That amp is stunning! absolutely beautiful. Just knowing who made it... you know it sounds as good as it looks. I have to quit looking at it before I do something that will wind me up in divorce court!
 

Well, while waiting for DM945/Passive Sub & Mystery Amp to make it onto the Website.....I went and pre-ordered the Mystery AMP!

I'm assuming you guys listened to it at the Fest with a Stepped Attenuator and the Black KEMET Power Supply Caps?! Also, short run RCA connection....XLR only needed for long runs of cable....if you're not using a Reference Single Ended RCA cable (ie - Kimber Select 1030 RCA). -S  

I remember seeing a big pile of those old Mallory PS caps up high on a shelf there. They caught my attention. I don't recall the amp we listened to having them though.

It also had the smooth volume I thought, not the stepped. I didn't fiddle with volume much on the Mystery, it was easy to get going.

The setup, as I recall, was Apple Laptop, to TEAC DAC (sorry, I don't know the model), Decware Silver reference (1 Meter I believe), Mystery Amp powered by Decware DHC-1 power cord, plugged into a little Trip Lite power isolation transformer. 10' Zen Styx into whatever speakers were on hand. The Mystery amp sounded excellent with every speaker plugged in.


Oh, and thanks for reminding me about this Pre-Oder link...I just put my order in!!!!!!!!!11!1!!  

I guess I was typing too slow (or doing too many things at once) and didn't see your post before mine. Yes, that's the DAC in question.

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That can do DSD I believe ... Never heard it, but it is reasonably priced DSD DAC.

Beowulf....I got:

Walnut Base.
•Stepped Attenuator.
•Walnut Knobs
•4-8 Ohms Output Transformers.
•Single-Ended RCA Inputs.
•Black Kemet Caps...is what he had burned in at the Fest?

I would like to know more about the NOS Mallory too.
I should just get them like you did....will see if Steve chimes in. I have seen both in the pictures of the Amp. They were the Kemets at the Fest per Maddog I think mentioned.

Lone Raven...you mean is mine done yet?!  

beowulf, living the life of Walter Mitty?  

It's all good!

I hope you know their is a difference?  Decware & this Forum exists because their is a difference.

As the late great Harvey Gizmo ALWAYS SAID: Gifted Listeners Unite!

Oh, please tell me you're not a TROLL....are you nit pic reincarnated!!!????  ....oh, he was fun!

The 12 years of this Forum.....we can smell um'.

-Stone of Tone

I am just messin' with you Beowulf. Your Taboo is everything the bigger Amp is. I just want more power. However, a single output tube per channel via your Taboo or my CS or CKC...will always have a level of fidelity....that quite frankly, does beat push pull.

....if you want more power though....and because I had a Torii III for 4 months...the tinnie weeny weeny bit you give up IMHO....is worth it....to get the POWER (Steve's gifted IMHO).

I need to get into hi-rez too....which you are already enjoying. Thanks for the offer on the other thread to send me some hi-rez. I will get there.

Let me also tell you....I had some good fortune in selling some things...so I could come up with the sheckles to swing the purchase of the Mystery Amp....I don't take it for granted.    

Cheers, Stone of Tone

Yes, ....and I have another 9 weeks & 6 days to decide if I want them (when they pull the parts).  LOL

Nice LR, hopefully Steve will chime in about them (RED Mallory Caps NOS). The Red looks cool too. The stealthy black Caps as well.

Being NOS and he has a couple MA's burning in with each set of Caps(?) Unless for the Fest he switched out the Mallory's we saw and burned in the black Kemets...with one MA up and running/broke in.

I picked the Walnut Base with Walnut knobs. I had a Torii MkIII and liked it with that base.
I also chose the Stepped Attenuator, 4-8ohm, RCA Inputs and the black caps.  -S

The stepped attenuator is really not necessary....I just like the action of them.

Nice, you have the talent for woodwork DIY.

I ordered/have an Oak Base for my SE84CS a few years after I had it and now want one for my CKC.

I don't think I'm going to be able to afford any tube rolling on these. A quad of NOS KT66 is like $900. KT120 sound neat, but I didn't feel the Mystery was lacking in power with the Decware speakers since I kept turning it down during our demos. Unless the KT120 have some harmonic or textural difference that's really interesting, I probably don't need them.  

I'll probably just get some of those Herbie's Tube Dampers for all the tubes and call it a day.

Some OA3 and 6N1P rolling could be done relatively inexpensively. River Ranch mentioned an inexpensive alternative to the 6N1P in the Super Zen thread. I saw sleeves of 5 (forgot the tube model) for $40. I saw 60's vintage OA3 for $40.

I've played with the Tung-Sol KT-66 in guitar amps and I know they are good. I probably won't look further there, unless some NOS something falls into my lap. None of my guitar amps use KT-66, so it's not one I happen to have handy like KT-77 or EL34.

I spoke with Steve during Decfest about building a cherry base for my "vintage" Zen Amp - it runs really, really hot as it is...so I'm concerned about adding a heavy wood insulator to the metal casing. He said it shouldn't matter...but I noticed running tubes other than 6N1P, it runs noticeably cooler. It's still on my winter To-Do woodworking projects.

