What did you do to your stereo rig today?

audioluvr

marvda1 wrote: »

@audioluvr and @jaycee have you received the brimar cv4003's in yet?
if so what are your thoughts on the sound?

Pulled out the Belles pre to dust and the stupid shelf came out with it and the front dropped 3" when the shelf came off the pins. While I had it out I thought I'd set it on top, pull the cover and do some tube rolling. Fired it up to get a reference from my favorite tubes (the Raytheon long black plate halo getters marked "Baldwin") and nothing. No sound. Swapped out the tubes with the RCA clear tops I picked up from @Gerres26 and all's well again! Clearly those tubes weren't Mil-Spec rated... Good thing I have a stash!

The RCA's are very nice. Accurate, smooth and revealing with just a little less bass than my favorites.

Next I put in a fresh set of the "Baldwin" tubes. Immediately I'm immersed with what I can best describe as "hall effect" where the sound of music wraps around you. One of the benefits of small venue concerts is that "hall effect". I miss live music .

After some reference tracks on those tubes I went ahead and rolled in the Brimar CV4003's I got from Upscale Audio. The only thing I can say they lack in is the "Hall Effect" (it's there but just not on the same league as the Raytheons) They are the most balanced of all the tubes I have tried so far from 20Hz to 20K! Whether playing low volume or cranking it up you don't feel like something's missing. They are also the most accurate tubes, edging out the RCA's for their crystal clear reproduction! The only bad thing about that is they make mediocre recordings more mediocre...

Currently rocking April Wine's "Harder / Faster"

Clipdat

Time to hit up @helipilotdoug for a Solidsteel rack.

billbillw

Clipdat wrote: »

Time to hit up @helipilotdoug for a Solidsteel rack.

Was thinking the same thing...expensive gear and pin supported racks are a recipe for heartache. Not that you have to spend a fortune on a new rack, but maybe just look around on the used market. People dump nice Salamander and VTI type racks all the time for dirt cheap.

audioluvr

Just like the look of oak furniture as it matches the oak caps of my SDA's but I agree I should look for something modular.

maxward

Or in the meantime you could nail or screw a couple of wood cleats below the problem shelf.

pitdogg2

I hear gorilla glue works very well....

Tony M

pitdogg2 wrote: »

I hear gorilla glue works very well....

If you're referring to the recent news stories, then you get a LOL.

If you're serious, then you get a LIKE.

pitdogg2

Pick one I was just being facetious

VR3

Just don't put it in your hair

mhardy6647

VR3 wrote: »

Just don't put it in your hair

or, ideally, in anyone else's...

Tony M

Can I Gorilla glue Polk magnets? Asking for a friend.

Gerres26

Rolled these bad boys into the AVA 600R, following the advice of @pitdogg2 ...I gotta say they sound great. Huge improvement over the stock JJ tubes.

BlueBirdMusic

I had an appointment with my ENT today and both channels were cleaned of wax.

invalid

BlueBirdMusic wrote: »

I had an appointment with my ENT today and both channels were cleaned of wax.

That is a definite upgrade in sound, I feel like I have super sonic hearing when I have that done.

Willow

I AM listening to my system. I have no idea what happened but ever since moving it to the basement, such a wide and deep sound stage. I'm hearing nuances I've never heard before. The area rug is still not in and neither is the new couch. That is arriving Wednesday. It's absolutely amazing how much a system can change by changing it rooms. I've always heard it can but never experienced it first hand. I'm just blown away at the difference, I'm really enjoying the b&ws for the first time since buying them. They were ok on the main floor but in the finished basement they sound so different and might I say really good. Oh and I'm only on my first glass of wine.

CH46E

What B&Ws? I to was blown away with my modest and small listening room after adding all the acoustic treatments. It was like a whole new system for sure!

Enjoy!

Willow

CH46E wrote: »

What B&Ws? I to was blown away with my modest and small listening room after adding all the acoustic treatments. It was like a whole new system for sure!

Enjoy!

Thank you, they should show in my sig. The 703

CH46E

Willow wrote: »

CH46E wrote: »

What B&Ws? I to was blown away with my modest and small listening room after adding all the acoustic treatments. It was like a whole new system for sure!

Enjoy!

Thank you, they should show in my sig. The 703

Nice! S2 or the older ones? The older 703 is one of my all time favorite speakers! I absolutely love them! Got some pics????

I'm on the mobile site so no signatures.

Willow

Fair enough.
The older 703

CH46E

Love them. I really enjoy the FST mid range. At the time the 703 was the cheapest speaker you could get the FST in.

Willow

I think people don't give them enough credit in the proper environment. I find them to be quite real

Willow

B
Better..

CH46E

Willow wrote: »

B
Better..

