You should look into the SMSL AO200MKII, it puts out 160 watts, has XLR output. I was thinking about getting one. Right now i am using a Stax 717 and Topping EHA5.
I'm one of the luckiest that have iESL. Works pretty well with power tube amplifiers like Muzishare X7 with better tubes. Only slight hiss coming when using ultralinear. Triode is dead silent. 50W is enough. Muzishare X7 has only 25W at triode. That is also enough. Never need to go past 12. You can try chain PRE-AMP between DAC and STEREO AMP.
This is a great video. Is there anywhere you have documented the testing methodology you used to create the graph at 15:06? What type of load are you using? Are you on any of the DIY audio forums? I have two Benchmark AHB2 amps and an iFi Pro iESL engergizer. I'd like to test my setup to see how it compares to your LA90 monoblock setup. I believe the iFi Pro iESL transformers are going into saturation and are my limiting factor, but haven't tested anything yet.
Transformer hum is very present in most vintage amplifier gear.. even 2000ish gear have problems in the high end segment.. In europe, voltage have gone from 220 to 230-40. (My area 235). Been checking for the presence of dc, which could contribute, and occationally it occours. Been considering to design some kind of standard cheap dc block and noise reduction circuit, beside adding a high voltage dc block capasitor.
Load was a 120pf 3kv capacitor, I tried other configurations with additional resistance but it just disadvantages the SRM-1 even more as it loads down and drops output voltage. My L700s measured roughly 110pf capacitive load.
I have the LV-105u that was recently restored and it has worse noise floor than the LV103 unfortunately… If that is due to age and heat I’m not sure but both channels were evenly matched so I assume it’s just how it is. I spent a lot of time chasing it to no avail and most parts are unobtainable now to swap out unfortunately…
I should be clear also, it’s probably acceptable to most people to use them but I’m chasing perfection and have many amps at my disposal. I would take the Luxmans if they offered a different sound signature but as the chart shows, their basically identical to the other amps.
@@whatcouldgowrong7914 fair enough, I have heard that the luxman lv-105 (and the other two) are fairly clean sounding amplifiers which makes you wonder what the tubes are even there for.. Have you tried the sansui amp yet and if yes how does that compare to the topping for use with the earspeakers?
@@trevor245 Definitely fairly clean but unfortunately with sensitive headphones or using those transformers, their sensitivity is quite high which can make background hiss an issue. Im sure the tubes offer advantages with linearity etc and the 103 performed up there with the Topping monoblocs (100Wpc) with raw power output which is way more than a 103’s rated spec. Having just a single volume pot in the Luxmans really hurts the signal path integrity unfortunately. The Sansui will be covered in detail later but it’s my endgame I think… More power than I could ever need with the clarity of the modern, clean Toppjng LA90s. But you couldn’t expect any less having 6 potentiometers for the volume alone!
Smashed it, thank you for this. Much appreciated man
You should look into the SMSL AO200MKII, it puts out 160 watts, has XLR output. I was thinking about getting one. Right now i am using a Stax 717 and Topping EHA5.
I'm one of the luckiest that have iESL. Works pretty well with power tube amplifiers like Muzishare X7 with better tubes. Only slight hiss coming when using ultralinear. Triode is dead silent. 50W is enough. Muzishare X7 has only 25W at triode. That is also enough. Never need to go past 12. You can try chain PRE-AMP between DAC and STEREO AMP.
This is a great video. Is there anywhere you have documented the testing methodology you used to create the graph at 15:06? What type of load are you using? Are you on any of the DIY audio forums? I have two Benchmark AHB2 amps and an iFi Pro iESL engergizer. I'd like to test my setup to see how it compares to your LA90 monoblock setup. I believe the iFi Pro iESL transformers are going into saturation and are my limiting factor, but haven't tested anything yet.
Transformer hum is very present in most vintage amplifier gear.. even 2000ish gear have problems in the high end segment..
In europe, voltage have gone from 220 to 230-40. (My area 235). Been checking for the presence of dc, which could contribute, and occationally it occours. Been considering to design some kind of standard cheap dc block and noise reduction circuit, beside adding a high voltage dc block capasitor.
Yeah its odd, way more hum than ive heard from other gear… tempted to try remounting the transformer. Obviously never designed to sit near you though
Thanks for that. Can you share where you get your 5-pin Stax-style female connectors?
My current stax connectors were harvested from SRD boxes but im working on my own design now
What source impedance and what load resistance did you use for these LL1630 transformers?
Load was a 120pf 3kv capacitor, I tried other configurations with additional resistance but it just disadvantages the SRM-1 even more as it loads down and drops output voltage. My L700s measured roughly 110pf capacitive load.
I wonder if the higher end models like the lv-105 or lv-107 amps would perform any better than the luxman you tried here.
I have the LV-105u that was recently restored and it has worse noise floor than the LV103 unfortunately… If that is due to age and heat I’m not sure but both channels were evenly matched so I assume it’s just how it is. I spent a lot of time chasing it to no avail and most parts are unobtainable now to swap out unfortunately…
I should be clear also, it’s probably acceptable to most people to use them but I’m chasing perfection and have many amps at my disposal. I would take the Luxmans if they offered a different sound signature but as the chart shows, their basically identical to the other amps.
@@whatcouldgowrong7914 fair enough, I have heard that the luxman lv-105 (and the other two) are fairly clean sounding amplifiers which makes you wonder what the tubes are even there for.. Have you tried the sansui amp yet and if yes how does that compare to the topping for use with the earspeakers?
@@trevor245 Definitely fairly clean but unfortunately with sensitive headphones or using those transformers, their sensitivity is quite high which can make background hiss an issue. Im sure the tubes offer advantages with linearity etc and the 103 performed up there with the Topping monoblocs (100Wpc) with raw power output which is way more than a 103’s rated spec. Having just a single volume pot in the Luxmans really hurts the signal path integrity unfortunately. The Sansui will be covered in detail later but it’s my endgame I think… More power than I could ever need with the clarity of the modern, clean Toppjng LA90s. But you couldn’t expect any less having 6 potentiometers for the volume alone!
Wish some one sell those Lundahl boxes for stax
I may do a few down the track once im satisfied with the design however designing the connectors is taking some time
@@whatcouldgowrong7914 oh nice! maybe share design to audio-case forums they do stax diy for 2 decades 😬😬😬