Oh and by the way, mine is the factory modded Eastern Electric Minimax and i purchased it new for around $1000 about a year ago.
Yes, and I don't understand the comment about it being noisey. It's 93dB SNR unmodded, and who knows how much better after the current level of factory mods (which I have). As carusoracer says, tube rolling is a must.
I have Sig 70s and any hint of noise upstream will show itself rather clearly with this dead silent amp.
-- Jim
I guess I need to explain my comments about the MM. Compared to both a TVC and my Supratek Sauvignon, there is indeed a bit more noise - 'noisy' was possibly not the best word but since the Supratek, an active linestage that has any noise at all is, to me, "noisy".
And, actually, it's not so much noise (hiss) that prompted that word, but the level of reduced 'blackness' - definitely felt that there was a veil there, with the MM, as compared to either other - I was not seeing as far into the recording.
This is the history. After 1st trying a TVC, I was amazed on how 'un-veiled' and pure it sounded. I was hooked, and thought this was nirvana - and overall it's pretty darn good, especially with high-input-impedance tube amps. But, after hearing many killer systems with the best soundstaging and dynamics I've experienced, I noticed they always had an active preamp - always. More reading and research led me to the Supratek, and I was very pleased to find it was what I was looking for - as totally 'transparent' and quiet as the TVC (or at least very, very close) but with considerably larger, fuller soundstage and more convincing dynamics as well.
I still think the MM is a killer unit. It is really amazing. And 'noisy' was not a good word (I believe I said 'somewhat noisy). However, if you A/B it against a TVC or resistor passive, you'd see what I mean.
Bear in mind we are talking over 3x the price for the Supratek unit.
