HX series of power amp

[Gilbert Y]

HX stands for "Hybrid Cross". It is not the traditional hybrid which has tube and transistor all the series. This is more like the BC307 preamp which has tubes and solid-state and let the user adjust how much tube and/or solid-state they want in the signal path. I have just finished the very first one by modify an existing BC204. It's call the BC204HX

http://www.flickr.com/photos/17843311@N ... 467333914/

The new series of power amps which most likely replace the 200 series is going to call the BC something something something HX. If I ever have time to build a demo/prototype. Any 200 series or other BC power amps that has enough space inside the chassis can benefit this new thing by upgrade the input stage to a HX input stage.

[bobneill]

Fascinating. A new interpretation of the idea of the tone control, but way more sophisticated. Gilbert does seem to understand that most people prefer their own take on reality; and like the smart man he is, he's found a way to give them what they seem to want. I'm impressed. That's how you stay in the audio business these days while keeping your soul intact!

[Bluecirclerookie]

Damn u gilbert why??? Oh why???? U want my wife to kill me? Lolz
i now get an urge to get this amp for my new to built speaker rig at end of this year for my new house.... Any ideas on pricing or models? Ru going to do a budgetmodel, medium model and extreme model? Am almost afraid to ask but maybe even a multichannel model???

Seriously though..what everyone dreams about or even fantasies about..u make it a reality..am glad i jumped on this ship, the BC ship with gilbert as the crazy (yes u are..lolz) fearless captain on the dangerous audio seas hehehehehe
U have my biggest respect as the specialist and trendsetter u are...u dont set trends on estethics as others do..noooo..u do it on the areas that count the most..in how it sounds... Never change in that!

[Gilbert Y]

Damn u gilbert why??? Oh why???? U want my wife to kill me? Lolz
i now get an urge to get this amp for my new to built speaker rig at end of this year for my new house.... Any ideas on pricing or models? Ru going to do a budgetmodel, medium model and extreme model? Am almost afraid to ask but maybe even a multichannel model???

Seriously though..what everyone dreams about or even fantasies about..u make it a reality..am glad i jumped on this ship, the BC ship with gilbert as the crazy (yes u are..lolz) fearless captain on the dangerous audio seas hehehehehe
U have my biggest respect as the specialist and trendsetter u are...u dont set trends on estethics as others do..noooo..u do it on the areas that count the most..in how it sounds... Never change in that!

BC Rookie, eventually you are not going be a BC rookie anymore then what are you going to do?

This HX is not necessary be just an amp. I think I have talked to someone last night should BC even make a production model at all. Almost everything we do have slight custom feature(s) in it. On the other hand, I understand we have to keep some kind of "production" models so people has an idea where to start.

So to answer your question, directly, you don't need to get this amp. This HX can be apply to anything, preamp, power amp, integrated amp. Even in DAC and phonostage, headphone amp anything to do with audio. It can applies to as many channels as you want.

One thing at a time, get your new toys first and go from there. Should be there in about a week or two from now, if everything go as planned.

[garyj]

received my bc204 back with the HX modification and so far i am very impressed. Been listening mostly to solid state input and like the clarity and depth, and things have not even settled in. Also had an upgrade in the power supply for the preamp so that may be part of what i am hearing, but overall i am quite pleased. knowing that you can upgrade/refine/customize rather than replace is an excellent reason to invest in Blue Circle gear. Of course how good it is is the best reason.

[bobneill]

I wonder how long it will be before we're all converted back to solid state. We've become so used to the enriched sound of tubes, even just as inputs, that solid state, even extremely good solid state, initially sounds too cool and lean to us. But if the solid state really is good enough, we can adapt to it and then actually come to prefer it, especially if our reference is 'live' music. Gilbert is taking us by the hand with these HX amps, I think: he's giving us the opportunity to wean ourselves off tubes.

