my search for a tube amp

[Nick B]

Watch the first 2 minutes-ish about the Miller amp Danny is having built.

https://youtu.be/W2lJ0Wu1l2w?si=N_o_c91s72i6NAA8

Beat me to the punch.  Was gonna forward you that same video.  Been watching Danny for years.  Find him to be very direct, honest and sincere.  He's very experienced and has heard VG stuff.  Just my gut but I implicitly trust his opinions, and would not hesitate to buy what he recommends.  To me, just the fact he is going with that Miller amp says an awful lot, is high praise, and IMO it most probably is a reliable recommendation.

If I was going to buy performance per dollar Miller's KT88 version without bias would be my jam.

I appreciate your unbiased view on this. I'm sending Bryan an email and want to talk more about a maxxed out version like what Danny is getting. From my limited experience with connectors, I'd prefer using ETI, AECO and WBT. Not sure about internal wiring. I've had cables made using the silver gold wire and also using the square copper wire, both from neotech as I recall. Don't know if those would be suitable for wiring in an amp.

[ejk]

Watch the first 2 minutes-ish about the Miller amp Danny is having built.

https://youtu.be/W2lJ0Wu1l2w?si=N_o_c91s72i6NAA8

Beat me to the punch.  Was gonna forward you that same video.  Been watching Danny for years.  Find him to be very direct, honest and sincere.  He's very experienced and has heard VG stuff.  Just my gut but I implicitly trust his opinions, and would not hesitate to buy what he recommends.  To me, just the fact he is going with that Miller amp says an awful lot, is high praise, and IMO it most probably is a reliable recommendation.

If I was going to buy performance per dollar Miller's KT88 version without bias would be my jam.

I appreciate your unbiased view on this. I'm sending Bryan an email and want to talk more about a maxxed out version like what Danny is getting. From my limited experience with connectors, I'd prefer using ETI, AECO and WBT. Not sure about internal wiring. I've had cables made using the silver gold wire and also using the square copper wire, both from neotech as I recall. Don't know if those would be suitable for wiring in an amp.

I know someone who put 2 silver caps in their Aric Audio preamp which cost 3000.00 a pair. Aric thought the guy was nuts until after Aric installed them and gave it a listen and was amazed at the sound. He said he wouldn't offer the upgrade on his website but if someone would ask he would do it again.

[Nick B]

Watch the first 2 minutes-ish about the Miller amp Danny is having built.

https://youtu.be/W2lJ0Wu1l2w?si=N_o_c91s72i6NAA8

Beat me to the punch.  Was gonna forward you that same video.  Been watching Danny for years.  Find him to be very direct, honest and sincere.  He's very experienced and has heard VG stuff.  Just my gut but I implicitly trust his opinions, and would not hesitate to buy what he recommends.  To me, just the fact he is going with that Miller amp says an awful lot, is high praise, and IMO it most probably is a reliable recommendation.

If I was going to buy performance per dollar Miller's KT88 version without bias would be my jam.

I appreciate your unbiased view on this. I'm sending Bryan an email and want to talk more about a maxxed out version like what Danny is getting. From my limited experience with connectors, I'd prefer using ETI, AECO and WBT. Not sure about internal wiring. I've had cables made using the silver gold wire and also using the square copper wire, both from neotech as I recall. Don't know if those would be suitable for wiring in an amp.

I know someone who put 2 silver caps in their Aric Audio preamp which cost 3000.00 a pair. Aric thought the guy was nuts until after Aric installed them and gave it a listen and was amazed at the sound. He said he wouldn't offer the upgrade on his website but if someone would ask he would do it again.

Huh?? Three grand for two caps? Any idea what company made those?

[ejk]

Watch the first 2 minutes-ish about the Miller amp Danny is having built.

https://youtu.be/W2lJ0Wu1l2w?si=N_o_c91s72i6NAA8

Beat me to the punch.  Was gonna forward you that same video.  Been watching Danny for years.  Find him to be very direct, honest and sincere.  He's very experienced and has heard VG stuff.  Just my gut but I implicitly trust his opinions, and would not hesitate to buy what he recommends.  To me, just the fact he is going with that Miller amp says an awful lot, is high praise, and IMO it most probably is a reliable recommendation.

