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"Say Hello! to my new little friend"

just a heads up...the same -preamp is sold between 20-60 depending on whether you want the top pcb or not or add the transformer or not. I think you can get it pretty bare bones if you plan on ditching caps and tubes. Just search ''tube pream'' and arrange results from lowest to highest.

It's really tempting, but am wondering if there's a provision for headphone jack?
 
chingon said:
just a heads up...the same -preamp is sold between 20-60 depending on whether you want the top pcb or not or add the transformer or not. I think you can get it pretty bare bones if you plan on ditching caps and tubes. Just search ''tube pream'' and arrange results from lowest to highest.

It's really tempting, but am wondering if there's a provision for headphone jack?
Click to expand...

They are all over on Ebay. Some with plexi glass and one tube configs as well. I think this one is probably the best bang for buck. I'm going to try a direct RCA to phones adapter myself. If that's too harsh I'll adjust it with resistors. My Gredo's are begging to be used.
 
DrMux said:
Probably the same seller. Mine shipped a week late so they added a second pair and shipped Priority. Not sure what brand the second set is. There are some dots on the glass and the number but no model name. Could be from the same factory as they look identical. No complaints here. Very smooth and warm. Could listen to this sound for days without fatigue.

Was it "allmannerofthings831"?
Click to expand...

Yes it was ebay seller allmannerofthings831.
The seller explains the GE logo is gone or is very hard to read on some tubes,
they do describe them to have the same internal construction.
The ones I got all tested very strong and all sound good and look the same
inside, $8.99 for a pair of these is a bargain to me.:)

I have been working on an Eico HF-85 and so far I like the Guanzo a lot better,
I really am starting to think the GE 5670 makes a great preamp tube.
 
oldhifiguy said:
tube depot sells that tube less than ebay
Click to expand...

Matched GE black plates? Theirs are about $12 a pair add $2 for match then shipping and they are military specs which I usually find a tad harsh compared to the standard tube versions.

Mine from Ebay ended up costing me about $9 per pair shipped.
 
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I got a couple of the GE military spec 5670's and did a comparison test to the
GE black plate a few weeks ago and I found the military spec 5670 to be a
on the harsh side too, even the Chinese 6N3 sounded a little smoother then
the GE military spec tube.
I'm :) with the GE black plate tubes.
 
BrokenHill said:
I got a couple of the GE military spec 5670's and did a comparison test to the
GE black plate a few weeks ago and I found the military spec 5670 to be a
on the harsh side too, even the Chinese 6N3 sounded a little smoother then
the GE military spec tube.
I'm :) with the GE black plate tubes.
Click to expand...

It makes sense since they're made to last longer under less than ideal conditions. These things do sound awesome.
 
chingon said:
I wonder if the one w/the 6z4 rectifier tube is any better.
Click to expand...

Try it and let us know.

I connected my Grado's to this and it doesn't really have enough power to be called a headphone amp. Sounds OK at low volume but lacking bass. Didn't rally buy it for that but was hoping it would suffice. Great backup preamp though. I used Y adapters to split it to my two Maggy's. Emotiva arrives tomorrow so this is getting shelved for a while. If it had more options it would be a great main preamp with these mods. Sound reminds me of the Music Angel.
 
I have it upgrade with Nichicon caps, Western Electric 2C51 tubes and it sound awesome :music:
 

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MickeySmile said:
I have it upgrade with Nichicon caps, Western Electric 2C51 tubes and it sound awsome :music:
Click to expand...

What type Nichicon's did you use and what uf and volt values,
did you definitely notice an improvement in sound quality?

I was listening to mine last night, it's definitely awesome sounding.
 
BrokenHill said:
What type Nichicon's did you use and what uf and volt values,
did you definitely notice an improvement in sound quality?

I was listening to mine last night, it's definitely awesome sounding.
Click to expand...

I used polyester film type with the same value and voltage. I did change 1 electrolytic cap, 2200uF - 25v with the same value and higher voltage 100v. The sound get more improve from the rolling tube than changing the caps.
You can look for another photo of Guanzo in this http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=315848
 
I have replaced the original stock tubes with some NOS GE black plates ( got 10 just to have some back ups already ordered a second Guanzo ) that were mentioned earlier in this thread and I agree that they really smoothed things out. They sound overall better... very smooth. Thinking of doing the films caps upgrade down the road...:thmbsp:
 
I have noticed that when I turn the volume control very low one channel is
little louder then the other, maybe I will try one of those stepped attenuator's,
if that works out just might get a second Guanzo too.

Digi, when you get around to the film cap upgrades and if you find something
better sounding let us know what you used and where you got them.
 
Hi all,

After reading the good reviews in this thread I got myself this nice pre amp. I hooked it up yesterday and let it play for a few hours. I like it, but it lacks a bit on airy details for my taste. Maybe it needs some more burn-in time.

What would be a short list of mods to apply on this amp to get it more towards high-end performance? Obviously tubes and caps will help, what kind (and values)?

Cheers,

Mark.
 
markuzz said:
Hi all,

After reading the good reviews in this thread I got myself this nice pre amp. I hooked it up yesterday and let it play for a few hours. I like it, but it lacks a bit on airy details for my taste. Maybe it needs some more burn-in time.

What would be a short list of mods to apply on this amp to get it more towards high-end performance? Obviously tubes and caps will help, what kind (and values)?

Cheers,

Mark.
Click to expand...


Just did some more mods on the guanzo that I own last night, it does seem to
have gained that airy quality that you mention.
This weekend I will have more time to do some serious listening, trying to
improve those airy details is where my thinking was too.
So far I have changed the volume pot to a 24 step ladder attenuator, changed
the film caps and replaced the surface mount resisters with PRP metal film type.
I will give more details as I learn more, I really like what I am hearing so far.
 
BrokenHill said:
Just did some more mods on the guanzo that I own last night, it does seem to
have gained that airy quality that you mention.
This weekend I will have more time to do some serious listening, trying to
improve those airy details is where my thinking was too.
So far I have changed the volume pot to a 24 step ladder attenuator, changed
the film caps and replaced the surface mount resisters with PRP metal film type.
I will give more details as I learn more, I really like what I am hearing so far.
Click to expand...

Cool Brokenhill, I'll wait for your final results on SQ. :yes: Are you still using the tubes that came with the kit?

I saw a nice matched pair of JAN 5670's replacements on the net, anyone experience with those?

Cheers,

Markuzz.
 
Has anyone configured this preamp to drive two poweramps?

I could imagine adding an extra resistor to the second RCA outputs breaks signal loops.... but some help in this department is very welcome! :yes:

Cheers, Mark.
 
markuzz said:
Cool Brokenhill, I'll wait for your final results on SQ. :yes: Are you still using the tubes that came with the kit?

I saw a nice matched pair of JAN 5670's replacements on the net, anyone experience with those?

Cheers,

Markuzz.
Click to expand...

The JAN 5670 tubes have been discussed in previous posting's in this
discussion, I tried them and found the GE 5670 black plates tubes to
sound smoother then the Jan tubes but that's just my preference.
The resistor choices do have an effect of the sound of this Guanzo
and I am still experimenting with that and with good results.
I will comment on that later because I am now trying some Xicon carbon
film resisters that sound better then metal film type.
 
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