Hovland HP200 - still relevant after 7 years?

spiritofmusic · Apr 15, 2014

Zbub, thanx for the input! I was really sad that Hovland went under. It appears not enough customers/high build & labour costs/greedy distributors abroad demanding an excessive cut, all did for the company. The lack of input from fellow WBFers is testament to this.
I actually have got good results switching out the stock tubes for 50's Telefunken 12AX7's and AT7's from Andy's Vintage Tube Services, w/greater transparency and attack, but some bass lightness. Having listened to the Koda K10 SS pre, I'm now looking for a warmer sound w/more mid bass punch, hopefully not sacrificing too much transparency and high end sparkle. Andy has recommended vintage Mullards - we'll see where we go w/these.
For the record, I'd really recommend Andy, true Old School service that is dying out these days.

spiritofmusic · Apr 16, 2014

Aargh! At the last moment, I've pulled out of my Mullards purchase and have decided to go down the Jan Phillips AX7 and AT7 route. I'm reliably informed these will maintain the bite and transparency of my Telefunkens w/more of the warmth of the Mullards, but avoiding too much bass colouration. We shall see.

Reinhard · Apr 18, 2014

spiritofmusic said:
Aargh! At the last moment, I've pulled out of my Mullards purchase and have decided to go down the Jan Phillips AX7 and AT7 route. I'm reliably informed these will maintain the bite and transparency of my Telefunkens w/more of the warmth of the Mullards, but avoiding too much bass colouration. We shall see.

Tube rolling is one thing, have you ever thought about changing the little J-Fet or the 2,2µF electrolytic in the Signal path.

spiritofmusic · Apr 18, 2014

Reinhard, I haven't. Mainly because only you have suggested it, and also I thought Bob Hovland used the best available components at the HP200's price point. Can you set out in FULL detail what this would involve?

Reinhard · Apr 18, 2014

spiritofmusic said:
Reinhard, I haven't. Mainly because only you have suggested it, and also I thought Bob Hovland used the best available components at the HP200's price point. Can you set out in FULL detail what this would involve?

Best components? A nine cent General purpose J-Fet and a little lytic capacitor?

Have made a rework with an current sourced SK170 Output stage (Borbely style)

and a Mundorf Supreme coupling cap.
Output Impedance down from 2K5 to 150 Ohms with a dist. number of 0,0016%.

Reinhard · Apr 18, 2014

On top of the Supreme cap you see the original coupling cap.

spiritofmusic · Apr 18, 2014

Your input is really valued, Reinhard. Is this a simple slot in job, like replacing tubes? So, I just buy these 2 caps, and simply swap them in, or is installation more involved than tubes? What is the exact spec/value I order these 2 caps in? You also mentioned the 2.2 microfarad electrolytic?...

Reinhard · Apr 18, 2014

spiritofmusic said:
Your input is really valued, Reinhard. Is this a simple slot in job, like replacing tubes? So, I just buy these 2 caps, and simply swap them in, or is installation more involved than tubes? What is the exact spec/value I order these 2 caps in? You also mentioned the 2.2 microfarad electrolytic?...

Think you can change the two 2,2µF electrolytic to Mundorf Supreme 2,2µf. That is only one part of the upgrade.
The other is the current sourced bidirectional J-Fet Output stage. That needs electronic skills. On the Picture you
see only one part of it, the current source is on the solder side of the printed Board.

spiritofmusic · Apr 18, 2014

Thanx Reinhard. Are those the only changes you would make? There are plenty of other caps, obv. Re the bidirectional J-Fet Output stage, would a competent audio engineer know what to do? What exactly would I ask him to do re this?
So you own an HP200, what have these changes brought to the party?

Reinhard · Apr 18, 2014

spiritofmusic said:
Thanx Reinhard. Are those the only changes you would make? There are plenty of other caps, obv. Re the bidirectional J-Fet Output stage, would a competent audio engineer know what to do? What exactly would I ask him to do re this?
So you own an HP200, what have these changes brought to the party?

A reduction in Output impedance (from 2k5 to 150 Ohms) gives you more power to drive cables and Input impedance of power amplifiers.
You will listen to am more dynamic Signal with more Detail.

I have a repair/modifikation/manufacturing shop for highendaudio in Germany.

spiritofmusic · Apr 18, 2014

Reinhard, I've sent you a PM. Maybe we can do business.

morricab · Apr 27, 2014

I would look at the top Allnic preamp as a serious option. I had the top Silvaweld model a few years ago (same designer Kang Su Park) and it was sublime (still regret selling it). The Ypsilon gear would be seriously interesting as well. That being said, I was always fond of the sound from the Hovland HP100 but never heard the HP200 properly. I was not very taken with the Wyetech Pearl (2nd from top model a few years ago) compared to other top competition so if the Ruby has the same house sound then I would not go that direction (had a hint of "whiteness" that never really went away).

I still use Silvaweld for my phono (all tube with all tube power supply) and it is the one component I would never change...the Allnic stuff is right up there with the best.

spiritofmusic · Apr 28, 2014

Willdo, Morricab. The Allnic stuff is a little outside my price band, but I'll bear it in mind.

spiritofmusic · May 10, 2014

Just bedding in rel inexpensive Jan Phillips 12AX7 and AT7 tubes into my Hovland. After a week of 'meh', I'm getting a lovely opening up in the soundstage, as much attack/crispness as my previous 50's Telefunkens, but a tad more warmth/smoothness, exactly what was needed. The new rig still can't outperform the Koda K10 I had in for trial, but it bridges the gap somewhat, and in a couple of areas is superior - not bad for just less than a third of the price!

dkys · Sep 10, 2014

Spirit, this is my first post to the WBF and I have come to this site after searching for possible mod to the Hovland HP200. I too have owned it for almost 7 years and still find it special comparing to the CAT SL-1 which I have purchased recently from a friend. The CAT has a slight wider sound stage and the bass is thunderous and music has more body. However, the Hovland offers more air, transparency and layers. I find I have been switching preamps depending on what types of music/mood I am in. Did you finally modify the Hovland with Reinhard?

Reinhard, when I look at the cap in the Hovland, it seems to be lytics with 220 uF. Do you just switch in the 2.2uF film cap? How does the lower cap value affect the sound?

Reinhard · Sep 10, 2014

The two 220 µf lytics are paralled and in the 39V powersupply.
The coupling caps are 2,2 µF lytics

Reinhard

dkys · Sep 10, 2014

Thanks, I now see the 2.2 uf little green lytics. Your Mundorf Supreme capacitors were in the place of the 220 uf in your picture. The supreme must have hidden the power capacitors in the view. I would have thought Hovland will at least be using their Music cap in the critical coupling position. I guess it all boiled down to cost.

Reinhard · Sep 11, 2014

dkys said:
Your Mundorf Supreme capacitors were in the place of the 220 uf in your picture.

Only physical, there are some new holes in the PCB.

In some newer HP200 the 2,2 lytic is bypassed with a Music cap, think 0,15µf.

Reinhard

dkys · Sep 11, 2014

I was thinking about how I could install the 2.2 uF film cap which is much larger in size in front of the 220 uF Lytics. You are right that Hovland must have changed the PCB layout a little bit during the production. I have not looked at the solder side of the PCB yet. It many be easier for me to have the new film cap laying horizontally if I am to modify it later.

Reinhard · Sep 11, 2014

Ok, you can put the filmcap where you like. I am modifying the Output stage too. It is a bidirectionell Fet Driver with 130 ohm Output impedance instead of 2K. Distortion at 1 Volt Output is 0,0018 %,

Reinhard

Hovland HP200 - still relevant after 7 years?

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