ddriveman

PRICE FURTHER REDUCED - see above ! Now aasking for $700 and you can get choice of tubes - Sovtek 2A3, Valve Art 2A3 or NOS 2A3. Driver tubes can be either 12AX7, 12AY7 (6072) or 5751 NOS. This is a very good deal. The unit works perfectly.

slowpoke, I have a pair. Used but I have the original leather case and box. Interested ? Email me.

Here is my reply to a query asking if the Cyuber 30 is capable of driving both speakers and headphones well and also asking why prices of Cyber 30 in China is lower and whats the difference: "The Cyber 30 can drive both speakers and headphones well. Its output transformers have different taps for both speakers and headphones. Because it is a Single Ended 2A3 triode design, its very good and better than other tube headphones which uses smaller preamp tubes like 6922 or 12AX7 or pentodes such as EL84 (MG head and Cayin HA-1). The 2A3 tube has being designed for audio applications and is a great audio tube. The Cyber 30 for China market is not as good as export and is much more inferior to my Signature version. Local Cyber 30 uses cheap electrolytic capacitors and cheap volume pots whihc make a huge difference in sound. Also, the stock Cyber 30 uses Valve Art 2A3 (cheapest 2A3 tube around) and chinese made 12AX7 driver tube.When you consider upgrading to better tubes and adding it to the cost of the local China Cyber 30, you will see that the price of my Signature Cyber 30 is now favourable. When you add in the upgraded capacitors and volume pot (my DACT volume pot is worth US$125 by itself), then my Singature becomes a bargain. Not to mention that my unit has been burned in and fully run-in so you know its trouble free."

New reduced price - S$800.

The output transformer in a tube amp is one of the most important components contributing to the sound of the amp. A good OPT should give wide bandwidth and resolution (depends on design- air gap etc), good tone & timbre (type of core material and wires). I would say that in order of descending importance (IMHO) : 1) Circuit design 2) Tubes 3) OPT 4) Caps 5) Resistors 5) Others - wires/sockets/chassis material. However, if you are thinking of upgrading your Cyber 30's stock OPT to Tamura, I would advise just getting a better amp. Good though the Cyber 30 is, upgrading to a Tamura level is a bit beyond its capabilities (no tube rectification, 12AX7 driving 2A3 is not up to the best circuit designs for the 2A3 tube etc). Besides, I think you are going to have a tough time fitting a Taumra into the Cyber 30 chassis. And finally, but very importantly, the Tamura transformer is meant for speakers i.e. 4/8/16 ohm. For headphones you need 32-300 Ohm OPT. The Cyber 30 stock OPT has a different set of winding taps the headphone sockets. If you are looking for a better headamp that is still SET, I would suggest DIY HiFi Supply's Chazz: http://www.diyhifisupply.com/diyhs_chazz.htm I find it quite a bit better than Cyber 30 - more transparent with greater dynamics. Its also quieter with lower hum levels (not using DC heaters like the Cyber 30). If you like the mids of the Cyber 30, than run the Chazz with EL34 tubes. If you are looking for ways to just upgrade the Cyber 30, I would suggest changing out the 1) Stock cathode bypass and coupling caps to something better (blackgates, PIO, Jupiter Beeswax etc) 2) Upgarding the volume pot to a bette carbon pot or step attenuator 3) then changing out the power supply caps to better electrolytics - BlackGates, Elna Cerafines 4) Upgrading the resistors to carbon film (Riken, Kiwame) or tantalums. 5) Finally changing out the stock internal wires from the RCA inputs and speaker/headphone outputs to OCC copper or even better yet ... silver Hope this helps.

Here is a reply to question from an inmate that I thought would offer more insight to my amp: "The amps came with the DACT volume pot, Jupiter beeswax coupling cap as standard with the Signature version (note that other Cyber 30 in Singapore has black volume knobs (std verion) while mine is silver color and has the Signature name on the front panel). I have upgraded to BlackGate cathode bypass cap and all BlackGate power supply caps. (this is already over S$120 cost). No other mods besides this. This was a recommendation from the dealer and does make a significant improvement. The current tubes are a pair of TJ mesh 2A3 (6 months old) and a single GE 6072A (triple mica black plates) 3 months old. Before this set of tubes, I was using a pair of RCA NOS twin black plate 2A3 and a Sylvania 5751 (triple mica black plate). I have also used NOS 12AX7 Mullard. I also have Sovtex and Valve Art 2A3 and also some NOS GE, Belvu 2A3 tubes. However, note that I do not play the amp everyday, at best only 3-4 hours on the weekends. Hence the reason why I am selling, because I am really not using them that much. I am selling ths amp with the TJ mesh and the GE 6072A as I think its the best combo. However, should you want to buy with other combo's that I have available, you can do so."

bump!. Hello, anybody interested. Make me an offer. I am currently overseas so please email me at: ddriveman@hotmail.com

