First tube device, uh oh...

allstock
allstock Posts: 136
edited March 2011 in 2 Channel Audio
So I purchased my first tube piece today. A soundstage vacuum two pre-amp with phillips jan6922 tubes. Listening to it now.
I have a feeling this $200.00 purchase is going to cost me alot more in the near future.
I get it now...:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:
Two Channel-SDA SRS 1.2tl's,modded, Cambridge Audio 851w amps(2),Cambridge 851e pre, VPI Scout 1.1 tt, Moon audio phono pre,oppo bd105.
HT-Denon avr3808ci,Carver a-753x,Panasonic ae4000 projector,120" screen,ps3,wii console w/full rockband,Panamax conditioner,dbx120 subharmonic synthesizer,jvc dvd-a player, Polk RTi12 mains,Polk CSiA6 centre, Energy ES-18xl sub,two custom 10" powered subs, Def Tech bp2x surrounds(4),Paradigm monitors-rear(2)
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  • blakeh
    blakeh Posts: 491
    edited February 2011
    And so it begins... :biggrin:
    /COLOR] [U][URL="http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=68366"][COLOR="Blue"]My Rigs[/U][/COLOR][/URL] [COLOR="Red" Balanced Audio Technology | Revel | Dodd | Monarchy | PS Audio | MIT | Polk | Etc.
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited February 2011
    down the rabbit hole slowly at first,,then before you know it,, you are deeper than you ever imagined,,, enjoy.:smile:
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,033
    edited February 2011
    I do love the beginning of a love story....

    Enjoy.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • chargerman426
    chargerman426 Posts: 419
    edited February 2011
    Have fun! Its going to be a fun and interesting ride trying different tubes and adding other tube gear.
    If life had more tubes it would be a lot smoother.
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  • Jer.War
    Jer.War Posts: 180
    edited February 2011
    I have wanted to make a turn down the tube road and will probably do so with a tube CD player (Jolida perhaps). I have been tempted to buy a tube buffer from e-bay to get a tast, but I figured the money is better saved for a true tube source.
    [The Ever-Evolving System

    LSI15's (PNF Symphony cabels, modded X-Over and subs), LSIC, LSI7's, Rega Apollo CDP (PNF ICON ICs, modified PS cct.), Yamaha RXV-1700 w/ ipod dock, B&K REF200.2 (fronts) Samsung BDP-1600, XBOX360, Patriot Box Office Media Player, 42" Samsung LCD.
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,033
    edited February 2011
    Good things come to those who wait.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    edited February 2011
    Nothing cheap can come of this. :tongue:
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
    Squeezebox Touch
    Muscial Fidelity M1 DAC
    VTL 2.5
    McIntosh 2205 (refurbed)
    B&W 801's
    Transparent IC's
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  • agfrost
    agfrost Posts: 2,428
    edited February 2011
    More amusing than most, but spam nonetheless. Reported. (post #9)
    Jay
    SDA 2BTL * Musical Fidelity A5cr amp * Oppo BDP-93 * Modded Adcom GDA-600 DAC * Rythmik F8 (x2)
    Micro Seiki DQ-50 * Hagerman Cornet 2 Phono * A hodgepodge of cabling * Belkin PF60
    Preamp rotation: Krell KSL (SCompRacer recapped) * Manley Shrimp * PS Audio 5.0
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  • rubin
    rubin Posts: 565
    edited February 2011
    ^^^ and so that means (post#9) :confused:
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited February 2011
    That's a great price. Did you buy it used? I believe they're locally made here in Toronto somewhere.

    I owned the same pre for a few years. It's excellent sounding and sound better than many pre's under $1k. Tube rolling on that unit was fun too. Enjoy the new toy.
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  • allstock
    allstock Posts: 136
    edited February 2011
    organ wrote: »
    That's a great price. Did you buy it used? I believe they're locally made here in Toronto somewhere.