If I was going to buy performance per dollar Miller's KT88 version without bias would be my jam.

I appreciate your unbiased view on this. I'm sending Bryan an email and want to talk more about a maxxed out version like what Danny is getting. From my limited experience with connectors, I'd prefer using ETI, AECO and WBT. Not sure about internal wiring. I've had cables made using the silver gold wire and also using the square copper wire, both from neotech as I recall. Don't know if those would be suitable for wiring in an amp.

I know someone who put 2 silver caps in their Aric Audio preamp which cost 3000.00 a pair. Aric thought the guy was nuts until after Aric installed them and gave it a listen and was amazed at the sound. He said he wouldn't offer the upgrade on his website but if someone would ask he would do it again.

Huh?? Three grand for two caps? Any idea what company made those?

Maybe Jupiter I dont remember.

[ejk]

Watch the first 2 minutes-ish about the Miller amp Danny is having built.

https://youtu.be/W2lJ0Wu1l2w?si=N_o_c91s72i6NAA8

Beat me to the punch.  Was gonna forward you that same video.  Been watching Danny for years.  Find him to be very direct, honest and sincere.  He's very experienced and has heard VG stuff.  Just my gut but I implicitly trust his opinions, and would not hesitate to buy what he recommends.  To me, just the fact he is going with that Miller amp says an awful lot, is high praise, and IMO it most probably is a reliable recommendation.

If I was going to buy performance per dollar Miller's KT88 version without bias would be my jam.

I appreciate your unbiased view on this. I'm sending Bryan an email and want to talk more about a maxxed out version like what Danny is getting. From my limited experience with connectors, I'd prefer using ETI, AECO and WBT. Not sure about internal wiring. I've had cables made using the silver gold wire and also using the square copper wire, both from neotech as I recall. Don't know if those would be suitable for wiring in an amp.

I know someone who put 2 silver caps in their Aric Audio preamp which cost 3000.00 a pair. Aric thought the guy was nuts until after Aric installed them and gave it a listen and was amazed at the sound. He said he wouldn't offer the upgrade on his website but if someone would ask he would do it again.

Huh?? Three grand for two caps? Any idea what company made those?

Maybe Jupiter I dont remember.

Just confirmed
Jupiter silver foils vitamin q and cosmos

[Nick B]

Watch the first 2 minutes-ish about the Miller amp Danny is having built.

https://youtu.be/W2lJ0Wu1l2w?si=N_o_c91s72i6NAA8

Beat me to the punch.  Was gonna forward you that same video.  Been watching Danny for years.  Find him to be very direct, honest and sincere.  He's very experienced and has heard VG stuff.  Just my gut but I implicitly trust his opinions, and would not hesitate to buy what he recommends.  To me, just the fact he is going with that Miller amp says an awful lot, is high praise, and IMO it most probably is a reliable recommendation.

If I was going to buy performance per dollar Miller's KT88 version without bias would be my jam.

I appreciate your unbiased view on this. I'm sending Bryan an email and want to talk more about a maxxed out version like what Danny is getting. From my limited experience with connectors, I'd prefer using ETI, AECO and WBT. Not sure about internal wiring. I've had cables made using the silver gold wire and also using the square copper wire, both from neotech as I recall. Don't know if those would be suitable for wiring in an amp.

I know someone who put 2 silver caps in their Aric Audio preamp which cost 3000.00 a pair. Aric thought the guy was nuts until after Aric installed them and gave it a listen and was amazed at the sound. He said he wouldn't offer the upgrade on his website but if someone would ask he would do it again.

Huh?? Three grand for two caps? Any idea what company made those?

Maybe Jupiter I dont remember.

Just confirmed
Jupiter silver foils vitamin q and cosmos

Thanks for confirming. I had copper Jupiter caps in my Border Patrol dac. I will let the WBF guys buy the $3k caps

[Jack]

Aric includeds the Jupiter Vitaman Q silver caps as an upgrade to the Motherlode XL for $770 and the combination of the Comet/Vitamin Q for $4800. If you want something like that in an upgrade and the money they can be provided if the builder has a source for them.

