Paraglow
Paraglow is retiring June 15, 2005. Order now, for delivery of your custom kit in 8-12 weeks.
The most revolutionary of our kit designs
Paraglow uses our well known C4S active loaded driver stage. Half of a 5965 is employed as the input/driver stage. The 5965 is loaded with our Camille Cascode Constant Current Source for super quiet, dynamic, linear performance. The single driver stage is direct coupled to the grid of the single ended 2A3 which operates in parallel feed configuration allowing the use of nickel laminations in the output transformer. The operating points for the amplifier were specified by John Tucker, and of course it uses Mike LaFevre's superb MagneQuest transformers throughout. Power output is 2.4 watts at 5% THD, Response is -1dB at 26Hz and 47kHz, gain is 19dB, input sensitivity for full output is 1V. The super linear 2A3 gives the dynamic resolution necessary for those of us with efficient dynamic loudspeakers and they are marvelous with horns.
The right parts
The power transformer is our versatile, quiet PGP 8.1, made for us exclusively by MagneQuest, and the filter choke is the new MagneQuest RGC-6, the only filter choke made that uses a special non-magnetic channel frame material for optimal magnetic performance.
Rectification is by low impedance ultrafast rectifiers with a special filter that lets the amp match the sweet sound of tube rectified amps in the midrange and top end while showing vastly superior bass performance. Filter capacitors are high quality Panasonic TSHB units.
The C4S active load assures that the 5965 driver is dead quiet, and running in as linear and dynamic a fashion as possible, with very fast recovery time. Resistors are Vishay/Dale metal film and Ohmite wirewound, and the parafeed coupling capacitor is a Solen polypropylene capacitors.
The parallel feed output stage uses the MagneQuest EXO-03 plate loading choke and the all nickel version of the EXO-35 16 ohm or EXO-36 8 ohm parafeed output transformer. Cobalt version of the transformers are available for the ultimate in resolution and black background.
The kit comes with Sovtek monoplate 2A3 tubes.
The amps also come with alder wood base kits and a combination of Jena Labs 18 ga. Wire for power supply wiring and our favorite 20.5 ga. solid core long crystal copper magnet wire for signal path wiring.
Sonics?
This amp has the best resolution of all of our line. If you want bandwidth, speed, microdynamics and articulation without sacrificing bass, and you have 96dB or higher sensitivity speakers, this is a great choice.
Paraglow SE 2A3 monoblocks kit with MagneQuest PGP8.1 (120VAC) or PGP 8.2 (230VAC) power transformer, MagneQuest nickel EXO-35 (16 ohm output) or EXO-36 (8 ohm output) output transformers. Includes Sovtek 2A3s and everything else you need $1299 plus shipping. Delivery runs about 6-8 weeks.
Before ordering, please read:
Very important information regarding custom orders - read this before ordering
Paraglow Amps Kit with Sovtek 2A3s, nickel EXO-36 8 ohm output transformer, shipped UPS to US address
Paraglow Amps Kit with Sovtek 2A3s, nickel EXO-36 8 ohm output transformer, shipped Air Parcel to Canadian address
Paraglow Amps Kit with Sovtek 2A3s, nickel EXO-35 16 ohm output transformer, shipped UPS to US address
Paraglow Amps Kit with Sovtek 2A3s, nickel EXO-35 16 ohm output transformer, shipped Air Parcel to Canadian address
Notes for Our Customers Outside the U.S.
We can supply a 230VAC version of the PGP 8.1 power transformer, designated PGP 8.2, for operation with 220VAC to 240VAC mains. At this time our shopping cart is unable to process orders from outside the US and Canada. E-mail us at the link below for assistance in ordering:
Orders outside the US and Canada
or call us at 360-697-1936 M-F 9-5 PT
Don't forget to check the Paraglow II shunt regulated driver stage upgrade from John Tucker of Exemplar Audio.
Oh my gosh it is almost impossible to explain how much better the Paraglows
At the risk of being somewhat
politically incorrect. Dead cold they
kick the daylight's out of my Zen or Zens (stereo or mono) in every way.
You talk emotion, soundstage,
inner detail, harmonics, extended bass, more
airy open highs. It's all there. Most importantly as my wife said this
morning I can' believe how much more fun it is to listen than it used
to be. Used to be was only yesterday. How can these be only 3 watts
and moreover how in the world does Dan squeeze this much out of $1150.00
I'm sure the Vaic's are helping and I have some wiring tricks that I think
helped,
but well what can I say Dan, you stinkin' genius.
Had a great chat with Wes today
as well. Damn he's obviously really into this
as well. I'm ecstatic to finally be a bottlehead, this stuff is like the
ultimate addiction.
Gotta try and get the taxes out early( get that hefty refund and the wife is so
happy
with how it sounds there will be no problem swinging a Foreplay or a Soul
Sister.
The Sweet Whispers are doing quite nicely straight in From my Cal CL-20.
Thanks for all the info, help, encouragement and comeraderie
that all of you have provided me.
I can't thank you enough,
James W.
I tried the 1.5A fuse and the amp powered up with no problems.
The amp is producing some beautiful music on my rather
ineffecient speaker right now. I should have my 98 dB speakers done in about two weeks....I only have a few hours with these amps but I noticed these amps are very musical from midrange and up. I am using an 87 dB speakers right now and I was quite surprise I am actually enjoying the music. These amps gotta have some Major Balls to drive these speakers. Can't wait to finish my other speaker...
I would like to thank Quest, Doc and others for helping me out -
Thanks for all your help.
