How reliable are EAR amps

Rottenclam

Great post.

I'm not sure if folks still peruse this thread but I figure I'll chime in. I've owned the EAR HP4 (headphone amp) for 5-6 years now I guess it is. I've also owned the 834p for nearly the same length of time. Both have worked flawlessly and save for my own curiousness with regards to tube swapping, none of the stock tubes have run out of life. I don't listen all day every day, but I would think it is safe to indicate that I likely listen about 100 hours/month.

The parts list isn't glamorous but then they weren't chosen to be. Tim apparently designs with sound in mind first, then cost considerations but always with reliability trumping both. Ultimately, if something was cost no object and sounded like Sirens chatting in one's ear but only for 10 minutes at a time due to some electronic breakdown, it wouldn't much matter how great the unit can sound.

The only gear I've personally looked at, touched and listened to that surpasses EAR in built quality would be anything by Wyetech Labs.

I've owned the 834 integrated, the 890 stereo amp, and the Acute cd player. I never had one hiccup or issue of any kind with any of them. Reliable? Yes. Overpriced? Yes.

I own the 864, 324, 890 and Acute for six years. I had a problem with the 324 with one channel going in and out until the one channel failed. It turned out that Dan Meinwald's service tech Mitch Singerman lived nearby. I had a difficult to find short on the board which was just a bad trace which got worse over time (flexing?). It was fixed under warranty and returned within a week. I highly recommend Mitch Singerman for all types of audio equipment repair and Dan Meinwald as EAR's local rep. I bought most of the equipment through Tom Port of Better Records.

I endorse the facts that EAR equipment sounds great and that both Dan and Mitch are very helpful and friendly. Both the 324 and 868 are totally reliable and well made. I would buy EAR equipment again. I have never had the need to interact with TdP and, from the sound of this thread, have no desire to:)- but not everybody is a Ralph Karsten or David Wilson - brilliant, accommodating and socially appropriate.. When the combination happens, I always regard it as a bonus!