Woohoo!  The production sample of the long awaited magic black box #001 has just been completed.  
+/- 3dB from 1/4hz ~ 100kHz. This is our balanced XLR to single-ended RCA transformer with adjustable output level.   Features a fully decoupled ground path that turns the case into a shield from your source and the volume control gets all it's grounds from the connected component. This makes the volume control work as a gain control for any amplifier that does not have one. For amplifiers that do have gain controls, this becomes a variable output used to adjust dynamics and transparency on the fly. No ground loops can occur between connected components.

Zen Balanced Input Transformer.  AKA  ZBIT.





After the fest I'll get it up on the site.  

Steve

We have a unique perspective for this years fest pics, from lakesidecamera.com!

Here are three galleries:

https://www.decware.com/newsite/images/2014FESTA/

https://www.decware.com/newsite/images/2014FESTB/

https://www.decware.com/newsite/images/2014FESTC/

Thanks for posting these pics, Steve.  Sorry I missed it.

I managed to dodge all but one photo - and Brianne is nowhere to be seen! I think we did well this year.  :)

Lots of interesting stuff at Steve's shop; I'm glad someone took the time to be curious and photograph so much stuff.

I may have some photos - but I left the Nikon in the car, so all mine would be camera phone photos, mostly to help me remember stuff.

So what's the deal with the OTL?  Was it a big enough hit for people to place many orders or can we start focusing on a more traditional and less expensive 10-15 watt SET?

aka ... one that I can actually afford

I've decided after much thought that I will not manufacture the OTL amp due to it's impracticality and the 6C33C tubes themselves.  Since there is no real way to test these unique tubes without making a custom tube tester they are not available in matched quads, which is what you ideally want in the OTL.  Customers would never be able to find them, and I would have to buy hundreds just to get 10 matched quads if I'm lucky.  

In addition, the tubes have to be pre-baked for 24 hours before being fired for the first time. This is done by wiring both the plate and grid to the heater and running only the heaters with no high voltage present. Again, not going to happen in the real world unless customers buy tubes only from us.

Tube life is another issue. The tubes must be at the correct temperature before being turned up past 1/2 power. This takes around 45 minutes, but it my OTL, which is fan cooled, it takes 2.5 hours. Again, not going to happen in the real world.

And then there is cost, and frankly as good as it is, when compared against the ZMA (Zen Mystery Amp) there are many who would prefer the later.

WHAT WE NEED is a design that uses only 1 6C33C tube and forgiving enough that it doesn't give a shit what mood the tube is in. A pair of monos so that the tubes don't have to match, which they never will, and gain controls so you can perfectly match the volume from each amp. Something that needs no fan, so you guessed it, I am prototyping a single ended triode mono block with a single 6C33C and we'll see what happens. Be an all winter experiment I'm sure. The tube is just too cool to ignore. Word is wired with only one cathode vs. the two that is has, the sonics destroy a WE300B which is saying quite a lot.  We'll find out.

Steve

Sounds like a really good idea Steve. Looking forward to the story!

Steve Deckert wrote on 10/29/14 at 01:33:34:


Wow, Steve that sounds exciting!  I hope you keep a design journal/thread on the forums like you did with the ZMA as I loved reading about the ZMA coming into fruition.

Lonely Raven wrote on 10/29/14 at 06:04:33:


Assuming I can afford them too I want 000 or 001 this time!

Palomino wrote on 10/29/14 at 00:53:18:


Thanks for the overview, I bet the first one you wrote was even better!

It sounds like a great amp and I'd like to hear it one day, but it's not on my wish list though (not that I could afford it anyways), but it's already close to November and it was only this week that we are now comfortable enough to turn off our A/C and open our windows here in Chula Vista ... even this afternoon I had to remind myself how expensive our bill was last month to prevent myself from turning it back on.

Steve wrote:

I've decided after much thought that I will not manufacture the OTL amp due to it's impracticality and the 6C33C tubes themselves.  Since there is no real way to test these unique tubes without making a custom tube tester they are not available in matched quads, which is what you ideally want in the OTL.  Customers would never be able to find them, and I would have to buy hundreds just to get 10 matched quads if I'm lucky.  