Jeff
Posted by Steven R. Rochlin on April 14, 2000 at 07:13:38:
YES!!!A pair of Paraglows have FINALLY arrived at my door! MANY THANKS go out to Bill Gaw for kindly building these all out incarnation for me. Got me a pair of mesh plate 2A3m in 'em and i must say that i am pleasently surprised upon first listen. Must give more time for break in. Heard a pair of Paraglows at Bill's home and i SWEAR it was the best i ever heard his system. All hail "Smooth Plate"....
Well, for now it only has about 8 hours on her and she is VERY sensitive. In other words a little input signal can make her quite loud. As for sound... dynamic, definition and tonally scrum-diddly-umptious come to mind. Amazing bass and quite impressive highs. Sounds more like MANY MORE watts, but then again i am using the Avantgarde Acoustic Uno hornspeakers right now. Will try her in other systems over the course of time.
Bill uses a very groovy system unlike any other i have ever seen and it is TRULY jaw dropping. Bill's system is the type you drive home crying from cuz it is sooo good and you know you have to go home to be depressed about what you have in your home.
Enjoy the music,
Steven R. Rochlin
Aloha Dan,
Just thought I would drop you an email on some of my feelings and thoughts on the Paraglow. Well I just got through having Nancy Wilson sing in my living room. THAT’S how the Paraglows sound!!!!! I have been listening to all types of music through them and yes as you have mentioned the jump up to the parafeed is like nothing I have heard before. It’s like I have been experiencing different levels which started with the S.E.X. kit, then came the TFA-204s, Afterglows, and now Paraglows. Each one was a wake up call to hear music as I have never experienced it before. Thank-you Dan for the guidance through the magic of tubes, caps, wires, and transformers. Now about these new 2A3s that you were talking about............
Mahalo Nui Loa,
Wendell Smith
OK, Dan,
Here it is - all this stuff about zero NFB SE DHT triode magical musical low-power amplification is just a bunch of.......... Total truth.
I carefully planned the upgrade from my weird tweaked-out, who-knows-what operating conditions ParaSEX to Paraglow, including drawing out a layout and some HP/GE 5965s, collecting the best Dale MF and WW resistors I could scrounge at local surplus houses. I couldn’t easily find 50 Ohm >3 watt pots or rheostats, so I ended up with 25 Ohm R-Shack units with 10 Ohm 5w resistors on each end. Couple of Chinese 2A3s of course...(Of course this is why we offer the Afterglow and Paraglow upgrades to the ParaS.E.X. kit - you can take advantage of our experience and save yourself time and money buy purchasing all the Vishay/Dale MF and Ohmite wirewound resistors you need in one kit, along with new terminal strips and rectifiers, four pins sockets, 2A3 and 5965 tubes, our exclusive octal socket hole to nine pin socket hole "shrinkers", Nichicon cathode bypass caps, and those tough to source 50 ohm pots...everything you need for the conversion but the output transformers, for just $300, including a detailed manual to guide you in the parts layout )
I worked each mono up, checked out and fired up perfectly right out of the box. Man it helps to have such utter simplicity! One notable discrepancy: your manual sez the EXO-35 primary terminal with the dot goes to ground, exactly wrong according to the scrawled instructions that came with my units. I made and executive decision and did it Mike’s way. (This only affects the polarity of the signal going to your speakers. Our way will keep the polarity correct...) The sound! What words can I find? You know I’ve been holding my Michael Yee SS amplifier up as a perpetual standard ever since I hooked-up the first SEX amp, and that while interesting and satisfying (in large part because I made and I can modify it) Mike’s amp remained superior. Probably not unlike the RE Labs amp. Now I can say this only: the Michael Yee amp is much more powerful. And 2.4 watts? God, what a 2.4 watts! Within that power envelope, as you have said, there is a sonic realism, not to mention indescribable musicality, that surpasses belief. And damn, this is with 1. little inexpensive Klipsch minis, 2. Fostexes in a really wrong box, and 3. old C-J Sonographe minis that I didn’t think had any particular value at all. I tremble to imagine how this would be with something really righteous. The sound does not fall apart or smear during crescendos, as I would expect even a much more powerful PP tube amp to do. The bass is excellent, given the speakers and reasonable volume limitations. Here is the most important part: I seem to have reached an important goal, one I’ve been seeking for many months. More of my recordings are more enjoyable than ever, many are enjoyable for the first time. This is huge.
Thanks Dan. You are a right-thinking man of the spirit of sound and music.
Cam Godecke
There are some more measurements I need to do, as well as other things like eating dinner etc.., but I just fired these babies up, and time came to a halt. The sound was just right, with no hum at all. Most wires are now shielded, and taken to the AC line cord ground. Many mods have already been done to them, although this was risky for a first time build up. Please excuse me, if I pat myself on the back; pat, pat, pat. :^)
The sound was just what I was hoping for, which was a neutral slightly sweet sound, with wonderful clean midrange, unbelievable bass, and extended airy treble. I heard the deepest, darkest silence surrounding vocals, I have ever heard! Needless to say, the sound will get much better after break in, and the voltages are brought up to normal. Next week, I will try my 2A3M Meshplates, and god I just hope I can take it, as I was already shivering tonight! Yes, I guess you could say, I like 'em. ;~)
Thanks a million Tom and everyone! I was sad and wore down, now I can smile and get a good nights sleep. That is, unless I have to get up in the middle of the night for another listen. I will let everyone know how things turn out. BTW, The speakers are a new pair of Hammer Dynamic S12's, and they are doing a great job thanks to John W., but I'm sure the Straights 8's would have also done a great job. More tomorrow.Best Wishes.
Greg R.