maybe Bob Carter. Blair...that's it.
Well if his products are as good as his brashness, I guess we'll be hearing a lot about him in time. I rather fancy that SEP amp design myself. :D
Blair it is my mistake. When the amp is available to audition if you are in NY let me know and you can hear it for yourself. BTW I have a Fisher 101 intergrated with some fine Iron. So maybe a project down the road. We shall see.
charles
Quote from: shep on February 14, 2010, 11:38:37 PM
He's kind of like a modern version of Harvey Rosenberg......
Well, if Blair is the new Harvey Rosenberg, hang on to your hats. Gizmo was a genuine whack job. Made amazing equipment, but he was nuttier that a fruitcake (My kind of people :D ). If you ever want a good laugh, read the owners manual for the Moscode 600. It is a relatively short document and more than half of it is dedicated to his recommendations for spiritually preparing yourself for hearing the Moscode for the first time. I have owned that amp since 1986 and I still laugh out loud every time I show someone the manual. If you have never seem it let me know and I can send you a scan.
Quote from: shep on February 14, 2010, 11:38:37 PM
I don't mean to be disparaging, I was just bemused how he suddenly appeared like the Good Humour man in his white truck (red) with bells and whistles; kind of like the tube savior. He sure jumped in the deep end of the pool. It's a fiercely contested patch, where the tubes grow, and AC has it's share. He's kind of like a modern version of Harvey Rosenberg, or maybe Bob Carter. Blair...that's it.
Well if his products are as good as his brashness, I guess we'll be hearing a lot about him in time. I rather fancy that SEP amp design myself. :D
I have found Blair to be very forthcoming and helpful to anyone with questions about tube amps in his 1+ years of posting on AC. I too would be interested in hearing from folks that have tried his amps.
Best,
Ed
It's quite extraordinary, how many people are jumping on the tube bandwagon, a tchnology that was practically dead not so long ago. From China to Serbia, Italy, Australia, everywhere there are people re-inventing, renewing and re-discovering tube technology. It's quite something. And here I am, firmly encamped in the furthest thing from warm bottles...ICE amps, somewaht wistfully reading about all this stuff. Aside from "papa" Pass and his new J2 fet designs, there isn't much being innovated on the transistor side of the fence. I'm glad to hear Blair is a nice guy. Maybe he will make a name for himself, although the competition is fierce, there's certainly room for more, especially if he can keep his prices down.
I don't think tubed gear ever went away (completely) in hifi, Shep. So, I don't see what's happening as a resurgence.. much like vinyl gear.. it's always been around in hifi... just not in mainstream.
-C
I know Carl, but it was teetering towards, if not extinction, very marginal. Tube factories were closing. Ironic that the Russians and the Chinese kept the faith, so to speak.
Shep- I don't find it ironic at all that China and Russia still keep the faith with tubes. Tubes are much more resistant to the Electromagnetic Pulses created by nuclear blasts. Think about it.
Most tubes are made for musical instrument amps.
So they can continue listening to music after a nuke has detonated.
We all have our priorities.
Duh.........
I find Blair/Niteshade to be slightly annoying on AC. He's friggen everywhere. Like a bad cliche used car salesman.
But, I'd like to hear his amps, regardless.
At one point he was going to start selling custom hotrod computers. Not sure what happened with that.
Bob
lol..
I think he smacks of fraud
just a hunch
Because of the used car salesman "aura"?
Does he own any polyester suits???
Yes that and some other things I have heard but can't repeat.
I can see a tube newbie getting sucked into his marketing hype, I just shake my head, because I was there once, I would have eaten it all up.
Now I am wiser...and more cynical!
Quote from: topround on February 17, 2010, 06:12:27 PM
I think he smacks of fraud
just a hunch
You may be right Mike... :-k
Stong words men. I hope you have proof.
charles
I certainly didn't want to start this and have the guy slandered!!! It's true he comes across like a shoe salesman, but who cares as long as he comes thru. Certainly he will have to make good with some road tours and I'm certain the good folk on AC will be quick to put him in his place if the sound of the amps doesn't match the verbosity. Let's give the guy a chance and see how this plays out before condemning him (and making me feel guilty for having started this :shock:=
Sounds fair enough to me Shep, although I'll never forget you're the one who started the lynch mob. :-P
Bob
As far as I have read he has resisted sending any units out (not paid for) as listening
samples. Has that changed?
So we will wait for Rollo's evaluation.
I just noticed he has a poll running right now on loaner units.
D
I think hearing the product will go a Long way--
I hear he is a friend of the owner of AC. Dont quote me on that. Its hearsay, but could be true.
Quote from: bacobits on February 18, 2010, 06:49:13 AM
As far as I have read he has resisted sending any units out (not paid for) as listening
samples. Has that changed?
So we will wait for Rollo's evaluation.
I just noticed he has a poll running right now on loaner units.
D
Really curious to hear the amp. My buddy has not received it yet, keep you all informed. :thumb:
charles
Tube amps are not rocket science.. McGuyver could make one out of some toothpicks and rubberbands... i know it! :)
Quote from: Deton Nation on February 18, 2010, 11:03:39 AM
Tube amps are not rocket science.. McGuyver could make one out of some toothpicks and rubberbands... i know it! :)
MacGuyver could make
ANYTHING out of toothpicks and rubberbands....