In addition, the tubes have to be pre-baked for 24 hours before being fired for the first time. This is done by wiring both the plate and grid to the heater and running only the heaters with no high voltage present. Again, not going to happen in the real world unless customers buy tubes only from us.

Tube life is another issue. The tubes must be at the correct temperature before being turned up past 1/2 power. This takes around 45 minutes, but it my OTL, which is fan cooled, it takes 2.5 hours. Again, not going to happen in the real world.

And then there is cost, and frankly as good as it is, when compared against the ZMA (Zen Mystery Amp) there are many who would prefer the later.

WHAT WE NEED is a design that uses only 1 6C33C tube and forgiving enough that it doesn't give a shit what mood the tube is in. A pair of monos so that the tubes don't have to match, which they never will, and gain controls so you can perfectly match the volume from each amp. Something that needs no fan, so you guessed it, I am prototyping a single ended triode mono block with a single 6C33C and we'll see what happens. Be an all winter experiment I'm sure. The tube is just too cool to ignore. Word is wired with only one cathode vs. the two that is has, the sonics destroy a WE300B which is saying quite a lot.  We'll find out.

Wow, with those type of issues it's no wonder that you are not considering building a stereo amp!

I love the sound of my Torii Mk IIIs after years of tube rolling and isolation and cabling and. . . I'm not interested in any other amp, that's just the plain truth. I have what works for me, and I'm not trading in for a new model, trophy wife etc. -- not that kind of guy! Not chasing the perfect sound, just the right sound for my collection and I. But glad that others have the bug, and understand Steve's need to keep exploring possibilities for the line and unique products.

Quote:


What's this you say!? You mean you don't build audio components that break down/fail after 3-5 years, and costs so much to repair that buying a replacement is the only solution...so the consumer must *consume* moar, therefor increasing your profits!? That's madness!  ;D

Steve wrote:
That is my goal and my wish for every amplifier that I sell.


You hit that goal with me with the Mk III, especially the second one you built me, with the bass controls. The other amps I'd bought from you showed me the way to this one and it has the power the others didn't, just the right amount, and the most flexibility of all of them, which helps me to enjoy my collection.

I'm so glad I found the website in '96.

Quote:


So does this mean I can get ahead of you in line for them?  :)

I'm really too broke for any new purchases. And if I did, it should be speakers and room treatment, not amps. I do have the ZMA after all.

That said, let's see what Steve comes up with!

Steve's already said he's *not* doing an OTL like what we listened to at this years Decfest - but he will try out another amp using that tube.

I'm hoping it's something along the Zen amp, but in the teens wattage, using the MIG Tube. I would seriously consider one. And I think it would be a great upper-end starter amp for those looking to get into tube amps if the price is right.

stone_of_tone wrote on 11/21/14 at 17:01:52:


Those are cool, I wonder why he doesn't make them or offer them on his website anymore.

Quote:


I'm with you on both parts actually. With the detail and smoothness I have, I kinda find myself cranking it up a bit. The Anthony Gallo Reference 3.1 I have next to my MG944 are great...different, but not better then the 944. Zu are on my short list to try out here. Last year about this time, there were all sorts of used Zu on AudiogoN and eBay, and now they seem very few and far between. I really want to run a pair through here.

Stone...as you stated, my needs are specific to my main room.  I would definitely consider the SET mono-blocks for a smaller room, or with more efficient speakers.

Glad to hear the Adagio's are breaking in nicely.  How many hours do you have on them now?  Have you tried driving them with anything other than the ZMA (aside from your SS rig for break-in)?

Okay, I have been really laying into the Adagio's 24/7, the last couple of days/racking further hours up on them.

I am using (for burn in purposes for the Adagio's):
Pioneer DV-563A as my Transport
Illuminati D-60 Coax
Anedio D2 DAC
Kimber Silver Streak IC RCA
Emotiva UPA-1 Mono-blocks (200 watts per channel)
Kimber Select 3033 Speaker Cable
Acoustic Zen Adagio Speakers

Listening to Odd Order Harmonics with Negative Feedback is not my thing obviously for Two Channel Music Listening (thus, I own Decware for Even Order Harmonics and no Negative Feedback-via Steve's awesome Voicing an Topology).
However, I can discern, the Adagio's are opening up! I will wait awhile yet still, to grunt an carry them back to my Decware/Listening Room. However, I like what I'm hearing.

