Dennis Had Inspire Amps

[GeAllan70]

^^^

[Musica Amantem]

I believe his Quality/Cost ratio is also an important consideration. One would have to spend exponentially much more for the same level of craftsmanship involved in his designs.

I believe the challenge facing those few, very talented amp builders is finding a similarly successful loudspeaker builder which would enhance the potential synergies customers usually miss due to a lack of affordable, really effective choices on par with those tube gems. At the end of the day, amps not made justice by loudspeakers become useless. An amp is only as good as the speakers it is driving.

Without pretending to second-guess Mr. Had, whom I admire very much, I see there's this current crossroad facing his particular new (in-retirement) market niche:

Either Dennis's amps will go up in price and will reduce the customer audience to those with enough dough to pay for a similarly expensive (but good) loudspeaker set; or

Dennis keeps hitting under the belt of the market (as he's been doing until now) and finds himself a partner loudspeaker builder with an equivalent set of skills and Quality/Cost philosophy. This latter option should help budget audiophiles (the majority wanabees) access true Hi-Fi for the first time while profits would need to come gradually from somewhat mass-producing those paired gems. More complicated? Yes, that is the problem, but it is also an opportunity to leave a legacy behind.

BTW, with a few exceptions, nobody who is not completely dedicated to building quality speakers would do justice to Dennis's amps through DIY attempts (the only other affordable alternative). Speaker-building is science and art also, and quite demanding if the objective is to excel.

[pstrisik]

Originally Posted by x3workshop

It is a testament to Dennis Had's skills as a designer and builder of great sounding gear and his eagerness and excitement to share that with the rest of us.

I agree. I appreciate all the props for starting the thread, but if Dennis' work wasn't so damn good, this thread wouldn't have gone anywhere!

[Aercool]

Originally Posted by opnly bafld

Impedance saddle in bass indicates bass reflex design tuned to 45 hz and has nothing to do with the Inspire not producing bass with these speakers.
It is a mismatch between the speakers and amp, not the fault of one or the other.

Did you have a triode or pentode amp?

True, evidence does indicate that people have been happy with the Inspires with other speakers. I'm happy with the Soul Supremes with other amplifiers - so yes, I'd agree that it's just a mismatch.

My KT-150 was a pentode amp.

[Comzee]

Originally Posted by pstrisik

I agree. I appreciate all the props for starting the thread, but if Dennis' work wasn't so damn good, this thread wouldn't have gone anywhere!

Yup, I think these amps are a hidden gem.
Before my Omegas arrived, I had been using the fire-bottle with my hd800.
I've heard amps ranging from $1k to $5k on my hd800, the fire-bottle is the best I've heard.

[Analog Addict]

Alright y'all. Lay off the apple polishing. It won't get you any discounts, and you'll make Dennis' head swell up so much he won't be able to fit through the shop door. I wouldn't bet the farm on it, but I know he follows this thread, if not personally, I know his set up guy Tony does....

[Simonatsea]

Originally Posted by Comzee

Yup, I think these amps are a hidden gem. Before my Omegas arrived, I had been using the fire-bottle with my hd800. I've heard amps ranging from $1k to $5k on my hd800, the fire-bottle is the best I've heard.

I find my 6V6 amp pushed my Mrspeaker Alpha Dogs great. My LP-2 has a little noise associated with it, but it does a great job. Wish I could figure out what causes the "shhhhhh" noise from the pre. I have rolled all the tubes to no avail. Cables and power cords too.... I am thinking it is internal at this point.

[Comzee]

Originally Posted by Simonatsea

I find my 6V6 amp pushed my Mrspeaker Alpha Dogs great. My LP-2 has a little noise associated with it, but it does a great job. Wish I could figure out what causes the "shhhhhh" noise from the pre. I have rolled all the tubes to no avail. Cables and power cords too.... I am thinking it is internal at this point.

I asked Dennis about using my KT88 SE HO Fire-Bottle with headphones, he said it was fine, but it would have noise.

In my testing, there are two noise points.

#1 is the right channel is routed by the big transformer, (Dennis told me this) it's a low hum. It's not that annoying, and completely disappears at any listening volume.

#2 is the input tube, 6SN7 are NOISY. I only have 2 tubes out of my 8 input tubes that are low enough noise for headphone use, the psvane cv181, and my northern electric 6SL7.

If I could fix #1, this amp would be completely silent background.
I was thinking of rewiring it not by the transformer, or maybe putting some shielding around that specific wire.

I'm not too concerned now, because it's dedicated to my Omegas speakers.


I was heavily debating buying his HP design from Moon Audio, but I decided to buy a Torpedo III (DIY tube amp) instead. If the torp3 doesn't work out, I'll most likely get an Inspire HP amp.

I really want that new rectifier circuit he applied to the Hot-Rod though, something the Moon Audio version does not have.

[FloridaBoy]

I really want that new rectifier circuit he applied to the Hot-Rod though, something the Moon Audio version does not have.

In use, what does that do? Why is it son beneficial?

Lastly, which Omega speakers do you have?

[straitwire]

Hello everybody, Hey Allan yes you are correct sir, I check this thread every day!!
I changed my FireBottle rectifier circuit over to an Infinite Impedance Regulator (I.I.R.) last week, WOW!!! I would say more but I have not listened to enough music yet. stopped by the shop today to pick up transformers to paint and I saw somebody's finished 88 PSE and another one in the works on his bench, awesome looking amps! you guys are great! keep on postin'...Tony