14 hours ago, xlr8or said:

I own 2 Weston Acoustics valve amps (Tweaker Mk IV and Tempest) amongst 11 other valve power/intergrated amps that I roll regularly. The quality of Eric's hand wound OPTs are outstanding and can drive most modern speakers well. The Topaz KT120 is definitely suited to your genre of music as I listen to the same type of music.

 

I would like to point out something of significance with all of Earl's KT88, KT120 and KT150 amps. If you roll the tubes to vintage Tung-Sol solid grey plate 6550's from the very early 1960's the sound is something to die for. I took my Tweaker Mk IV to Krispy for a listening session a few years ago rolled with some of my favourite vintage tubes including solid grey plates from 1962 and put it up against a Modwright KWA 150 that was on audition. We all agreed it put the KWA to shame both in tetrode and triode mode running at 5 watts and 3 watts, respectively, on the 8 ohm tap on some standard 3-way floor standers that were traded in. I can't recall the specific brand and model of speaker but they were the equivalent of 89dB 150 watters. What it did to those speakers I will never forget. Mind you my rectifier roll on the GZ34 at the time was for the f31 1958 fat base Blackburn Mullard that really fattened up the sound somewhat. If you are prepared to roll the tubes on the Topaz you can achieve a totally awesome sound to cater for your own musical tastes.

That’s amazing feedback. Thanks so much for taking the time to respond. I really appreciate it. Let me know if you remember the speakers. 

Tweaker Mk IV...?!? 

6 hours ago, BLAH BLAH said:

Tweaker Mk IV...?!? 

Check my post on page #1 for photos and specs ect of the Tweaker MKIV

13 hours ago, Highwaystar said:

 

Interesting to hear. With the Topaz K120, are any modifications to the amp required to swap in 6550s? Or it is just plug and play?

 

Taken directly from the Weston Acoustics website under Topaz KT120. I believe the tubes are fixed bias and need to be adjusted.

 

Edited July 7, 20214 yr by xlr8or

21 hours ago, dr_carl said:

@xlr8or Kirk, of the various amps you have, which is your favourite? What qualities does it possess that make it so?

 

I don't really have a favourite as I like them all equally.

 

The qualities I look for the most in a valve amp is the use of several power trafos, OPT heavy iron use, fixed bias adjustment, valve rectifier use, availability of 8 and 16ohm taps and the ability to roll many different valve types.

Hey Weston owners.

 

Anyone tried switching the EH 6ca7 for Tung Sol EL34B in their topaz? Has anyone rolled any other tubes in these amps, any reports or recommendations?

1 hour ago, JPete9 said:

Hey Weston owners.

 

Anyone tried switching the EH 6ca7 for Tung Sol EL34B in their topaz? Has anyone rolled any other tubes in these amps, any reports or recommendations?

 

This very much depends on what budget you have available to spend and if you're prepared to spend that amount on vintage types. Also, what tonal character you prefer in the genre of music you listen to will have an influence on tube choice.

 

If you can afford it NOS or UOS very early 1960's Xf1 (revision 4) black fat base dual halo getter Mullard Blackburn tubes are the gold standard to go by. Xf2's from the 1960's are also exceptional. All these tubes have an outstanding midrange. However, they also demand a very high price.

 

Something more reasonably priced include these NOS Svetlana St Petersburg EL34's from 2011:

 

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/EL34-SVETLANA-GENUINE-WINGED-C-NOS-MATCHED-QUAD-/310210519022

 

Edit: The Tung-Sol 34B's are better sounding than the EH 6CA7 fat bottles. The Svets will put you in the next class. The original Mullards will get you straight to the top.

Edited August 8, 20214 yr by xlr8or

Thanks. I havent rolled any tubes before now, so i probably wont go for rare vintage etc. I was hoping someone had tried both of these and could share experience. In terms of tonal character, i am looking to get more of the lush musical mid and a little less 'forward' on the highs. From my reading online, these Tung Sol seem like they might be able to bring some of that?

 

I will order a quad of tung sol today, if it works i guess i will be down some rabbit hole of tube collecting

 

My Signal tubes are Tung-sol 6SL7GT. I know this will influence the sound signature too, but seems like everyone starts rolling power tubes first?

I would recommend rolling the input tubes first. A change here would be the most significant.

 

You can also try posting under the Willsenton R8 thread and asking what the differences are in tonal character between the EH 6CA7's and the Tung-Sol EL34B's. There are many users who have posted under this thread describing the differences in tonal character between the 2 tube brands.

On 07/07/2021 at 10:43 PM, xlr8or said:

 

Taken directly from the Weston Acoustics website under Topaz KT120. I believe the tubes are fixed bias and need to be adjusted.

 

 

Thanks, I saw that but does not mention anything about biasing. Has anyone done this? Does the amp need to be sent back to Earle?

