What would you most like to see for new products? Choose one

[elcraigo]

I vote for synth modules.  ... PAIA electronics put out SS synth modules, lots of fun to build, and play with, I built a number of them. 

PAIA is still in business.
I think providing mono modules, that you could build one at a time, and then add, maybe up to 8 voices would be nice.
My Oberheim Dual Manual (pictured above) is an 8 voice, and that's always been enough for me. I usually split the voices 2 and 6 between the keyboard.
The analog module would likely be CV/Gate control I would think. A MIDI to CV/Gate converter, is an easy thing to buy. Using it without a controller for sound effects would be nice.

 

[elcraigo]

Dan, that is a good one to learn on. Really allows getting the basics down

 

[Pfenning]

I voted for a mic preamp kit, I bet you guys could build something killer. Given the chance to vote for more than one, a tube DI would be cool, the idea of a modular mixer that I could add onto as needed is very interesting, and a ribbon mic would be cool too. I also love the thought of a 50 watt amp, but my pockets are way too shallow. 

 

[Paul Birkeland]

I'd be super-keen for a 300b tube buffer.

We have one, called the BeePre.

 

[Thoburn]

Definitely the 50+ SE amp. But, if that is the price each for a mono amp then it will be priced out of my reach. Ideally for me, it would be an integrated amp with selector switch and volume control like my Stereomour. And 60 watts would be even better!

 

[ZenAudio]

Have you guys ever thought of selling Bottlehead-approved component upgrade kits for your current products? Like a base Stereomour II, but then a Stereomour II+ with better trannies, capacitors, resistors, tubes, etc. Of course many of us do this on our own, but to have the designer(s) offer a package that adds sonic benefits, albeit at extra cost, would be a way to keep the price competitive on the base kit, but also allow better performance for those willing to spend more.

 

[Doc B]

I get what you're saying here, and I'll offer that where "better" is in terms of parts swapping is quite personal. IMO boutique caps and the like are pretty easy for anyone to do on their own. That is why we have always focused on actual circuit design changes that are more difficult for the end user to do on their own, like the shunt regulator, DC filament supply and stepped attenuator upgrades we offer for Stereomour II.

I am really digging all of the input we are getting with this poll. This really gets into a whole different subject of the basic premise behind basic kits and upgrades and what we consider to be improvements. I think maybe these kinds of ideas might be better presented in a separate thread so we can keep the focus here on the original topic.

 

[autoformer]

The choices in the poll span markets.

For the commercial hi-fi market, I think the preamp with integrated phono stage has the most potential. What would be great is to offer an option for a small Class D module to be integrated into the build. Something like a B&O ICEPower 125ASX2. Heresy, I know, but that is exactly what I’m planning to do with an old Foreplay kit that I’m building. There are so many user applications where a one-box solution makes sense. My own family room the adjoins our kitchen is a good example. It’s where we mostly hang out, but there is just enough room for a single Bottlehead chassis, and a turntable. And also, apart from the Jaegers, the speaker choices that are efficient enough to work well with single ended amps are few, esoteric and costly. It would be very nice to have a hybrid Bottlehead integrated that had the power to drive the inefficient speakers you see everywhere. I’d be surprised if such a thing didn’t become Bottlehead’s best seller.

For the pro market, no doubt that a tube mic pre would generate a lot of interest, particularly if the kit had some interesting build options, for example:
— For condensers, ~1.5k input impedance and P48
— For passive ribbons, ~65k input impedance with 70dB+ gain.

It would be nice to just have some sort of “ribbon mode” switch that would disable P48 and raise the input impedance. Bonus if it could have a variable input impedance control. Also, I would suggest that it should be in a 3U steel rack-mount chassis.

 

[Frank Mena]

I'll add my two cents (really 1.5 cents in CND currency).... how about a really nice (gasp) push pull  amp or perhaps differential topology? .. say approx 20W or there abouts??  ....a DHT headphone amp would be cool..... the 2p29l might fit the bill...

Cheers
FM

 

[Natural Sound]

Man I'm old. I learned about synths on one of these -

Are you Keith Emerson? Wait, never-mind.

 

[elcraigo]

Are you Keith Emerson? Wait, never-mind.

I saw Emerson play that modular Moog at a concert on the early seventies. He sure does have some chops.
Off topic: Natural, would you ping me please, I might be able to help you with something from an old post of yours.