For Sale - 2 year old Opera Cyber 30 Signature headamp & integrated amp. in excellent condition. This is a SET 2A3 tube amp driven by 12AX7 driver tube. With original box and manual. Drives Sennheiser HD600 AND AKG K1000 beautifully. This is the Signature Version - DACT volume pot, Jupiter Beeswax Coupling cap & all BlackGate caps for power supply and cathode bypass. Asking for S$1000. Now Reduced to S$700. Call 96659733 or email me Photos at : http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ddriveman/album?.dir=/c0e6

For Sale: I unit of PS Audio Power Juice Bar. In excellent cond with original box. 230V version. Asking S$ 170 obo. Call or SMS 96659733. SOLD !!

Hi, I am looking to buy HD650 to add to my HD600 and K1000. Where can I get tghem in S'pore and how much. Also, can the HD600 Cardas and Stefan AudioArt Equinox cables fit the HD650 also ? Regards

Hi N@Z, Bass on E1C is extended and clean. Weight/Impact however is not as much as PX200 (but PX200 is picky about placement on ears especially for bass). I would say that E1C has more clinical bass but not as natural as PX200 (once properly fitted over the ears). Compared to my B&O A8, the E1C has more detail and extension. However, comparing the E1C to my Senn HD600 and AKG1000 is not fair. Both these headphones have better extension (especially HD600) with greater weight/impact. Also, both these headphones are more transparent allowing you to hear & almost feel the leading edges of plucked bass (eg) while also being more natural with larger soundstage. The E1C has a rather flat 2D soundstage. Hope this helps.

Hi, You have PM

I read the article in NST, look up the Genesis article and decided to try the black CD-R. I must say that I am already a believer in "black" benefiting CDs since I use the "Auric Illuminator" CD tratement (highly recommended IMHO) which consists of a black pen to color the inside and outside rims of CDs and a cleaning solution. I found that coloring the Inner/Outer rims of CD can improve the sound (better detail). Hence the reaosn why I was keen to find out if the black CD offered similar or greater improvement. I bought 10 Melody Black Diamond CDs in SLS for $6 (cheap). I downloaded EAC and burn several CDs (4X, accurate mode) in uncompressed format. There is definitely a difference in sound through my main rig as compared to the original ! In general, I found that the Melody CD-R have a warmer, mellower sound than the original. Sound is less bright/forward (less sibilance and etch to the leading edges). Bass is rounder ... perhaps softer. So, the question: which is better...original or Melody Black CD-R ? Well, I quite like the presentation of the black CD-R, in general. It has a more ... analogue sound, if you will. Is it better than the original ? In my main rig, NO. Reason is because with my main system, I do not find original CDs bright nor hard nor edgy nor sibilant. Although the Black CD-R have a mellower and warmer presentation, I found this a little too much in my system which is tube based and my speakers (Silverline Sonatina II) are known for their smooth and warm sound already. However, I am now switching to the Melody Black CD-R for my portable CD player and here I find that the warmer, mellower sound suits the portable player better. In summary, I am impressed by the difference in sound that the Black CD-R makes (must be black on both Data and Label side. Some CDs like Sony and Imation are black only on label side). This reinforces my findings with the Auric Illuminator. I like that fact that the sound is less hard and edgy but the softness can be too much. I think that CD copying by itself (especially from PC with noisy switching power supply, transfer to HDD etc) cannot yield a better result intrinsically and perhaps the softness in sound could be due to jitter and other distortion introduced by the copying process (??). I look forward to orginal CDs made with all black disks. Should be cheaper that the gold disk versions which typically costs more that the standard alumium substrate.

Arcos, I own a PX-200 and have listened to the E2C. I find the PX-200 gives decent bass (once you get a good fit over the ears). Sound is more detailed all around with more treble extension compared to the E2C. I found the E2C dull and lifeless in comparison. E2C gives better isolation naturally and it that is what you are looking for, then the PX200 cannot compare. However, musically, the PX-200 wins hands down. In fact, when I listened to the E2C, I also compared it to the E1C which I bought since it was more transparent and detail while offering same isolation. the E1C is of course more expensive and you should then caompare with the Etys

I have tried the Cyber 20. It has switch for both high and low impedance phones. WIth stock tubes, it is very close to the ASL MG Head. Not surprising since it uses same EL84 power tubes. Signal tube is almost same 12AU7 vs 12AX7. But it does not have OTL. So, I did not buy since it is not as verstaile as MG Head. When tube rolled with good NOS tubes, sound is quite good but again not better than ASL MG Head with same tube set. I have not tried Cayin HA-1 There is a new Tube Headamp from Opera called CHAZZ ! Just released. Much better since it is tube rectified power supply and uses 6550/KT88 driver tubes. Check this out: http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/DIYHiFi/...sages/1806.html