Bob Carver ‘Black Magic’ VTA 20S Tube Amplifier Review from Dagogo.com ...

Hi Jeff,

Not yet. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks. I've actually been using my TADs lately. It's pretty awesome on them too. I'm really enjoying my late night listening sessions.
 
Great...I love the EL84 sounds especially mate with the Cardas Golden Reference I/C.

Thank you for sharing.
 
I bet that sounds great Joe. Have you tried any different brand of tubes besides that OEM ones? I think the only thing that would bug me is reaching around back to turn it on and off. What's the knob for?
 
dlb2 said:
I bet that sounds great Joe. Have you tried any different brand of tubes besides that OEM ones? I think the only thing that would bug me is reaching around back to turn it on and off. What's the knob for?
Click to expand...

It really does sound great. I have not tried different tubes. The EL84M's it comes with are higher voltage versions (I hope Jeff Whitlock confirms this) because that's how they achieve 20 wpc. I think regular tubes could cause a problem. The knob adjusts the input volume. It's not a volume control in the strictest sense but can be used like that, and I do.

VACUUM TUBES

The EL84M output tubes do not need to be matched. That's because the DC restorer circuit eliminates that need.

Please note, we have selected the “M” version of the EL84 because it has a higher plate volt-age rating than the “non-M” tubes made by many manufacturers.
This is how we achieve a full 20 watts per channel output power by using just one pair each of EL84M tubes. We do not guarantee that replacing these tubes with non-M EL84s will work. Red plating may occur (meaning the tubes will glow red hot)


Looking at the amplifier from the front, the two smaller 12AX7 tubes go right behind the “roll bar”, the EL84M tubes are installed in the four sockets behind them.


VOLUME CONTROL

Under normal circumstances, this control should be left in the maximum (fully clockwise) position. If you
have a noisy preamp, turning it halfway down and centering it at the 12:00 o'clock position will reduce
the preamp noise by half, or 6 dB. It should always be turned all the way down when connecting or dis-
connecting any input or output in your system. Connect RCA patch cords from your preamp to the RCA
audio input jacks on the back of this unit.


Note:

You may also directly connect a piece of “line level” source equipment to this amplifier with no
preamp and use the volume pot on the amp to adjust the volume. Phonographs cannot be directly to this
amplifier without the use of a phono-prestage preamplifier.
 
joeinid said:
It really does sound great. I have not tried different tubes. The EL84M's it comes with are higher voltage versions (I hope Jeff Whitlock confirms this) because that's how they achieve 20 wpc. I think regular tubes could cause a problem. The knob adjusts the input volume. It's not a volume control in the strictest sense but can be used like that, and I do.

VACUUM TUBES

The EL84M output tubes do not need to be matched. That's because the DC restorer circuit eliminates that need.

Please note, we have selected the “M” version of the EL84 because it has a higher plate volt-age rating than the “non-M” tubes made by many manufacturers.
This is how we achieve a full 20 watts per channel output power by using just one pair each of EL84M tubes. We do not guarantee that replacing these tubes with non-M EL84s will work. Red plating may occur (meaning the tubes will glow red hot)


Looking at the amplifier from the front, the two smaller 12AX7 tubes go right behind the “roll bar”, the EL84M tubes are installed in the four sockets behind them.


VOLUME CONTROL

Under normal circumstances, this control should be left in the maximum (fully clockwise) position. If you
have a noisy preamp, turning it halfway down and centering it at the 12:00 o'clock position will reduce
the preamp noise by half, or 6 dB. It should always be turned all the way down when connecting or dis-
connecting any input or output in your system. Connect RCA patch cords from your preamp to the RCA
audio input jacks on the back of this unit.


Note:

You may also directly connect a piece of “line level” source equipment to this amplifier with no
preamp and use the volume pot on the amp to adjust the volume. Phonographs cannot be directly to this
amplifier without the use of a phono-prestage preamplifier.
Click to expand...

Confirmed......
 
I was admiring this earlier today.Where did you buy yours if you don't mind me asking?
Sadly I have no dealers nearby to give it a listen.
 
TubeBias said:
I was admiring this earlier today.Where did you buy yours if you don't mind me asking?
Sadly I have no dealers nearby to give it a listen.
Click to expand...

I bought it from Jeff Whitlock of A/V Solutions here on the forum. Awesome dealer!

Home Page

 
Dewster said:
I think this little thing Joe has for the longest in his possession :sneaky:
Click to expand...

joeinid said:
Pretty close to it.
Click to expand...

Ha!! He's the only bloke I know of that is using a darTZeel amp for cable lifters, you're too much sometimes Joe. Then again I was really proud of myself using a milk crate, 2x4 & a brick for a rack for my MSB Diamond DAC. :fingers:
 
bzr said:
Ha!! He's the only bloke I know of that is using a darTZeel amp for cable lifters, you're too much sometimes Joe. Then again I was really proud of myself using a milk crate, 2x4 & a brick for a rack for my MSB Diamond DAC. :fingers:
Click to expand...

Ha! Hey, nothing works better than a Dart to raise your cable :)
 
bzr said:
Ha!! He's the only bloke I know of that is using a darTZeel amp for cable lifters, you're too much sometimes Joe. Then again I was really proud of myself using a milk crate, 2x4 & a brick for a rack for my MSB Diamond DAC. :fingers:
Click to expand...

You know when you've reached "Baller" status :snicker:
 
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