Topless photos are always better!

audioluvr

Willow wrote: »

I AM listening to my system. I have no idea what happened but ever since moving it to the basement, such a wide and deep sound stage. I'm hearing nuances I've never heard before. The area rug is still not in and neither is the new couch. That is arriving Wednesday. It's absolutely amazing how much a system can change by changing it rooms. I've always heard it can but never experienced it first hand. I'm just blown away at the difference, I'm really enjoying the b&ws for the first time since buying them. They were ok on the main floor but in the finished basement they sound so different and might I say really good. Oh and I'm only on my first glass of wine.

You should check your basement for carbon monoxide. Or radon.

Willow

None of that here. House is over code and only 6 yrs old

BlueBirdMusic

audioluvr wrote: »

Willow wrote: »

I AM listening to my system. I have no idea what happened but ever since moving it to the basement, such a wide and deep sound stage. I'm hearing nuances I've never heard before. The area rug is still not in and neither is the new couch. That is arriving Wednesday. It's absolutely amazing how much a system can change by changing it rooms. I've always heard it can but never experienced it first hand. I'm just blown away at the difference, I'm really enjoying the b&ws for the first time since buying them. They were ok on the main floor but in the finished basement they sound so different and might I say really good. Oh and I'm only on my first glass of wine.

You should check your basement for carbon monoxide. Or radon.

..and red or white wine?

JayCee

marvda1 wrote: »

@audioluvr and @jaycee have you received the brimar cv4003's in yet?
if so what are your thoughts on the sound?

Just an FYI....I'm not new to tubes but am to rolling them. For anyone confused by the nomenclature of these tubes, they're 12AU7's w/the unique CV-4003 identifier. The 12 in the first 2 positions of 12A indicate they run at 12 volts. Getting my read on I've found CV-4003 is a military spec'd 12AU7 that's built to more demanding standards, longer life and, I believe, was first designated by the British military. Please, tube gurus, correct anything I may have misstated.

I've been accused of TLDR , so synopsis after a few hours of warm-up. I like them. More to come. Skip the rest, skim the pictures or read on for some comments and pics. Been a while since I've done this...@Viking64, made you look.

Put them in a few hours ago. Pics and narrative of the deed...

Mullard meets Brimar. I have 769 hrs on the Mullard's when pulled for the exchange. Mullard's purchased from Watford Valves and are matched & cryo'd. Brimar's purchased from Upscale and they claim to test/burn-in for 75 hrs. "Platinum" grade and matched pair. No cryo.

Front side comparisons...


Bum shots...


I appreciate the pin protectors included on both sets of tubes. I wish they all came with these.


Several weeks ago I developed an "ocean" sound in the left channel w/the Mullard's. Used 99.9% isopropyl alcohol to clean the pins and swapped tubes/channels. Offending sound followed the tube and was reduced but didn't disappear. Four days ago it disappeared!?!? Not complaining.

Looking over a Brimar next to a current production PS Vane and you can see how filthy these dirty boys are. Not gonna go in the female lady bits of the tube receptacle without a thorough cleaning.


As of the Mullard, uh, "problem", we practice safe tube hygiene in this house.


Comparison of clean vs dirty, respectively.


Noticed a very promonate blue on the cotton used for cleaning. Further investigation found writing and a large "dot" in the widest pin gap. Must be a tracking number/system by Upscale? So, if I have to return the tubes for any reason I'm using this thread as "proof" one tube, now missing the writing, is legit from my purchase. Don't know if this will hold water in court but hey, I'm an honest dude....really, I am. Trust me.


Also, on inspection, found one pin bent.


Brimar's in a row. Bent pin caused no resistance and the tubes are deep and flush with the board. Gut shot of the PS Audio BHK Signature Pre.



Had some other stuff to do so let the pre warm-up while the wife watched TV and did brainy school homework. The BHK has an hours meter and I just checked it; 6.5 hrs since install.

The Mullard's have 3d, depth in spades and are excellent w/voice. They live in the midrange band. My biggest complaint is bass. Almost polite, accurate in an understated way. Not bad but they just don't dig deep.

I have Roon selecting random tracks and I'll just say I don't hate the Brimar's! First impression...bass!...and the warmup was needed. I felt the Mullard's didn't bloom until the 175-200 hr mark, so I'm going to give the Brimar's more time before commenting. I'll also swap the Mullard's back in to see what I think after living with these for a bit.

marvda1

looked at a pair of new tubes i have from upscale and they don't have that writing underneath.

audioluvr

The one's I just got from there "the CJ specials" had no markings either.

Edit: I put the Brimars back on the shelf. Swapped back in the Raytheon's. Something about them that match amazingly well with my components and room.

rburgess714

Played a CD for the first time in months and it sounded so good I played it again.