| | |
| | |
|
Welcome! RAKK dac Mk III is now available! After nearly two years of research and development we are very pleased to announce the launch of a new version of the venerable RAKK dac, a collaboration between Dave Davenport of Raleigh Audio (the RA of RAKK), and Kevin Carter of K&K Audio (the KK of RAKK), that began in 2004 with the original RAKK dac and yielded the improved Mk II version in early 2007. As you will read in more detail in the introduction here, we have worked hard to provide another substantial improvement in the quality of reproduced audio derived from digital audio sources. We've also developed a wider variety of interfaces that enable TOSLINK, USB, and I2S connections with the RAKK dac Mk III. The small number of "beta" testers who have installed the Mk III in their systems thought that the Mk II would be difficult to displace, but now agree that there was no area of performance in which the Mk III isn't equal to or surpasses the Mk II. The portrayal of recorded space, the perception of truer-to-life music dynamics, and the tautness and extension of frequency extremes are all key areas in which the Mk III excels relative to the Mk II. Some have remarked that the presentation is more analog-like, but I won't go there! Listen for yourself and let us know what you think...New Tube Power Amplifier Modification Kit My first tube amplifier back in 1982 was a Dynaco Stereo 70. It was an exceptional learning tool for me and I enjoyed its mellow music-making. Unltimately it proved to be too mellow for my evolving tastes, so I moved on to other more incisive vintage tube amplifiers. However, I've always harbored the suspicion that I would come back to it one day with a modification that would provide the incisiveness I missed combined with the great value that an ST-70 represents. This modification is unlike the others available in that the phase splitting is accomplished in the input transformer, making high performance available with only 2 stages of amplification. Both stages are operated as Class A differential amplifiers. Check it out at http://www.kandkaudio.com/poweramplifier.html. Jensen Capacitors are now available from K&K Audio! Who would have believed that a transformer guy would embrace coupling capacitors? I have found the Jensen foil/paper in oil capacitors to be very nice for a number of coupling applications, where they add a richer, less "hi-fi" sound to the parts mix. They seem particularly good as a coupling capacitor when used with medium mu, medium Rp tubes in the choke loaded, grounded cathode configuration, where interstage transformers are often problematic. Try them and see what you think. A full range of Lundahl audiophile C-core transformers are now available manufactured with iron amorphous core materials. The sonic benefits of this material used in many applications are substantial. You can choose more traditional silicon iron core transformers for your designs and get started at an attractive price. When you have the desire for a greater level of sonic refinement, the amorphous iron core versions can be substituted in your design with minimal revoicing. If you have no further use for the original silicon iron transformers and they are in good condition, K&K Audio will credit 60% of their current retail price towards your next purchase (subject to testing and inspection of the used transformers/chokes). Alternatively, you can resell them yourself using the K&K Audio AudioAsylum forum to advertise them. K&K Audio imports and sells Lundahl audio transformers to Do-It-Yourselfers. We also sell high-end audio kits that incorporate Lundahl Transformers. Enjoy the sonic benefits of transformer-coupled high-end audio electronics. Ever wonder why the old recordings from the 50s and 60s sound so good? Well, one of the reasons for this is the presence of transformers in the signal chain between the microphone and the recorder. While it is popular "market-speak" to talk about the excessive phase shift and limited bandwidth of transformers, the ears tell a different story. Lundahl transformers are world famous in the pro audio business for their quality. They are used in high-end microphones, microphone preamps, and mixers. They convey the full harmonic structure of music to the listener. As a DIY builder, you now have access to Lundahl quality for your own designs. Products We sell the full line of Lundahl transformers suitable for the construction of high-end audio preamplifiers and amplifiers. In addition, we offer simple kits for audio building blocks, such as MC phono amplification and plate or cathode current sources. We can assist you with your design and suggest alternatives to meet your amplification needs. K&K Audio will be publishing some sample designs in the coming months to illustrate the application of Lundahl transformers in amplifiers and preamplifiers. The K&K Audio kits have been developed to provide building blocks for DIYaudio projects. They are designed to work together with Lundahl transformers, allowing DIYers to construct state-of-the-art audio equipment. They vary in complexity, but always include detailed instructions to make construction straightforward. The upscale components used in K&K Audio kits have been selected for the best sound/cost ratio. Services We design and manufacture custom high-end consumer and professional audio equipment to your specifications. Of course, we employ vacuum tubes and transformers in our designs, because we believe these to provide the best, most musically satisfying performance. However, we are also not blind to the advantages offered, in some applications, by solid state devices, and use these where they are sonically warranted. Our particular point of view is aligned with the "tubes as accurate, musically satisfying amplifying devices" way of thinking, rather than the "tubes used to warm up cold digital sound" philosophy. Please contact us to discuss your requirements. |
1004 Olive Chapel Rd.
Apex, NC 27502 USA (919) 387-0911 Mon-Fri 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. EST
E-mail
