Dennis Had Inspire Amps

[x3workshop]

Originally Posted by Musica Amantem

I had the same issue the first time I turned my LP-27a on. After several tests, I found out one of the balloon type 27 tubes Dennis sent me with the unit was bad. It probably developed a failure during transportation because Dennis checked it thoroughly before sending it over. Swapped both 27's with the other stock pair of 56 tubes Dennis included and voilà, no more issues. After I received the 27 replacement pair I've been almost exclusively using those in the preamp due to slightly better sonics in my system with them over the 56's (which also sound wonderful, mind you).

I would double-check it is not one of the tubes in either unit, otherwise, call Dennis again for a trouble-shooting orientation.

As a follow up - I've been giving the pre a 10 minute warm up before starting the amps and that seems to have resolved it. I like the sound of the 56's tubes. I'll give the 27's a try in a few weeks. I have plenty of both types on hand.

[Analog Addict]

Originally Posted by x3workshop

As a follow up - I've been giving the pre a 10 minute warm up before starting the amps and that seems to have resolved it. I like the sound of the 56's tubes. I'll give the 27's a try in a few weeks. I have plenty of both types on hand.

Typically when I've listened with Dennis, I always liked the 56s better. They seem to be a little brighter/lively than the 27s...

[Analog Addict]

Oh and as far as the Cary 805, I recently prodded him a little on why he hasn't built a new 211/845 amp, and he said he would. I haven't had enough time off to spend much time around his shop recently to keep it in his mind, but it's on the list of future projects.

Also, Dennis loves a challenge. I recently built a phono pre amp based on the RCA circuit in the receiving manuals. Once he heard it, he liked it so much, he built one for himself, with all the usual improvements of course. For some reason he hasn't really felt the need to build more of them, even though I keep telling him he could sell a ton of them. I guess the amps keep him busy enough.

However, my advice to anyone who really wants him to build something specific or one off is offer him a big enough pile of cash and be persistent enough and eventually it may just happen....

[Analog Addict]

Oh and for those of you interested in more info on the Inspire speakers, wait until I get off probation and can send PMs.....

[x3workshop]

Been listening to the LP-27a driving a pair of MC30's today. The sound quality is really impressive. A little bass heavy to be honest, but imaging is so nice and the detail is breathtaking. This is where Dennis's design & build skills really shine.

[Analog Addict]

Dennis sent me pix of the new amp he just finished. In his words......

Have a look at 20 watts per channel SEP

Parellel KT-77’s or KT-88’s or KT-150’s

[robert_kc]

I wonder how this parallel KT77 SE amp (20wpc) compares with the KT88 SE amp that he recently built (single output tube per channel) that produces 17wpc?

Does anyone know if he's ever added 4 ohm speaker taps?

[guitardave]

Originally Posted by Analog Addict

Dennis sent me pix of the new amp he just finished. In his words......

Have a look at 20 watts per channel SEP

Parellel KT-77’s or KT-88’s or KT-150’s

How do I order one of these? I would assume I can order one, correct? But how, where...

[FloridaBoy]

Originally Posted by x3workshop

This is for the LP-27a owners:

With the volume down, I start up the preamp and let it warm up for about a minute and then fire up the amp. As the amp begins to conduct I get a very loud hum. I shut the amp down right away, but it continues until I shut the preamp down. Then it stops immediately. Volume does not affect it.

This happens sometimes, not always.

At first I thought it was a loose top cap on the 807's that I was running in the amp because it stopped when I touched it. Then it happened again but touching it didn't fix it, so I swapped in the KT120's that I had. Same thing. Swapped driver and rectifier and... same thing, but not always.

The last time it did this I was across the room and didn't get to it right away to shut it down so it hummed and then squeeled and... stopped. I thought I blew the speakers, but thought to try a source and beautiful music was playing.

I swapped all the tubes in the pre (running 56's not 27's) and still hummmmmmmmm...

This is emanating from the preamp, not the amp. Did all the usual connection/ground checks and all is normal. It doesn't happen with other preamps into the Inspire and I confirmed it with using another pair of amps.

Reached out to Dennis who said it sounded like the tubes hadn't quite biased up and to give it a good 5- 10 minutes warm up. Gave it 5+ minutes today driving a pair of MC30's and the same thing happened.

Wondering if anyone else has had this issue?

Have you tries swapping cables on the source that you were using? I've had some issues on start up but it seemed to be the tubes in the amp.

Have you swapped the 6BX7?

[Analog Addict]

Originally Posted by guitardave

How do I order one of these? I would assume I can order one, correct? But how, where...

Only way I know that the general public can contact him is via his E-Bay

He hasn't listed it yet, and I don't know if it's a pre order or a general offering, but if you hurry, it might be yours....