News

Ray Samuels Audio, long well-regarded for its tube-based home audio components, is developing a reputation for its portable designs, too. After reviewing the SR-71, I figured Samuels couldn't make things any smaller.

"Actually," Samuels confided a few weeks ago, "I had an idea about making a simple circuit using the highest quality parts available—and I keep getting comments from people that want to drive high-impedance headphones like the Sennheiser HD600/650, AKG 501, and Beyer DT880. At the same time, I knew that others would be using low-impedance in-ear phones like the Shures, Sensaphonics, and Etymotics."

His solution? The Hornet sports a variable-gain switch, which allows users to choose a range to operate in, from gain factors of two, six, and eleven. "At the high setting, you can drive Sennheiser 600s and 650s to pretty high volumes—and there's no hum or grain." Samuels credits the unit's silence partially to his use of a regulated 90–240V AC power supply that serves as a battery recharger.

Samuels also points to the extremely short circuit paths necessitated by the size of The Hornet (1" H by 2" W by 3" D). He packed it with a mil-spec 4oz OFC circuit board, with carefully separated and routed signal paths. He used 0.1% tolerance SMD "Dale Vishay" resistors and tantalum and film capacitors.

Here's the kicker: It sells for $350. "I really wanted it to be affordable, so I figured that if I sold it direct, I could price it that low and still make a little money on it. I really encourage people to compare it like I did—not against other portables, but against my home components. Basically, I think it's that good."

Samuels says that rechargeable 9V batteries last about 14 hours, alkalines last about 45, and lithium cells last about 120.

He expects to be able to ship The Hornet within a month. Contact.