    I owned the same pre for a few years. It's excellent sounding and sound better than many pre's under $1k. Tube rolling on that unit was fun too. Enjoy the new toy.

    Yes I bought it used. I'm pretty sure that it's made in China. The sq is WAY better imo than my Denon reciever I was using as a pre, and my Bryston .5, which I also ran for a bit. The biggest surprise to me was the increase in sda effect, which was considerable. The sound took on a whole new "3 dimensional" effect. Listened for three hours last night with no fatigue at all.
    Lovin' every minute of it!:tongue:
    Two Channel-SDA SRS 1.2tl's,modded, Cambridge Audio 851w amps(2),Cambridge 851e pre, VPI Scout 1.1 tt, Moon audio phono pre,oppo bd105.
    HT-Denon avr3808ci,Carver a-753x,Panasonic ae4000 projector,120" screen,ps3,wii console w/full rockband,Panamax conditioner,dbx120 subharmonic synthesizer,jvc dvd-a player, Polk RTi12 mains,Polk CSiA6 centre, Energy ES-18xl sub,two custom 10" powered subs, Def Tech bp2x surrounds(4),Paradigm monitors-rear(2)
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited February 2011
    Aaaah. Didn't know. I thought somebody told me it was locally made. I think my brain is getting rusty.

    Glad to hear it's an improvement over your other pre's/receiver and that you're really enjoying the sound. Rock on:cool:.
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,501
    edited February 2011
    allstock wrote: »
    So I purchased my first tube piece today. A soundstage vacuum two pre-amp with phillips jan6922 tubes. Listening to it now.
    I have a feeling this $200.00 purchase is going to cost me alot more in the near future.I get it now...:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

    You are correct :biggrin:
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
    TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
    Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
    Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
    MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
    Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
    PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
    Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
    NAD SS rigs w/mods
    GIK panels
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  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    edited February 2011
    allstock wrote: »
    I get it now...:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

    yep,Once you "get it" you won't be lookin' back any time soon.enjoy the ride
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  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    edited February 2011
    Oh he got it alright. :wink:

    I am happy you are enjoying the tubes. Nothing quite like it.
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
    Squeezebox Touch
    Muscial Fidelity M1 DAC
    VTL 2.5
    McIntosh 2205 (refurbed)
    B&W 801's
    Transparent IC's
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited February 2011
    I'm so proud of the OP and the gang that followed. Not one mention of tube rolling or upgrading caps. Bravo! ;)
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited February 2011
    Sorry for your wallet. It's a slippery slope, that's for sure. I spent $200 on my first tube preamp. I spent more than 2x that amount just for the tubes for my current preamp.

    As I like to say, great gear makes SDA's sing, but only tubes make them dance. Enjoy!
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited February 2011
    RuSsMaN wrote: »
    I'm so proud of the OP and the gang that followed. Not one mention of tube rolling or upgrading caps. Bravo! ;)

    I mentioned tube rolling on post #11:smile:
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited February 2011
    30 day ban?
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,967
    edited February 2011
    Congrats to the OP, the "now I get it" comment is pretty much what everyone says after getting into tubes. Match that with a good table and a well recorded record, and you'll wonder why we have moved away from that sound.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited February 2011
    I'm sure that's true, but I think they add even more value for digital music, cd's included of course. One thing many cd+tubes people say is that it sounds more vinyl like.
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited February 2011
    It's all down hill now! Enjoy the trip. :smile:

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,967
    edited February 2011
    nspindel wrote: »
    I'm sure that's true, but I think they add even more value for digital music, cd's included of course. One thing many cd+tubes people say is that it sounds more vinyl like.

    Maybe so, value is in the eye of the beholder. Once you experience vinyl and tubes, you'll have your own "now I get it" momment.
    Thing is, vinyl and tubes together is a sound many wish to replicate by other means today. Most likely with a flare for convenience as the original way was not condusive to today's lifestyle. Problem is,and still is, it's hard to do, which is why vinyl is still a desireable format for those into SQ at it's best. Match with some nice tube gear and good speaks, you won't leave the room.

