FIIO EA13 "pure vacuum tube" integrated amplifier (?!)

[mhardy6647]

So, I am shocked, shocked that this epochal component from FIIO* hasn't gotten more attention here!

Full-Size Vacuum Tube Audio Power Amplifier EA13.-EA13

Pure tube amplifier FIIO EA13 A Classic Reimagined, Bold Beyond Compare.

www.fiio.com

I found identically one mention here, in the aesthetically pleasing amplifiers thread.

Most aesthetically pleasing amplifiers

Nope. The picture is not fake. Here is a few more of the Audio Physic Cerubin amplifier and speakers: I’m glad I’m not a slave to that image.

www.audiosciencereview.com

Perhaps "we" need to source one for proper review?

______________
* based on their website, that's the way they would reproduce the name; all caps. (?)

 

[mhardy6647]

Adding a switch and a built-in load (couple of resistors) for transformer-coupled power amplifiers was a "solved problem" six or seven decades ago.

Fisher 500C schematic (detail) from Vacuum Tube Valley, vol. 6.
EDIT: Near the bottom right of the screenshot above. 330 ohm, 1 watt resistors serve to ensure a reasonable load for the OPTs in the Fisher 500C when headphones are used with it.
In full disclosure, I have a very nice 500C -- but I've never used it with headphones!

 

[fpitas]

Bold beyond compare? Lol. 28W is more than enough for your horns, and it's class A so there's no crossover distortion. I guess you saw I went over to the dark side and bought a Mini 300 for my horns.

 

[mhardy6647]

With 28 watts, I could peel paint.


This amplifier strikes me as an amusingly odd product. It is, apparently, pretty cheap, though.
Note that they used an odd heater voltage variant (originally made for series-string, power-transformerless "killer" chassis TV use, no doubt) of a 6GH8-ish tube (triode-pentode) to keep cost down. Not a bad idea, but the supply of such tubes - currently very cheap - is finite, and demand will lead to fairly rapid price increases in those, methinks.

 

[fpitas]

I'm not crazy about their tweak for the phase inverter, either. I guess you adjust for minimum even-order distortion?

 

[mhardy6647]

I'm not crazy about their tweak for the phase inverter, either. I guess you adjust for minimum even-order distortion?

I missed that! I'll have to look at the website again...

 

[mhardy6647]

hmm... what's wrong with this picture?

 

[Power Pop 23]

FiiO touts the EA13 as being three years in the making.

In that time, FiiO determined the best choice for owners of the EA13 was to source new, old stock (NOS) Sylvania PC80 vacuum tubes for the preamplifier section.

 

[JeffS7444]

That looks pretty slick, I think they're going to sell a bunch of things.

Regarding the Fisher 500c, a quick bit of online research suggested a price of 359 USD in 1964, which per usinflationcalculator.com, is more than 3x the price of the Fiio EA13. More, if you bought the optional wood case. For that enormous price differential, manually unplugging speakers from the Fiio seems like a fair tradeoff.

 

[mhardy6647]

That looks pretty slick, I think they're going to sell a bunch of things.

Regarding the Fisher 500c, a quick bit of online research suggested a price of 359 USD in 1964, which per usinflationcalculator.com, is more than 3x the price of the Fiio EA13. More, if you bought the optional wood case. For that enormous price differential, manually unplugging speakers from the Fiio seems like a fair tradeoff.

The cost increment in the 500C for headphones is two one watt resistors. I don't think the profit margin on those accounts for the price differential!

EDIT: Note also that the Fisher also includes an FM multiplex stereo tuner (and a rather good one at that). Likely that had a bit more to do with the MSRP than the headphone option.

FiiO touts the EA13 as being three years in the making.

In that time, FiiO determined the best choice for owners of the EA13 was to source new, old stock (NOS) Sylvania PC80 vacuum tubes for the preamplifier section.

The PCL80 EDIT PCF80 is probably the cheapest option for the small signal triode and pentode used in the circuit. How long they'll stay cheap will likely depend, for better or worse, on how successful this product is.

source: https://frank.yueksel.org/sheets/191/9/9A8.pdf

 

[JeffS7444]

The cost increment in the 500C for headphones is two one watt resistors. I don't think the profit margin on those accounts for the price differential!

If I'm reading the 500c schematic correctly, you are forgetting about a rotary switch, which selects between Speaker A, B or headphone-only. Or they could have done what Denon/Marantz do with their AVRs, which is to auto-detect when headphones are plugged in, and switch via relays. But IME, that auto-sense isn't 100% reliable

 

[NTK]

Fiio seems to have removed the wordings for headphone connections from their EA13 product page.
https://www.fiio.com/ea13

 

[JSmith]

I am shocked, shocked

JSmith

 

[mlsstl]

If one is into tubes, seems a very attractive option at $800.

 

[JeffS7444]

If one is into tubes, seems a very attractive option at $800.

Oh wow, I was seeing prices in the 1350 USD range, shipping from PRC, but prompted by your post, found it listed on California-based Apos Audio's site @ 770 which seems like an amazing deal for someone who wants tubes.

 

[Power Pop 23]

The FiiO EA13 is listed as 'currently unavailable' at Amazon USA.

Earlier today, the listing showed inventory at $769.

 

[Roland68]

Oh wow, I was seeing prices in the 1350 USD range, shipping from PRC, but prompted by your post, found it listed on California-based Apos Audio's site @ 770 which seems like an amazing deal for someone who wants tubes.

The FiiO EA13 is listed as 'currently unavailable' at Amazon USA.

Earlier today, the listing showed inventory at $769.

In Germany, it is listed in the importer's retail shop for €769 (including VAT), so that appears to be the standard price.
However, it is not currently in stock there either.
Is it possible that it hasn't been delivered yet, or that no units are available on the market yet?

 

[fpitas]

The cost increment in the 500C for headphones is two one watt resistors. I don't think the profit margin on those accounts for the price differential!

EDIT: Note also that the Fisher also includes an FM multiplex stereo tuner (and a rather good one at that). Likely that had a bit more to do with the MSRP than the headphone option.




The PCL80 EDIT PCF80 is probably the cheapest option for the small signal triode and pentode used in the circuit. How long they'll stay cheap will likely depend, for better or worse, on how successful this product is.
View attachment 554155
source: https://frank.yueksel.org/sheets/191/9/9A8.pdf

They made an awful lot of 9-pin tubes with a triode and a pentode for TVs.

 

[fpitas]

I'll mention the elephant pirouetting around in the room. The performance of this will ultimately depend on the quality of the output transformers. There, I said it.

 

[fpitas]

I missed that! I'll have to look at the website again...

Also, I bet balancing the output tube DC bias will pay off. I don't see a way to do that in the schematic, but it shouldn't be tough to introduce an adjustment.