You guy's are killing me!

jfb4548

Ok I can't take being the only kid on the block without a tube preamp! So I final went and placed my order for an ELP. Might as well take advantage of the 'deal' from Tweeks Geeks while it's available. So now your going to tell me the stock tubes suck and I need to get which ones to make my ELP sing?? And of course someone has a lovely matched set to sell me, right?? I got to start selling something to afford you guys!

ND13

Where are you in Ohio?? If you're not too far from New Castle, In, you can drop by and listen to about 7-8 different pairs of tubes for the ELP. That will give you an idea of what you'd want to look for. I might even be persuaded to let a pair or two go.

I got a matched pair of Groove Tubes for less than $20 shipped and they were surprisingly good for right out of the box. I'm still burning them in, but so far they're the closest I've heard to matching my favorites, the Amperex 6DJ8 Bugle Boys(halo getters) from Holland, circa 1961 I believe. Those would probably run you a pretty penny. If they're don't, someone please tell me where I can get another matched pair. I'd like to have another pair for back ups just in case something ever happened to these I have.

reeltrouble1

Yep, you will need to replace the chinese tubes. Some nice tubes that dont cost alot are JJ and JAN Phillips, Parts Express did have the JAN for 8.95 a tube and the JJ should be around 11-12 each from the www.tubestore.com. There are many more as you move up the chain, but theres a couple to start.

Congrats on getting into tubes with a very nice piece of gear. Oh, yea, she's kinda small but she's sexy.

RT1

jfb4548

reeltrouble1 wrote:

Yep, you will need to replace the chinese tubes. Some nice tubes that dont cost alot are JJ and JAN Phillips, Parts Express did have the JAN for 8.95 a tube and the JJ should be around 11-12 each from the www.tubestore.com. There are many more as you move up the chain, but theres a couple to start.

Congrats on getting into tubes with a very nice piece of gear. Oh, yea, she's kinda small but she's sexy.

RT1

How are the Electro-Harmonix 6922EH? Music Direct lists them for $15.99ea.

reeltrouble1

JFB,

I have not rolled that tube, but I am sure somebody around here must have. Remember though, you can get an overall feel for things and a tubes potential by posts and word of mouth, but it still comes down to your unique system and the type of tunes that you like.

RT1

jfb4548

reeltrouble1 wrote:

JFB,

I have not rolled that tube, but I am sure somebody around here must have. Remember though, you can get an overall feel for things and a tubes potential by posts and word of mouth, but it still comes down to your unique system and the type of tunes that you like.

RT1

Ok so I guess the Amperex's at around $90.00 per should sound good! I need a drink!:)

jfb4548

Have you ever A-B compared the ELP to the MLP? If so what is the most obvious differances? Is the ELP 'quiet'. My current pre / amp combo is just plain dead quiet at anything but really high volume settings and by then your deaf form the music that you just listened to, so a little hiss is hardly even noticed

I fear my current pre need's a little TLC after 20 years but it may still prove to be a hard act to follow without spending alot more cash then I have, and the cost of service is flat rate at nearly 1/2 the ELP, so I'm kinda hopein' it lives up to my hopes

I guess I could always have it serviced and then sell it, but it's kinda part of my family along with 5 or 6 of it's brothers. It's hard to break up a family

jfb4548

ND13 wrote:

Where are you in Ohio?? If you're not too far from New Castle, In, you can drop by and listen to about 7-8 different pairs of tubes for the ELP. That will give you an idea of what you'd want to look for. I might even be persuaded to let a pair or two go.

I got a matched pair of Groove Tubes for less than $20 shipped and they were surprisingly good for right out of the box. I'm still burning them in, but so far they're the closest I've heard to matching my favorites, the Amperex 6DJ8 Bugle Boys(halo getters) from Holland, circa 1961 I believe. Those would probably run you a pretty penny. If they're don't, someone please tell me where I can get another matched pair. I'd like to have another pair for back ups just in case something ever happened to these I have.

Thank's for the invite! I'm in Cleveland so it would be a bit of a drive. At the current price for gas I might be better off buying some tubes:) If you ever in Cleveland, look me up. If my wife dosn't kick me out, I'd love to have someone else listen to my stuff and give there opinion as to what's what .

