What did you do to your stereo rig today?

pitdogg2

michaeljhsda2 wrote: »

Upgraded to this KT88 integrated tube amp.





Going to try these 6SN7's in place of the Russian tubes.

Those 6sn7 tubes are marked with the Novosibirsk plant markings. Historically speaking it was one of the better tube producing plants in Russia. They (Novosibirsk) and the Voskhod plant were the plants that made tubes for the ICBM's and needed to be "better" than average made tubes. Understand Russia was all about quantity over quality in many plants these two were the opposit. The best Russian tubes in 6sn7 was the MELZ tube with the holed plates. When I first started my 6sn7 buying I ignored the MELZ because of the stigma, they were only about $20 a pair at that point, check out the prices now.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/394329718342?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/254926597495?

Here is some round plate sort of like the Tung-Sol. Mind you these above and below are 1950's tubes
https://www.ebay.com/itm/254217464183?

They have skyrocketed. Highly desired by some.

michaeljhsda2

Thanks for the info pit, yeah those MELZ are a bit pricey!

michaeljhsda2

Bought some of these as well. Quad for $26.50/free shipping from Florida.

sparky14

Nothing physical today, but I did get into the Foobar2000 settings just to look around, only to realize that all my HiRez playback settings had, unknown to me for probably six months, reset to standard playback.

All fixed now, and amazed at HiRez playback again.

treitz3

Well, call me crazy but I am so enamored with the Shunyata Ethernet cables?

I am already thinking of returning one of them and going straight up to the Omega Ethernet cable from the router to the Auralic Vega G2. I'm just itchin' to pull the trigger.

The sounds I am hearing as it stands? This is the best musical reproduction I have ever heard in my life. Bar none and I can say that in full confidence and without hesitation. From what I have read, the Omega is just insane. I think I might just need to find out just "how insane"...

I still can't figure out how a cable that offers no power or even a music signal can make such a significant and profound change to the end result as to what one hears.

Tom

VR3

Physical music is better

VR3

On a more realistic note because streaming is obviously superior to physical media....

3k for an ethernet cable is pretty wild, definitely look used

treitz3

If you had asked me if I would have ever spent more than a hundred dollars on an Ethernet cable two months ago, I would have not even answered. I would have just laughed.

If you told me two months ago that I would one day be seriously considering a 3K Ethernet cable? I would have considered you 100 percent, certifiably bat **** crazy.

Had I not tried the cheap Cat8 Ethernet cable about a month or so ago? I wouldn't be hearing what I am hearing. I actually looked down at the table next to the listening position earlier today (twice) to see what was ringing. It was the music! Last night, I muted the system because I heard someone talking outside of the room. Once again, it was the music. Both tracks were familiar music to me. I had not ever heard that before and definitely not in those locations.

I have 2 pages of just "notes" to describe the changes to what I am hearing. This is SO MUCH FUN!!!!

Last night, when I hooked the new ones up? I listened for 3 hours straight. Then Kimmie listened for 2 and a half hours. She even came in at one point dancing. I have never seen her just walk into the room and bust a move.

Tom

treitz3

After more listening tonight? I pulled the trigger. I don't feel like waiting for a used one to pop up.

Now as to which cable gets sent back? Time will tell. I only need two, so some experimenting is in order once the Omega comes in.

Tom

VR3

You need two right?

Modem to router, router to streamer? 🚀🚀

treitz3

Yes. One of the two I have will go in the other location. The Venom does a great job between the modem and router but when the Omega comes in, I will try the Alpha in it's location. Not quite sure if upgrading that part of the equation would make that much of a difference. But, since I will have 3 cables in the house? Eh, I'll give it a whirl.

The last cable (from all of the research I have done), leading to the NAP is the one that makes the most amount of difference. That's where I currently have the Alpha.

The Omega is truly a state of the art piece. They went well beyond the typical metallugies and added technology I just got a taste of with the Alpha. I really like what I hear (obviously)

Tom

VR3

Well don't forget upgraded DC cables for the linear power supply when the time comes

Gardenstater

Congrats man! I just about had a heart attack coughing up $182 for 28ft of DH Labs Silversonic 12awg wire to construct my 2 power cables I have planned! I haven't gotten to your level yet

rebelsoul

Here's a company that makes some great audiophile network switches and steamers
Silent angel is the name

rebelsoul

https://www.silent-angel-audio.com/bonn-n8

rebelsoul

Trying some speaker wires that the guy that has the Evolution Acoustics loudspeakers where I am working asked if I wanted to try out these speaker wires. They have a 14or 16 gauge cryo pure copper and a 14or 16 gauge cryo silver spun together for each the positive and negative and then there
spun or twisted . His buddy makes them.

rebelsoul

pitdogg2

Gardenstater wrote: »

Congrats man! I just about had a heart attack coughing up $182 for 28ft of DH Labs Silversonic 12awg wire to construct my 2 power cables I have planned! I haven't gotten to your level yet

I have not been disappointed with any if my DH Labs purchases. I rewired my 2.3tls with the 14ga silver over occ copper wire. Enough black and red to do both sides, it was a bear to work with but the outcome was FAB U lous.