    Regardless, the OP just discovered his own personal rabbit hole, now that he's got his tube groove on, no telling where it will end.:smile:
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • allstock
    allstock Posts: 136
    edited February 2011
    So now I need a phono section, 'cause this thing ain't got one!
    Any suggestions?
    Two Channel-SDA SRS 1.2tl's,modded, Cambridge Audio 851w amps(2),Cambridge 851e pre, VPI Scout 1.1 tt, Moon audio phono pre,oppo bd105.
    HT-Denon avr3808ci,Carver a-753x,Panasonic ae4000 projector,120" screen,ps3,wii console w/full rockband,Panamax conditioner,dbx120 subharmonic synthesizer,jvc dvd-a player, Polk RTi12 mains,Polk CSiA6 centre, Energy ES-18xl sub,two custom 10" powered subs, Def Tech bp2x surrounds(4),Paradigm monitors-rear(2)
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited February 2011
    Can't disagree with anything you're saying. I certainly won't argue against vinyl. I don't play it any more, but I know it well. I strive for my high-end digital gear to be as engaging as the vinyl versions of the same recordings that I used to listen to when I was a kid, even before I owned good gear.

    As for tubes, I started with just a tube buffer. Just a single Mullard M8100 in the chain was all it took for me. That buffer was an experiment just to see if I could tell the difference. Well, that piece didn't last long, sold that within days of owning it, in favor of a Little Dot MK IV SE, which I used as a preamp as well as a headamp. But then all the reading on headfi about how much better my Senn 650's sound when you run them balanced... So I sold the MK IV and bought a LD MK VI, which is fully balanced and allowed me to roll up to some amazing tubes. Going fully balanced meant needing a new source, and a new cable for the headphones. Amazing sound. But then, of course, now I'm running a balanced source into a balanced pre-amp. Why just limit that to headphone listening? So..... I got a Krell amp to run my SDA's!

    All because of one single tiny little Mullard M8100.

    allstock, strap yourself in, you're going for a ride. Better ask your boss for a raise :tongue:
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,033
    edited February 2011
    RuSsMaN wrote: »
    I'm so proud of the OP and the gang that followed. Not one mention of tube rolling or upgrading caps. Bravo! ;)
    Well damn, Russ. Let him enjoy his first tube piece for a while before we all tell him that he needs to spend more. If he now understands what we are all talking about when it comes to tubes, I'm quite sure he has also read about tube rolling.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited February 2011
    RuSsMaN wrote: »
    30 day ban?

    My bad. Didn't see the wink on your other post:redface:
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  • allstock
    allstock Posts: 136
    edited February 2011
    treitz3 wrote: »
    Well damn, Russ. Let him enjoy his first tube piece for a while before we all tell him that he needs to spend more. If he now understands what we are all talking about when it comes to tubes, I'm quite sure he has also read about tube rolling.

    Upgrade itus..Happens to the best of us. I'm going to get a phono stage, and probably some different tubes to try. And try some of my different interconnects, and power cords. Should keep me busy for a bit until summer comes anyway!
    Two Channel-SDA SRS 1.2tl's,modded, Cambridge Audio 851w amps(2),Cambridge 851e pre, VPI Scout 1.1 tt, Moon audio phono pre,oppo bd105.
    HT-Denon avr3808ci,Carver a-753x,Panasonic ae4000 projector,120" screen,ps3,wii console w/full rockband,Panamax conditioner,dbx120 subharmonic synthesizer,jvc dvd-a player, Polk RTi12 mains,Polk CSiA6 centre, Energy ES-18xl sub,two custom 10" powered subs, Def Tech bp2x surrounds(4),Paradigm monitors-rear(2)
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited February 2011
    I sense great potential in this one.

    The Tube is the Rule.

    RT1
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited February 2011
    reeltrouble1 wrote: »
    The Tube is the Rule.


    I like that!:smile:
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