[ejk]

Aric includeds the Jupiter Vitaman Q silver caps as an upgrade to the Motherlode XL for $770 and the combination of the Comet/Vitamin Q for $4800. If you want something like that in an upgrade and the money they can be provided if the builder has a source for them.

I guess he decided to add it as an option.I haven't checked his website in awhile.

[Jack]

I included the Vitamin Q cap option in my XL order which is still months out before delivery.

[Nick B]

I spoke with Bryan Miller about the Danny custom ST 70 build. Bryan said there are different parts that will be tested and he will use different boards. Once I heard that, I didn't ask for a timeframe and decided to go with the Erhard Elvis amp. The Danny custom could take quite a while and that is the version I would want based on Danny's videos and his discussion of his likes and dislikes.

The Erhard should end up being very good and it will give me a good idea if I want to have a tube amp in my system or not. It is used and the price is good. The seller shipped it back to Erhard to fix a left channel issue and that will likely be done in a week. I never did hear back on the Willsenton amp and that's fine as it wasn't my first or second choice anyway.

[Nick B]

The Erhard amp arrived in Montana and is being repaired. I might have it within a week, but there's no hurry.

I finally heard from the Willsenton owner and that was a very interesting conversation. The R8 is heavily modded and with some circuit modifications to simplify things. The owner is a very knowledgeable DIY guy and followed the videos of Steph at Skunk Works on utube and also an extensive thread on the stereonet forum. I wasn't aware Steph had gone into extensive mods on this unit nor was I aware of DIY thread. The owner said he has the best transformers and best parts for that circuit. Apparently the transformers are Japanese, but I can't recall the name.

So if the Erhard doesn't work out, I may get that Willsenton and try it out. 

[ejk]

I included the Vitamin Q cap option in my XL order which is still months out before delivery.

Cool. Another Aric convert.

[Jack]

Evan

He just released another new model using 12 volt tubes instead of 6SN7's. Can be ordered either SE or Balanced. One piece unit like yours.

[ejk]

Evan

He just released another new model using 12 volt tubes instead of 6SN7's. Can be ordered either SE or Balanced. One piece unit like yours.

Yes I saw it. I just cant give up the 6sn7 tube

[Nick B]

It's been a while since I posted on the tube amp situation. The Erhard arrived a few weeks ago. It was repaired by the manufacturer, Holger, and he sent it to me. It was nicely packaged and arrived in perfect condition. It is a beautiful piece and very well built. Has 4 KT 88 tubes and 3 6NS7 tubes and only weighs 45 lbs. I remember my McCormack amp weighed 60 lbs, so I appreciate the lighter weight.

I have just been playing music on JPLAY. Was repeating some songs, but mostly letting the software pick my favorites and other songs. The amp needed a lot of time to really sound good. Not sure how many hours are on it or if any tubes have been replaced. But it has enough hours on it now to draw some conclusions...

Let me start by saying that I've put in a lot of effort in noise reduction via cables, Dave's UberBUSS and some noise reduction devices by iFi. My system is quiet and resolves beautifully. I am using very good equipment including Leo's Starkrimson Ultra amp that I've had for a couple of years. I enjoyed my solid state sound.... fast, powerful, clean, detailed, layered, wide and deep soundstage, expansive and holographic. I have some silver cabling and that contributes to some of those attributes.

So since I've raved about solid state, what about a tube amp?? Well, it's been 30 years or so since I owned the VAC 90 monos and Modjeski RM 9. Both very nice amps. I will say I am really enjoying the Erhard Elvis Mk II. The midrange is very nice with an increased presence, warmth and oomph. The soundstage width and depth is similar to the solid state, but the layering isn't as detailed and structured like solid state and with silver wires. The top end isn't as resolving or maybe it's a bit hidden by a stronger midrange. The Erhard 60 w per side is plenty of power for my 88.5 db JMR Voce Grande speakers.

I will be using the Erhard for the foreseeable future. Generating some heat with summer approaching isn't a concern. In reflecting on the differences between solid state and a tube amp in my system, one isn't really better than the other. Just different flavors presented according to the designers visions. If I were backed against a wall and had to make a decision, I would lean toward the solid state presentation 🎶