What the heck is Project Starlight? She was designed to kick sand in the face of the affordable overseas offerings and other affordable tube amplifiers. Having to purchase an amplifier and then replace the majority of the parts to work properly should not sit well with anyone (we know the popular cheap designs well as we used to modify and fix them on a regular basis). We went to the drawing board to see what we could do to not just make a quality affordable hybrid, but to make a damn fine hybrid that was ready to sing out of the box. Starlight is a Tube / Opamp hybrid capable of rolling opamps as well as countless 6 & 12V dual triode tubes. Stock output stage features quad 4562's and she sings like an angel. We even gave her Easy Set LED bias and a fully dedicated tube heater power supply supporting up to 1A. That means power hungry tubes such as the 12bh7, 6n6p and 6n30p are no problem. In fact, Starlight outclasses and out features EVERY SINGLE hybrid on the market in this price range and even well above its price point giving you the ability to tweak and tune to your desire. Best of all, no need to Frankenstein her with modifications. The parts you may want to play with later on such as opamps and tubes are easy to change without soldering!

I really hate to come across as ranting but I just feel people should be better informed. Cheap tube hybrids are just that - CHEAP. From poor quality parts, garbage PCB's and power supplies... to absolute flaws in the design such as no bias adjustment and crosstalk so bad the signal might as well be mono. Not to mention all other measurements that are simply terrible. So many of them are designed just to the point they work and nothing more. Just plug a tube in and it falls within a range that makes sound. Not a dig - but FACTS. Skip the junk and buy a Starlight that will last for the long haul.

Some claim you should purchase one of these cheapies, throw parts at it and you are getting a deal! Really? NO. Do the math and the research. After you buy the amplifier, then buy the parts to modify the amplifier RIGHT (not partially) you literally could have had a built Starlight or kit. And you would not have to de-solder most everything on the cheap PCB in order to replace all of the parts. After having modified / repaired so many cheapies, it really does make me do a face palm in frustration. Actually a double face palm (yes it is that bad) as I know what people are getting with a cheapy and what they could be getting. Am I biased? (no pun intended) clearly yes, but it is more because I know what you can get for the money vs. a headache and loads of time spent on band-aid efforts that end up just barely tolerable. Ok ok [/endrant]

Features of Starlight:

• Designed for medium to low impedance headphones. Best suited for headphones 16-300ohm
• Line output for pre-amp use (volume controlled)
• Manual bias design with easy-set LED bias system, no multimeter needed
• Manual voltage setting with quick access through top cover
• Variable input gain with easy to swap module
• Capable of utilizing a wide range of 6v and 12v tubes. More options available with adapters (1A heater current)
• Three output impedance settings to dial in your Starlight
• Ability to run a pair (one per channel) or quad opamps (two per channel) for increased output
• Ability to roll several opamp types - pick what suits your ears best (we like the default LM4562 that we include)
• Lightning quick protection circuit with tube warm up delay
• Bright, under tube LED (you pick the color)
• Top quality components sourced in the US from reputable distributors. No gray market or counterfeit components that plague other manufacturers (designed for the long haul)
• Beautiful piano gloss black .096 thick double sided PCB in 2oz copper with top and bottom ground planes & gold wash. Will not bend or flex while inserting a tube
• Medical grade power supply included
• 5 YEAR WARRANTY on G1217 built amplifiers
• Shipped, built and kitted from the US
• US / Netherlands design team

For Advanced Tuners:

• Input capacitor section is drilled for multiple capacitor footprints. 2, 2.5, 3.5, 5 or 7.5mm spacing available
• Output capacitor section is drilled for 7.5mm
• Power supply capacitor section is drilled for 7.5mm
• Variable output resistance, selectable from 2.5 to 70ohm

Actual Project Starlight measurements:

• Opamp output stage / quad LM4562
• Power consumption: 7.2W peak.
• Power supply: 24VDC (0.3A peak)
• Input Resistance: 40k
• Input Sensitivity (6N23): 270mV (dependent on tube)
• Gain: 20dB (dependent on tube) Changed from the original higher 26dB specification
• Max Output voltage (no load): 7Vrms at 120ohm
• Output Resistance: Selectable 2.5, 34 and 72ohm
• Frequency Response: 15Hz – 80 KHz (-0.5dB) with 32ohm load
• Frequency Response: 4Hz – 230 KHz (-3dB) with 32ohm load
• Signal to Noise ratio: 91dBA (dependent on tube)
• Crosstalk: -87dB (dependent on tube and in most all cases, better!)
• THD: > 0.015% (dependent on tube)
• Suitable for: 16-300ohm Headphones

Dimensions:

• 5.75L X 5W X 2.75H in inches

Weight:

• Acrylic Chassis .65lb (without power supply)
• Aluminum Chassis 1lb (without powers supply)