 

Cheers

Big thanks to Earle for fixing my Topaz KT120 today after it developed an intermittent issue with its power connection switch.

This is my second Weston Acoustics Amp, purchased new in 2012 and Earle happily fixed the issue while I waited and upgraded a handful of capacitors as a bonus. 

A great guy to deal with and absolutely backs up his exceptional quality hand built Amps.

 

Thanks again Earle and was good to chat with you again today.

1 hour ago, lebowski said:

Big thanks to Earle for fixing my Topaz KT120 today after it developed an intermittent issue with its power connection switch.

This is my second Weston Acoustics Amp, purchased new in 2012 and Earle happily fixed the issue while I waited and upgraded a handful of capacitors as a bonus. 

A great guy to deal with and absolutely backs up his exceptional quality hand built Amps.

 

Thanks again Earle and was good to chat with you again today.

Did he offer you a bacon sandwich by any chance?

5 minutes ago, Luc said:

Did he offer you a bacon sandwich by any chance?

 

or a picture of Salma ?

1 hour ago, lebowski said:

Big thanks to Earle for fixing my Topaz KT120 today after it developed an intermittent issue with its power connection switch.

This is my second Weston Acoustics Amp, purchased new in 2012 and Earle happily fixed the issue while I waited and upgraded a handful of capacitors as a bonus. 

A great guy to deal with and absolutely backs up his exceptional quality hand built Amps.

 

Thanks again Earle and was good to chat with you again today.

Hard to fault the built quality, it’s military precision hence he could replaced components easily…..  I take my hat of to Earle…..   

1 hour ago, Addicted to music said:

Hard to fault the built quality, it’s military precision hence he could replaced components easily…..  I take my hat of to Earle…..   

 

the build quality, craftsmanship and components used is incredible.

It’s stunning to see how neat and well laid out it is under the cover.

 

 

1 hour ago, Luc said:

Did he offer you a bacon sandwich by any chance?

Hahaha, no time for bacon sandwiches. Just talking Amps, Pellet Heaters and Solar power

I have two of Earle's creations on order. One Artisan 150 and one Time Machine. Plans so far are to put the 150 with my Harbeth SHL5P XD's and the Time Machine speakers are still to be decided. Maybe something from Tannoy, Klipsch or Wharfedale.

Topaz KT-120 on order for my first tube amp. June/July build.

2 hours ago, blakey72 said:

I have two of Earle's creations on order. One Artisan 150 and one Time Machine. Plans so far are to put the 150 with my Harbeth SHL5P XD's and the Time Machine speakers are still to be decided. Maybe something from Tannoy, Klipsch or Wharfedale.

The Time Machine 300B is a special Amp and I hope to buy another in future. The closest sound I had in my system was a Bakoon 12R, I think maybe 7 or 8 watts and a glorious Amp. The Time Machine on vocal, mid range and tone was incredible. With the right speakers and source the emotional connection with the music is hard to beat.

 

 

33 minutes ago, lebowski said:

The Time Machine 300B is a special Amp and I hope to buy another in future. The closest sound I had in my system was a Bakoon 12R, I think maybe 7 or 8 watts and a glorious Amp. The Time Machine on vocal, mid range and tone was incredible. With the right speakers and source the emotional connection with the music is hard to beat.

 

 

Yeah choosing the right speaker is my mission now. I want something that shows off the 300B true sound. 

8 minutes ago, blakey72 said:

Yeah choosing the right speaker is my mission now. I want something that shows off the 300B true sound. 

Who doesn't...

A nice set of speakers that would work very well with the Time Machine 300B are these axioms:

 

 

 

I might give the 300b a try on my PMC's. Should be able to drive them ok, With 8 ohms nominal and 90dB sensitivity they aren't hard to drive. Very neutral too IMO. 

3 hours ago, blakey72 said:

I might give the 300b a try on my PMC's. Should be able to drive them ok, With 8 ohms nominal and 90dB sensitivity they aren't hard to drive. Very neutral too IMO. 

Sure, give it a try. Will sound 'nice' as 300b's do with most speakers but it won't drive them well.

 

Ignore nominal impedance as it really doesn't mean much.

6 minutes ago, Gryffles said:

Sure, give it a try. Will sound 'nice' as 300b's do with most speakers but it won't drive them well.

 

Ignore nominal impedance as it really doesn't mean much.

agree and from my own experience.  I will say though as a previous 300B owner, persist with speaker matching. You can probably drive almost any speaker however the limitations will be exposed.

I’ve owned a lot of Amps and speaker combinations and the Time Machine has the ability to connect you to the music like no other Amp I’ve heard.

 

If anyone happened to purchase Troubadour S/N 41010, I have the manual for it.

Commissioned by me. I sold it to @Graham Andrew, in Canberra.

That's it in my profile pic.

I was unable to find the manual at the time, but it's turned up, almost a decade later.

Holler at me if you would like it.