 

[Doc B]

Not Keith Emerson, but I'm old enough that the one I played with was being used at the time by Herbie Hancock to make Headhunters. Here's  a pic of him, but I'm not sure what the synth in the picture is. The studio was Different Fur in San Francisco, the other guy in the pic is Patrick Gleeson. I recall they had a Moog 3c and were renting a second one to make some of the patches they wanted. The rig was about the size of the one in the picture, but that doesn't appear to be a 3c. But it was a looong time ago (I was a teenager) and they had several synths. The guy teaching the classes I took was David Litwin, who was working at Different Fur at the time. I recall him playing a tape of an electronic music soundtrack he did for a porno flick in one class, maybe a Mitchell Bros film? Interesting to think back about something like that and how I had no concept of it being music history in the making. It was soooo futuristic.

 

[swich401]

50 watt single ended, yikes. Would be looking at something like 3 parallel KT120/KT150 per channel or some other BIG tube...

Would be great though!

 

[Doc B]

Thanks so much to those who participated here. It helps to give us some guidance in what to focus on. Watch for more polls in the future.

 

[pendergast]

Hi,

Maybe I am too late, but I am partial for a Foreplay II with flexible paths for upgrades. I know I am not very clear, neophyte as I am, but it would be great to have something that really has potential for experimentation/expansion.

I have a SEX from 2006 that is still the hub of my everything. I wish I had a nicer preamp (I have an Antique SoundLab PhonoDT I got for $35) but it is not something I built...

I do have a CRACK as well as a Reduction, all of those giving joy and brighten my days more even on sunny ones.

I missed the opportunity to acquire a SMASH but it always felt as less open for experimentation even though the proposition for a quality product seemed obvious.

There is something dirty and yet, attracting about the innards of Bottlehead products. I guess that is what I am trying to say.

And instead of 'Foreplay', it could be called 'Taboo'...

;o)

 

[dth31]

OK.  I'll go for something different.  How about a hybrid tube/solid state amp?  Would be nice to still get some of the triode sonics we love with 50W or so of good old class A power, without the internal high voltages of an 845 or 211 push-pull amp.

 

[Doc B]

Hi,

Maybe I am too late, but I am partial for a Foreplay II with flexible paths for upgrades. I know I am not very clear, neophyte as I am, but it would be great to have something that really has potential for experimentation/expansion.

I have a SEX from 2006 that is still the hub of my everything. I wish I had a nicer preamp (I have an Antique SoundLab PhonoDT I got for $35) but it is not something I built...

I do have a CRACK as well as a Reduction, all of those giving joy and brighten my days more even on sunny ones.

I missed the opportunity to acquire a SMASH but it always felt as less open for experimentation even though the proposition for a quality product seemed obvious.

There is something dirty and yet, attracting about the innards of Bottlehead products. I guess that is what I am trying to say.

And instead of 'Foreplay', it could be called 'Taboo'...

;o)

I was really talking about doing a run of the original Foreplay II as more of a nostalgia thing. I would suggest that what you are describing might be more of what I am thinking of regarding a full preamp kit. I will be posting another poll about what features builders might like to see in that kit.

 

[Doc B]

OK.  I'll go for something different.  How about a hybrid tube/solid state amp?  Would be nice to still get some of the triode sonics we love with 50W or so of good old class A power, without the internal high voltages of an 845 or 211 push-pull amp.

My thought is that a tube preamp with the SS power amp of your choice will get you want you want. I've spent an awful lot of years trying to make something that sounds better to me than a SS amp, so I may not be the right guy to tackle that project. For a 50W amp design we are not looking at PP. We have a couple of SE design prototypes that use other tubes besides 845 and 211 and do not go over 500 or so volts.

 

[dth31]

That sounds encouraging!  I'll keep checking back.

 

[dth31]

My thought is that a tube preamp with the SS power amp of your choice will get you want you want. I've spent an awful lot of years trying to make something that sounds better to me than a SS amp, so I may not be the right guy to tackle that project. For a 50W amp design we are not looking at PP. We have a couple of SE design prototypes that use other tubes besides 845 and 211 and do not go over 500 or so volts.

Hi Doc!  I was wondering if your preliminary design work might be far enough along that you could give us a few more details about this potential product?  For example, has it been decided that this will be a product?  And any other details you are comfortable sharing would be appreciated.

Dave