Oops, I did it again!

[XP1800]

If you haven't seen it at Head-Fi, here it is!

That's right, this baby arrived and has been keeping me occupied ever since!


It's a Millet Hybrid, built by Zemo. Along with the 12FM6 tubes, I got some 12FK6's, because if I'm getting a tube amp, I gotta do some rolling. They go together like pizza and beer. So enough with this B.S., onto the sound!

Once I got my EMU-0404 up and running with the PPA (underneath the Millet), I decided to join the darkside. I plugged my Senns into the Millet, and flipped the switch. For the next 3 hours, I didn't get a lot of time to do critical listening, mainly because I was cleaning spit off of my keyboard and desk. I was that impressed...

Compared to the PPA, the low end is so much better. Extension goes much lower, and I also noticed it hits with much more authority. However, the low end is not muddy at all. Intricate details are still reproduced flawlessly, but not to the point where it distracts the listening from the higher range frequencies. I noticed that an overly "boomy" low end seems to drown out the more delicate instruments in the high end, giving the effect of the highs being rolled off. This is not at all the case with the Millet, the midrange and high end are still pleasantly smooth and non-sibilant.

I could listen to this amp for hours, which is exactly what I plan on doing. I'll try and update this thread again with more thoughts, as I'm still getting used to it. Maybe I'll even toss in the 12FK6's that I have. I want to get accustomed to the sound before I start switching tubes.

For a quick illustration, I'll use coffee as an example. Imagine taking a sip of some black coffee. It has that nice robust taste that makes you grunt "Ooooohh yeah...". Well, that's the Millet and what I think of when I hear the low end go to work. But, it's not all in the low end. Toss in 2 packets of sugar for that sweet midrange and high end Now, the PPA is like a cappucino, very sweet and refreshing. It has a delicate high end, but enough low end "grunt" to keep your foot tapping.

Anyways, here is some more eye candy






Looks like I forgot to put some rubber around those edges :rolleyes:

[flutie98]

Originally posted by XP1800


For a quick illustration, I'll use coffee as an example. Imagine taking a sip of some black coffee. It has that nice robust taste that makes you grunt "Ooooohh yeah...". Well, that's the Millet and what I think of when I hear the low end go to work. But, it's not all in the low end. Toss in 2 packets of sugar for that sweet midrange and high end Now, the PPA is like a cappucino, very sweet and refreshing. It has a delicate high end, but enough low end "grunt" to keep your foot tapping.

im speechless

[LordVampyre]

thought it was pizza and beer... see thats whats wrong with the younger generation

[XP1800]

Originally posted by LordVampyre
thought it was pizza and beer... see thats whats wrong with the younger generation

Fine! I'll make a creative edit

[Ramuman]

Yum...is that a MrX creation? The location of the volume knob and Neutrik makes me think it is .

[XP1800]

Originally posted by Ramuman
Yum...is that a MrX creation? The location of the volume knob and Neutrik makes me think it is .

Uh oh, looks like someone didn't read the test. Isn't that the most important part? Lol

[Ramuman]

Originally posted by XP1800
Uh oh, looks like someone didn't read the test. Isn't that the most important part? Lol

"...built by Zemo" - hehe I I skimmed over it.

[Zemo]

:-D

The components were placed to match that PPA he's got it sitting on top of, and the PPA was build by misterX.

Lookin' good XP, lookin' foreward to seein' what other impressions you come up with!

-Z

[Ramuman]

Originally posted by Zemo
:-D

The components were placed to match that PPA he's got it sitting on top of, and the PPA was build by misterX.
...

-Z

That's where I got confused . Nice to see your attention to detail Z!

[eshbach]

I was going to build that amp, but i just can't get over the fact that it's a hybrid... i think it would be much better if it were all tube...

anyway, glad you like it, there's something about tubes and vintage power transistors that op-amps just can't do

[XP1800]

Originally posted by eshbach
I was going to build that amp, but i just can't get over the fact that it's a hybrid... i think it would be much better if it were all tube...

anyway, glad you like it, there's something about tubes and vintage power transistors that op-amps just can't do

I'll tell you what, I wasn't expecting it to sound this good, and it does. The only way to find out is to build one

[eshbach]

Originally posted by XP1800
I'll tell you what, I wasn't expecting it to sound this good, and it does. The only way to find out is to build one

well, i might look into it after i finish the one i'm working on presently...

[Zemo]

There are no opamps in that amp. The "hybrid" part of it comes from the IC buffers after the tubes, which could easily be replace by a pin compatible discreet buffer if you wanted to go that route! Heck, go for the Larocco triad from the PPAv2!

-Z

[XP1800]

Originally posted by Zemo
There are no opamps in that amp. The "hybrid" part of it comes from the IC buffers after the tubes, which could easily be replace by a pin compatible discreet buffer if you wanted to go that route! Heck, go for the Larocco triad from the PPAv2!

-Z

*XP's wallet once again cowers in fear, and starts to tremble*

I can't imagine it getting any better now, this 0404 brought out a whole new level of performance, and the PPA and Millet are just flaunting it around like those sorority girls on my campus in the spring time...

[flutie98]

Originally posted by XP1800
*XP's wallet once again cowers in fear, and starts to tremble*

I can't imagine it getting any better now, this 0404 brought out a whole new level of performance, and the PPA and Millet are just flaunting it around like those sorority girls on my campus in the spring time...

ehehehe