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I don't have the monoblocks, but I use an Eaton 45 frequently with my Spatial X5s (97db). I love the amp, it's one of my favorites. The hum was noticeable until I upgraded the tubes, which significantly reduced the hum and the noise floor. I put in a pair of Emission Labs 45 mesh plate, and I rolled the 6SN7s a few times. At the moment I'm using a pair of Shaguang Black Treasure CV181-Z. The EML tubes transformed the amp.
Some sino amps use a pot tô lower the hum, Its a second class solution but solve the prob.
Sino amps? What woudl be the first class solution?
Chinese amps.What woudl be the first class solution?Its a better circuit assemblage, construction etcThe amp table must be alu or copper, not steel which is magnetic, one of the techniques to reduce background noise that builders use is to bring the circuit closer to the alu table so that it absorbs the parasitic static voltages that circulate inside the amp during use, certainly there are other means of reducing noise.
Great to know! Do you think going with the outboard power supply would be a measurable help with these amps? And when you said you rolled the 6SN7s, you did that in an effort to find low noise tubes? Is that why you did it?
The new EML 45s mitigated most of the noise. Not sure on the power supply. Alan had a 2a3 amp with external PS on eBay recently, he claimed it eliminated the noise. But there's other things to consider. I'll PM you my thoughts.
I have an Alan Eaton 45 amp (not monoblocks) and it's paired with Tekton Lore speakers (98 db, but honestly probably 96db). It has a very very small hum with your ear to the speaker, but from 3 feet I cant hear a thing. I have NOS globe 45s in there (RCA) and RCA 5682 (6SN7) black plates. You can read about his process and parts (mainly upcycled parts) on ebay from his former posts, or the glowinthedark website. I'll say that it sounds absolutely great for the price. I had a Decware SE84UFO before it. I'm the kind of guy who won't 'go cheap' but I can't help but to try and find the BEST value, and for a handmade amp here in America, with the Tamura output transformer - I think this is it! It sounds beautiful in all the ways you've read a 45 should. Maybe there's a much better 45 amp out there, but I can't imagine anything as good of a value. The downside - I'm likely going to sell mine as I do find that although it gets loud, it has its limitations at about 1.5 watts per channel. There's just no way with my speakers to really get hit in the chest. I 100% knew this coming in, especially after having the Decware Zen driving my Lores for a few years at 2.3 watts. But I just needed to see what Alan's 45 was all about, and it delivers. I'm likely next going to have Alan build me 300b monoblocks to go from 1.5 watts to about 5 watts per channel. I just hope it still sounds as sweet, but I do think Alan is gifted and he could charge more than he does. I'm glad he doesn't though.
All great information! Thank you all for sharing your experiences! With the 45's you have purchased from Alan, do any of you believe it would be worth the extra money to have him build the 45 with an outboard power supply? Another member here, sent me some videos of his AE 45 playing and the noise that is heard is slight, which was great to hear!
Maybe a slight improvement in sound stage. Changing the coupling caps will yield more. The gain controls can be improved. I bypassed mine using an active preamp instead. HUGE improvement.charles
perhaps but....you might be better served with NOS tubes, coupling caps, line level wire, and potentiometers. it certainly upped the ante on an already great sounding amp! mine is silly quiet for being DH. although I would not mention any mods to Alan