ND13

One rule of thumb that I've learned is to stay away from the majority of the Chinese tubes. The Russian tubes seem to be good tubes for the most part, and of course, as far as NOS goes, the tubes made in Holland, Germany, England and the USA are, for the most part, good to excellent in sound quality. Happy rollin to ya.

reeltrouble1

JFB,

I fully understand your wanting to keep your older gear, its part of your audio history, I have several pieces I am fond of, but after 20 years its time to take a risk my man, afterall, without a little risk we never get anywhere, so come dance on the edge for a bit so to speak.

The MLP is a couple levels above the ELP, that said, we are now talking around a 2300 difference in MSRP for new pieces. Basically, you are getting improved circuitry, both however, sport Sonic Caps which are oh so nice, the MLP power supply is totally seperated from the chasis, a (4) 12ax7 tube system, more inputs/outputs, HT pass standard. As far as sound, well, now the ELP is very good, but just not quite as smooth on the top end. At least in my systems I hear a bit more grain at high gain with the ELP.

You can expect some hum with a tube pre/ss amp system, this is fairly common, it does not mean their is anything wrong with either piece, it has to do with impedance matching, connects, power supply, a synergy sort of thing. My hum with the ELP can be charachterized slight, a non-factor at any level. It is very important to ensure connects have a good ground.

Beyond this all I can say is from the moment I hooked the ELP to the NAD's and at that time my Polk 1C's I have been smiling ever since.

I believe your going to like it, I would start with those Harmonix if you like, and the JJ's, the Amperex will still be there when your ready. Tube gear is finnicky, be careful with what you do, a little error and your out of business, its not like ss gear, you cant get away with hooking up things wrong, changing a connect with gear on etc. Use the mute switch on the ELP before doing anything else when changing things out. Fortunately, Gary Dodd, has given us great support when we make a mistake.

RT1

ND13

If you hear a hum, try a different interconnect. I eliminated 80% of the hum I had just by changing out the IC between the pre and amp. Now it's negligible. I'm not talking about high-dollar ICs either, just one $70 IC for another of a different brand is all. I was amazed at the difference the IC made, but that's a totally different can of worms you don't want to open as of yet.

The ELP transformed my rig, took it to another level of sound quality, imaging, depth and width of soundstage, and I'll always have a tubed pre in my system(s).

Ricardo

ND13 wrote:

If you hear a hum, try a different interconnect. I eliminated 80% of the hum I had just by changing out the IC between the pre and amp. Now it's negligible. I'm not talking about high-dollar ICs either, just one $70 IC for another of a different brand is all. I was amazed at the difference the IC made, but that's a totally different can of worms you don't want to open as of yet.

The ELP transformed my rig, took it to another level of sound quality, imaging, depth and width of soundstage, and I'll always have a tubed pre in my system(s).

Noel,

Was the Outlaw the IC that reduced the hum? I am planning to use them for the Dared.....

ND13

The Outlaw was the first one that made a difference and I have put a couple others in there that worked well, also. But the Outlaw seems to be a very good IC, imo. Thanks, I owe you. What kind of tubes does the Dared use, I forget??
If it uses 6922/6DJ8 variants, let me know.

Ricardo

The Dared uses 12AT7 and a 5Y3 rectifier...and yes, you owe me big time...but not because of the IC...because you started all this spending nightmare by selling me the 1B's...

ND13

I have a buddy that has a bunch of vintage 12AT7s. I'll see if he'll give me a good deal on a matched pair.

Ricardo

I just spent 50 dollars in a couple of Mullards and a Jan Philips rectifier; I am planning to start the pre with these, and just keep the Chinese tubes for spares....I guess the "rolling" thing is part of having tube gear, right? If you can find some really good deal, let me know; it'll be fun to start comparing how different tubes sound..that is if I can ever tell a difference

ND13

There are gonna be tubes that you can hear a dramatic difference in and some that are just slightly different, as with so many tweeks that are done in audio.

organ

Congrats. I'm sure you'll love the ELP as much as everybody else here.

The best current production tubes IMO is the JJ http://www.thetubestore.com/teslaecc88.html The EH are nice (which I tried before JJ) but they're just not as good. NOS are better but the price is increasing.