[garyj]

I wonder how long it will be before we're all converted back to solid state. We've become so used to the enriched sound of tubes, even just as inputs, that solid state, even extremely good solid state, initially sounds too cool and lean to us. But if the solid state really is good enough, we can adapt to it and then actually come to prefer it, especially if our reference is 'live' music. Gilbert is taking us by the hand with these HX amps, I think: he's giving us the opportunity to wean ourselves off tubes.

We will see. I am enjoying it, but there is a tube pre still. you did not get me with the crimson cables (the vx went back in) but i am open.

[masluck]

Yeah, my BC3000 GZpz SE-KQ is veiled as hell...what to do..what to do....

[nikki]

received my bc204 back with the HX modification and so far i am very impressed. Been listening mostly to solid state input and like the clarity and depth, and things have not even settled in. Also had an upgrade in the power supply for the preamp so that may be part of what i am hearing, but overall i am quite pleased. knowing that you can upgrade/refine/customize rather than replace is an excellent reason to invest in Blue Circle gear. Of course how good it is is the best reason.

Just curious, can you run your amp without any tubes plugged in?

Enjoy your upgrades!

[Gilbert Y]

received my bc204 back with the HX modification and so far i am very impressed. Been listening mostly to solid state input and like the clarity and depth, and things have not even settled in. Also had an upgrade in the power supply for the preamp so that may be part of what i am hearing, but overall i am quite pleased. knowing that you can upgrade/refine/customize rather than replace is an excellent reason to invest in Blue Circle gear. Of course how good it is is the best reason.

Just curious, can you run your amp without any tubes plugged in?

Enjoy your upgrades!

No, don't do that. Without the tube, the tube power supply will goes crazy. You can turn the tube all the way off so there is NO tube sound at all though.

[garyj]

i would not do that, but thanks for the warning. it is cool that you can run as all solid state or all tube (there are fewer than the regular 204), or can blend. i have not really done anything yet with the tube side -- so it is turned off

[garyj]

Yeah, my BC3000 GZpz SE-KQ is veiled as hell...what to do..what to do....

I think the bc3000 (mine is now GZpz X 2 or something, not KQ) sounds very clean with the solid state side (i guess call it that) of the 204 but i do not have a solid state pre for comparison (and finding one of the quality would be tough i think).

[masluck]

Hi garyj,

I think my point is that are no absolutes; we all listen to music with different ears, minds and souls. The epiphanies of some don't need to necessitate the deficiencies of others - we all hear music differently. I am happy that BC builds gear to suite the of tastes of us all. You have a great preamp. I will always have tube preamps, so shoot me. To me, blending a tube preamp with a solid state amp is magic and I have had that configuration for over 25 years. The fact that Gilbut is making adjustable preamps and amps which blend both worlds (tubes and solid state) speaks to the relevance of both formats more so than the demise of either. Just my 2 cents..

Mark

[bobneill]

Vx will give you some of the effects of tubes, enriching and veiling. That's what a lot of folks still like. Crimson takes that away, throwing some into withdrawal, at least for a few days...

[garyj]

Hi garyj,

I think my point is that are no absolutes; we all listen to music with different ears, minds and souls. The epiphanies of some don't need to necessitate the deficiencies of others - we all hear music differently. I am happy that BC builds gear to suite the of tastes of us all. You have a great preamp. I will always have tube preamps, so shoot me. To me, blending a tube preamp with a solid state amp is magic and I have had that configuration for over 25 years. The fact that Gilbut is making adjustable preamps and amps which blend both worlds (tubes and solid state) speaks to the relevance of both formats more so than the demise of either. Just my 2 cents..

Mark

thanks. i have been reading bob's reviews and comments for many years, since i bought my first audio note equipment. it is why i have some of my audio note cables and one reason i started to look at blue circle seriously. so i value the opinion, but i have listened to enough different things to realize that there are lots of different interpretations and that different ways can bee good and enjoyable. that is why i keep my low power tube equipment but have just upgraded the bc gear. i am blessed that i can afford to keep both.

as to the cables, i am not so sure that metal conductors can enrich -- they can reflect what is there either better or worse. i believe that they all veil because nothing conducts perfectly, but i do not hear less detail or music from the audio note than the crimson. they sound different, i agree.