Thanks for starting this thread and sharing the link. As an Inspire owner I’m always interested in seeing new stuff and hearing experiences from fellow users. My HO Firebottle is dated 1/27/16, and has a small driver tube ( E88CC). I believe that right after that Dennis switched to an octal driver. I’ve rolled everything except EL-34’s . I have 6 different rectifier tubes, and about 8 different driver tubes, almost all of both are NOS. Most of the time I prefer KT-120’s as I like classic rock. The KT-120’s and KT-150’s give me the desired bass for rock. However with NOS GEC KT-66 and KT-88’s the sound is sweet ! Also the now hard to find SED Winged C in 6L6 and 6550 are the best compromise between the original NOS Gold Lions and the full range of the modern KT 120 and 150. I’m also appreciative of the contributions about Pass and First Watt. I’m currently playing a modded Akitika SS amp and really enjoy it. I’ve been pining over a First Watt and the Akitika has definitely elevated my desire to try one. I haven’t had a conversation with Dennis in a few years, but he’s very approachable and is all about the hobby. I’ll share that I blew up my amp about 4 years ago. I had installed a fresh set of modern Gold Lion KT-66 and at about 10 hours of use I heard a huge pop and a loud bang from my left Zu Omen. I immediately shut it down. The amp blew up part of the power supply due to a failed tube, per Dennis. I opened the bottom and observed paper and oil on everything and a melted resistor , blown capacitor and a broken terminal strip. I shipped it to Dennis, he repaired it and sent it back. I was up and running in 3 weeks. Although the amp was two years old Dennis repair and shipped the amp back for free. How many people do that ! I insisted on paying something, and Dennis said ok , how about one hundred dollars. So my opinion is his amps are one of the Best Buy’s in the audio community and he is a true gentleman. Happy Listening my friends , and have a blessed Thanksgiving.
New Dennis Had amps
Dennis Had was the chief engineer/designer at Cary audio and is responsible for bringing back single ended amps in the US. Since his retirement he has been making boutique amps and selling them on eBay when he has one to sell. The Firebottle KT-88 is a single ended pentode amp that can take a huge variety of tubes. I love mine. He has also been selling a 300b SE amp. Looks like he has a bunch more models in the pipeline.
https://www.audioaficionado.org/showpost.php?p=1068202&postcount=7125
There’s a huge range of prices ranging from the $1500 “Kleen Sweep” using what looks like 6bg6 tubes up to the $8500 PSE 300b amp. There is also a SE 46, 6v6, and even a 7c5 amp in the mix as well.
It’s so nice seeing someone building for the love of it. He only builds what he likes and doesn’t need to make a living at it. Truly every DIY builder’s dream:)
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@buellrider97 , thanks for sharing that. I always got the impression that Dennis was a good dude back when he was running Cary, and although I am still listening to Cary products, the company doesn’t seem as good without him |
@jafant I get the idea that he wanted to retire. Running a business is a lot of work. Now he sets his own schedule, does what he wants, and makes a few bucks on the side. Not a bad way to live! |
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