Importantly, I am impressed with what I'm hearing from these driver's an Tweeter's...it has to be the lowering of slight colorations/distortions that is helping even with this bedroom Solid State setup/it sounds good. Not great/but good.

My only reservation is: Do they lack the inner detail an midrange presence that my SDA1's have in Spades? Time will tell.

Good news is/the Crossovers can be Mod'ed! If I chose to do so... .
http://www.stereotimes.com/post/adagio-extreme-modification-by-response-audio

Excerpts:
"Bill Baker’s goal with the Adagio EXtreme modifications is to bring more of the Adagio's sonic potential to the surface and provide a new sense of voicing. He wanted greater resolution, more inner detail retrieval, enhanced dynamic extension, and more air up top and greater slam in the lower frequencies. In regard to voicing, he was after more liveliness and realism in the midrange without sacrificing the other aspects as mentioned previously".

"As I mentioned in my previous review of the stock Adagios, the ribbon tweeters already have a very flat impedance curve and overall the Adagios have a linear frequency response. The flat impedance curves means it is an exceptional speaker to mate with tube amplifiers and the modification according to Bill Baker didn’t change any of these characteristics".

I could avoid shipping an have my guys do it here at Midwest Speaker. Also, for half the price. Still not cheap...but done just as well.
Like I mentioned, these Driver's an Tweeter's with this design are exceptional...and are screaming: "Work with me to reach my full potential"!  


Listening Room:
Room Treatments from Michael Green & Home Brew
Sony as Transport
Illuminati D-60 (.5 meter)
Chord Chordette QuteHD DAC ---~or~
Audio Alchemy front-end/Remote Volume Wand/Revelation Audio Prophecy Cryo-Silver i2s
Kimber Select KS1030 IC RCA (.75 meter)
Decware CSP3 w/Jupiter Caps
Kimber Select KS1030 IC RCA (.5 meter)
Decware Zen Mystery Amplifier
Kimber Select KS3035 Speaker Cable
Polk SDA1 Speakers in Stereo (Acoustic Zen Adagio Speakers/burning in)
XLO Pro Power Cords to CSP3 & ZMA
PS Audio P3 Power Plant / Pangea AC-9SE from wall to P3
(Front End an CSP3 Regenerated/116, 118 an 120v are used/Multiwave off...ZMA on HC Output)

Decware SE84CS (w/NOS Svetlana SV83's from 1980's-not the New Sensor knock-offs) & Decware Super Zen CKC...when SE Pentodes run in Triode/Decware Style...needs to be in the System!

Happy New Year

I'm excited for new Decware designs for 2015!

See replies: #3, 4, 5 an mine at #6 in the "Christmas" thread (here in the General Forum).

A big tranny on the Bench(?)  I'm thinking the 6C33C Mono's or Preamplifier with Remote(?) is happening (or both).

Steve is finally building a 300B amp!













Just kidding.

I was just funning because Steve used to mention 300B amps. I wish him luck whatever he designs,but I'm set with amps, love the ones I have and intend to stick with them for a LOOOOOOONG time!

No for me on the Line Magnetic.

My Zen Mystery Amplifier is so good with my CSP3-only another creation from Steve will do.

My Telefunken E88CC/6922 (A12 & B12 positions in my ZMA) arrive from Upscale Jan 8/Th...just in time for the long cold weekend of warm inside Music enjoyment.

Hard to say really.  It probably depends on how much time Steve had over the holidays and how successful he was (i.e. liked what he heard).  He had something on the bench when I was there in late December.  I asked and he said, yes, that's it.

You could look to the Mystery Amp thread to see what date he started it and when he said he had something he liked.  That might give you some clue.

Also, I have observed that he likes to have something new at Decfest, but that is not till October.

I would love another Mystery Amp type thread on this amp.

Any news to report Raven?

I did find this earlier in the thread:

I am prototyping a single ended triode mono block with a single 6C33C and we'll see what happens. Be an all winter experiment I'm sure.

Given how much I like Rachael, a pair of these could be just right for me.  Still working with the Torii though...