I think people are a little leery because he has been around a while, posting and posting,
talking up his products, it may be time for him to put up or shut up.
Not trying to be nasty...this post and the following responses are a result of the same felings
others have garnered for him. He is new at amp building, he took his hobby and is trying to make a
business out of it, no problem. But because he seems to not want to sent a unit on tour may make us feel
like he may not be sure of his products. Like getting a bad review by a famous reviewer, it could put the kabosh
on future sales and end his business quickly. If a loaner turned out not to live up to the hype, he would get
beat up on the forums and Niteshade would go..nite nite :o
Having the fear is understandable and normal, but coupled with the hype you sense a discord, hence the used car
salesman feeling we get from him.
No incite hear just voicing what I feel, and maybe what some others are feeling.
Mike
Quote from: tmazz on February 18, 2010, 11:30:16 AM
Quote from: Deton Nation on February 18, 2010, 11:03:39 AM
Tube amps are not rocket science.. McGuyver could make one out of some toothpicks and rubberbands... i know it! :)
MacGuyver could make ANYTHING out of toothpicks and rubberbands....
and duct tape
Quote from: shep on February 18, 2010, 06:17:36 AM
I certainly didn't want to start this and have the guy slandered!!! It's true he comes across like a shoe salesman,
Shep i take offense.
I sold shoes when i was in High School. Its a noble profession.
Please apologize :mrgreen:
lol. I worked at Burger King.. for a month. Much worse than shoes.
I OPPOLIGIZE :thumb:
It sounds like there is a lot of dissapointment and frustration over something that wasn't promised. Keep the used car salesman analogies and heresay about who he's friends with to yourself.. He's not even here to defend himself so it's kind of a low blow to him. Also, AN isn't the place to drag over dirty laundry from other forums.
Anyway, I don't know him or his gear. If it gets out and someone hears it, we'll know about it. ;)
Sorry Carl, I started the used car salesman comparisons and shouldn't have done that. I just don't care for his sales tactics, and this thread caught me in a moment when I spoke with my keyboard before I used my wee little brain. I am interested in what the general membership thinks of his wares though.
I'll shut up now.
Bob
OK fuck it deleted.
What's with the tippie toes around here anyway?
jeez, I wish I hadn't started this. That will teach me to be flippant :(
Shep..your'e a bad bad man [-X :rofl:
you were just posting what others felt, don't feel bad. it is good to get it off your chest.
No one really knocked Niteshade, just stated how they felt
Maybe he sells used cars by day?
Then there would be no offense. Right?
Somebody has to sell them.
Mike
Quote from: Emil on February 19, 2010, 07:30:52 AM
Quote from: shep on February 18, 2010, 06:17:36 AM
I certainly didn't want to start this and have the guy slandered!!! It's true he comes across like a shoe salesman,
Shep i take offense.
I sold shoes when i was in High School. Its a noble profession.
Please apologize :mrgreen:
Now I understand why you always smell like stinky feet Emil. :-P
lol....
Blake is building a NS-40 pushpull stereo amplifier for me using 6L6's and 6SN7's and American made iron. i will post my impressions of it once i get it in my rig and burn the tubes in ;)
Quote from: Bunky on November 01, 2010, 06:10:37 PM
Blake is building a NS-40 pushpull stereo amplifier for me using 6L6's and 6SN7's and American made iron. i will post my impressions of it once i get it in my rig and burn the tubes in ;)
Congratulations Bunky!
Please post pics as well as your review upon receipt!
Ken
I'm on his preamp tour, he is trying to get one for our club meeting let you know. He talks the talk now we walk the walk. Actually Blair is a really nice man. I like his design philosophy, using simple old well proven circuits with the option of todays parts. Simple clean and the right price.
charles
If the NS-40 performs the way Blair says it does it is possible that it may be a keeper. i am very particular in that i need a amplifier that is musical , fast and will deliver details without seeming too clinical .in effect a tube amp that does everything well without being overly sweet or euphonic or going too far in the other direction and sounding hard or sterile like a solid state amp can sometimes do.I am currently running a VTL ST-150 rated at 75wpc triode 150 wpc tetrode. my Sonatina 2's are rated 93 db efficient so 40+ tube wpc should be more than enough to drive them nicely....WCW III
Hey Charles I just finished with the Beacon two on tour and sent it on to the next recipient somewhere in Michigan. I got to say I was favorably impressed by this unit.
Quote from: rollo on November 02, 2010, 06:38:34 AM
I'm on his preamp tour, he is trying to get one for our club meeting let you know. He talks the talk now we walk the walk. Actually Blair is a really nice man. I like his design philosophy, using simple old well proven circuits with the option of todays parts. Simple clean and the right price.
charles
What amp did you use with the Beacon, Ed? Is the output impedance still relatively high, several thousand ohms? That was a couple years ago talking on AC about Beacon 1.
I think that the old iron that Blair uses is his secret ingredient. A great tube amp has to have great output transformers. That vintage "tube sound" comes largely from transformers intended for mass market tube gear, be it new or old. One listen to OTL (with appropriate load) shows that it's not the tubes making the warm glow. I think we have similar taste in tube amps Bunky. Can't wait to hear how you like the Niteshade.
A 29 year old Bryston 4B I sent back to Bryston back in May for upgrade/recapping.
Gene
That's a tougher load than a typical a tube amp, good to know! Thanks