VR3

DH Labs is fantastic wire. I do always caution folks with permanently installing silver wired but with SDAs given their warmer presentation should be a good combo :-D

The Revelation and Air Matrix are fantastic ICs and the Q10/T14 is phenominal speaker wire.

I find their ready made speaker wire to be $$$ for some reason...

treitz3

jdjohn wrote: »

In short, it seemed that the CAT8 cable was emphasizing all the negative aspects of streaming digital playback. I found the BJC CAT6A cable to be more balanced and refined...forgiving.

So, to answer your question from a couple of pages back? I don't think it was the "Cat" rating. It may have been that the connections were slightly better and that the cable was shielded. It turns out that both the Venom and Alpha Ethernet cables from Shunyata are Cat6A. They found that this cable has less noise/interference, amongst other things....which is why they chose Cat6A over any other cable.

So, what you heard, may be the result of what their lab confirmed. FWIW.

Tom

motorstereo

I installed these feet under my SVS sb16. It was quite an upgrade over the get you started feet that came with sub. Listening to Manheim Steamroller's Halleluiah and the bass was vibrating the reading glasses I was wearing. That's a first for me.

Gardenstater

pitdogg2 wrote: »

show previous quotes

Gardenstater wrote: »

Congrats man! I just about had a heart attack coughing up $182 for 28ft of DH Labs Silversonic 12awg wire to construct my 2 power cables I have planned! I haven't gotten to your level yet

I have not been disappointed with any if my DH Labs purchases. I rewired my 2.3tls with the 14ga silver over occ copper wire. Enough black and red to do both sides, it was a bear to work with but the outcome was FAB U lous.

Thanks for confirmation Ivan. I'm pretty confident in the results because I am replicating a friend's creation already tested on my subwoofer a couple times with great results, only mine is going to be 12awg and his was 14awg. Same otherwise; Cardas male wall plug and Cardas IEC plug. I might twist mine more than he did to get lower inductance. He doesn't really know exactly how much he twisted his so not a lot I think. I may do something closer to 1 twist per inch like Chris Venhaus suggests now.

michaeljhsda2

Swapped out the Chinese 12AX7's for these...not sure what brand they are. There's a 12 etched in the bottom between the pins and 4 creases in the top.

audioluvr

How do they sound?

michaeljhsda2

Really good. Someone on Audiokarma said they were Amperex. Shame all the lettering is missing.

recoveryone

https://youtu.be/rLJpjX_p_S4

recoveryone

Its' been over a year after the house remodel and finally getting this back in place
https://youtu.be/dA5a4ls8ROk

Sound demo (headphones recommended)
https://youtu.be/NSlpiGBpwlo

treitz3

First video is private, bub...

[Edit:] of the second post...(fixed/repaired since then, all is well...)

Tom

michaeljhsda2

michaeljhsda2 wrote: »

Swapped out the Chinese 12AX7's for these...not sure what brand they are. There's a 12 etched in the bottom between the pins and 4 creases in the top.

I figured it out. It's a Siemens & Halske, I62 ≠3 ...can't see the rest.

newbie308

This hobby sucks! Every time I upgrade a component, reveals deficiencies elsewhere! I recently upgraded the digital side of my system with an Oppo BDP103 disk player and a Musical Fidelity Tri-vista 21 DAC. A Wireworld Silver starlight digital RCA cable between and a Wireworld Oasis RCA 1 meter pair fromtheDAC to the preamp. It sounds so good that now it outperforms my vinyl playback SQ for clarity and imaging. Of course I can't leave the vinyl playback the way it is, so I started investigating phono preamplifiers in another thread. I also ordered two pair of Wireworld eclipse RCA interconnects so I have the same input cables for both sources. Yesterday I purchased a Kimber TAC tonearm cable to try since the current tonearm wiring is a temporary solution and I think it is sucking the life out of the music with its high capacitance. I will be researching MC cartridges in the new year, and eventually upgrade to a VPI signature prime turntable to get my vinyl playback on par with the current digital setup.