Remember to let the tubes warm up for about 20-30mins before doing critical listening.

Maurice

jfb4548

organ wrote:

Congrats. I'm sure you'll love the ELP as much as everybody else here.

The best current production tubes IMO is the JJ http://www.thetubestore.com/teslaecc88.html The EH are nice (which I tried before JJ) but they're just not as good. NOS are better but the price is increasing.

Remember to let the tubes warm up for about 20-30mins before doing critical listening.

Maurice

Thank's JJ's now on order! I'm looking forward to the ELP. I just hope they ship quick. I hate to wait for toys;)

read-alot

jfb how long did tweekgeeks say the wait would be for your elp?

They told me 3 weeks.
Its bad for an old man like me to be counting the days until the next toy arrives. The Outlaw ICs are here and the JJs are on the way.

jfb4548

read-alot wrote:

jfb how long did tweekgeeks say the wait would be for your elp?

They told me 3 weeks.
Its bad for an old man like me to be counting the days until the next toy arrives. The Outlaw ICs are here and the JJs are on the way.

Still haven't received anything more then the e-mail they auto send when I placed the order. Their sposta send an e-mail invoice with the details but nothing as of yet. 3 weeks would suck! So just what are the 'Outlaw IC's' I don't want to hear I have to spend more $. :rolleyes: I ordered on Saturday so maybe they don't process the weekend orders till Monday? :mad:

ND13

jfb4548 wrote:

Still haven't received anything more then the e-mail they auto send when I placed the order. Their sposta send an e-mail invoice with the details but nothing as of yet. 3 weeks would suck! So just what are the 'Outlaw IC's' I don't want to hear I have to spend more $. :rolleyes: I ordered on Saturday so maybe they don't process the weekend orders till Monday? :mad:

Outlaw interconnects. Check them out on the Outlaw website. They have been the best affordable quality ic I've had for using between the ELP and amps.

jfb4548

ND13 wrote:

Outlaw interconnects. Check them out on the Outlaw website. They have been the best affordable quality ic I've had for using between the ELP and amps.

Which ones! I hate that they don't have any pictures! It's like a dating service without any pictures! How can I choose the perfect woman, I mean IC's if I can't see um? :rolleyes:

Ricardo

jfb4548 wrote:

Which ones! I hate that they don't have any pictures! It's like a dating service without any pictures! How can I choose the perfect woman, I mean IC's if I can't see um? :rolleyes:

PCA Interconnects...

jfb4548

HTrookie wrote:

PCA Interconnects...

There all the same just differant lengths? What fun is that!! :rolleyes:

Ricardo

Not sure what you mean...yes, all the PCA's "look" the same; if you click on the Y-Adapter link you'll have a good idea of what they look like.

http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/cab_y_about.html

ND13

Ricardo sent me a .5 meter IC. You want to go as short as possible, imo.

jfb4548

Looks like TweekGeeks is having these made as the orders come in, and three weeks is the normal E.T.A. I hope it is a shorter 3 weeks then when I ordered my Jolida Cd. It sure seemed like it was 4-5 weeks - oh that's cause it was I hate to wait for toys!! By the way if Gary reads this post, please note that if you find it in your heart to upgrade the tubes to something more musical I'll keep the secret between us;)

reeltrouble1

I have this mental picture of Gary, fingers and elbows flying, muttering friggen alligators, alot of pre's to build. He still listens to each one and burns the tubes in for you while doing so.

Most good things are worth the wait.

Anticipation can be a blissfull lady.

RT1

jfb4548

reeltrouble1 wrote:

I have this mental picture of Gary, fingers and elbows flying, muttering friggen alligators, alot of pre's to build. He still listens to each one and burns the tubes in for you while doing so.

Most good things are worth the wait.

Anticipation can be a blissfull lady.

RT1

So I have to ask why not use good tubes in the first place? Even if he added $25.00 to the price. Or are the tubes he supplies not so bad??

organ

I have no idea what tubes come with the ELP but there's really no point for Gary to install stock premium tubes knowing his equipments are going to be used by a bunch of freaky tube rollers. NOS, which sounds best will cost more than $25 a tube.

Maurice