Yes LR! Herbie's Halo's are excellent.

I use a pair of Herbie's on my coveted Svetlana SV83 Tubes on my SE84CS.
I also, have a 5 pound brass weight on the Transformer. System is configured on floor (finished basement) as is my Pro-ject Debut Carbon Turntable out in the Living Room He-Man rig (slightly elevated on top of two old Denon CD Changers).
...Back to the Listening Room, my Digital resides on Townsend Seismic Sink Pneumatic. Isolation is Key.    -S

I'd be curious if you thought the amp sounds better without the case. My case is beautiful too, really, but It's very clear differnce to me, the sound is more open and dynamic and even my Mom noticed it. "What did you do?" she said shortly after I removed it.

I've about 20 times that many cds, and take its playback very seriously as well! I'm so very happy with my PS Audio Duo (s) -- they do Redbook better than anything I've heard and no need for me to try something else.

I can enjoy vinyl in both of my systems, but the ZP3 in the main system makes me want to listen to it more there. At times the vinyl playback exceeds the digital, man there's just something about records.

Yes, it's been that long. I deleted my whole profile one time (not sure if it was on purpose or by accident) and I would have thousands more even if I hadn't.

I post too much. Wish I could stop.

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I do indeed need to work on isolation. I just hear so much BS about what works. I'd really like to setup some sort of micro seismometer on my amp and/or Oppo Disc player and *document* what's really happening. But I see all this stuff I'm skeptical of, like putting crystals and  maple wood blocks and brass weights (vs lead or something else) and supposedly these things *enhance* only the positive aspects of the music... color me super skeptical. So for starters, I just want to do real isolation with good stands/bases etc. I'm just having trouble finding something DIY or reasonably priced.

Stone, what Halo's do you recommend I try? The expensive Titanium ones don't seem like they'd work well. The guitar ones are priced well, but it has me curious if the other models would make a difference. I may have to get a set of the titanium ones, try them out, then send them back if I don't feel they make a noticeable or positive difference.

Tube damping makes sense, but again, too much snake oil out there muddying the waters.

Thanks Gents. Probably couldn't stop if I tried.

Listening to the new Garcia release, Live Volume 3, "Legion of Mary 1974," great stuff.

The red caps are N.O.S. caps made in the USA.  They give the amp more bass weight and a slightly better "hit".   These are obsolete caps.  The closest thing available is this:



http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Cornell-Dubilier/CGH272T500X4C/?qs=sGAEpiMZZ...

The red ones I have weigh over a pound more despite being the same physical size...

Anyway I plan to make my stash of red caps an option until my supply is gone.  I think I have enough for 25 amps.  The first five Mystery Amps built will come with these caps as my gift for being the first five people to own one.



Steve

I'm new here and just read the whole thread. Gotta say very impressive.

Mark

Welcome as well Mark.

LR, I have been checking for Steve's reply too! I hope I made the cut as well for the Red Mallory's.

Sarah called me yesterday and left a message about the DM945 with the new passive bass stands.  I then went and Listened to them and all the other Speakers last night via the Thread from the Fest Steve sent out.  Thanks for those great comprehensive Threads Steve-wow. Now, I want the NEW ERR instead. First things first. I look forward to my Mystery Amp and what it can do with my Stable of Speakers. Then, the new ERR's need to come in. I might augment them with my HSU MBM 12. I purposely, underutilize this device in my Living Room....where it is sublime. I think the ERR Omni's would thrive out here in the Living Room with it via MA or CKC!

LR, I am with you.....the MA stays for life...and I will work my alchemy to squeeze every last drop out of it for years to come.  My SE84CS & CKC will never leave me either.  Hi-rez, redbook CD.....and Vinyl improvements I will make....will be worth the efforts with these three fine maker's of music I will own.  -S

PS LR, ditto on your Zen Amp. I have owned my SE84CS new, for 12.5 years.  I listen to it, nearly every day. It is so Special...I will not change a thing in it!  I needed/wanted the CKC on its own...for its magic. No one touches my CSelect from 2001.  
Good question from your tech background about the Caps.

PS-I loved hearing the DM945 with the new passive bass stands. But, I think I am falling for the Radial Sound. Plus, I have all front firing in my Stable...time for way less room dependence...with the Omni's.  

hehe SteveC, this will be 3 for me. ....might turn into 4 next fall with the Mk IV.   I blame Lon for all this  ;D.  -S

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Yeah, and mine is making the sound of a straw at the bottom of an empty milkshake.  ;D


Ok, I really need to seriously look at isolation and such. I'd like to see what I can DIY between now and Mystery Amp arrival.

I listened to almost all the video's Steve posted, and I too kept coming back to the ERR - so it's looking like I might want a set of those as well...maybe my birthday 2014 - the Mystery amp is tapping me out for a long while.

I made the cut!

My Invoice was updated to include the Red Mallory NOS Caps N/C!

Thank you Steve.....and all at Decware.    -Stone of Tone

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Oh wow! I didn't catch that, my Invoice says the same!!

High Five  brother Stone!