Tube Amplifier in the House

W WALDECKER
W WALDECKER Posts: 900
edited February 2007 in 2 Channel Audio
I took delivery of my Sonic Frontiers SFS 80 Stereo power Amplifier today. it came at 11:15 this morning by Fedex truck.it weighs 66Lbs and is rated @ 80 Wpc into 8 ohms. i bought it from the original owner, it has a stainless steel Chassis with a black faceplate and it came with the original double box, Manual,Tube cage,power cord, white glove for handling the tubes. the four Ei KT90 power tubes were packed in clear tubing with black end caps and were marked with thier tube positions on the power amplifier for each tube. the input/driver stage tubes are Sovtec 6DJ8s and they were packed in thier boxes and were also marked according to thier positions on the amplifier.he also sent an extra Quad of JJ Tesla KT 88s which he said had very little use on them. i installed all of the tubes in thier respective sockets and i Hooked it up to My Candela tube preamplifier and Lorelei loudspeakers and Audio Aero Prima MkII CD player and then i turned all of the Bias pots counter clockwise to zero and powered her up. it has a bias meter on the front faceplate and a selector Knob for the power tube positions. i set each power tube to the desired bias using the manual as my guide and then it was time to listen to some music.i played Michael Hedges- Taproot album followed by the Police-Zenyata Mondata, David Bowie- Heathen,Johnny Cash.....Etc and i am very Happy with the results. i understand what people are talking about when they compare Tube Watts Vs Solid state. this amplifier sounds much more powerful than the rated 80 wpc. the Sonic Frontiers SFS 80 sounds fast and clean with a really nice midrange and the bass response is tight and solid. i paid $915.00 including shipping and it was worth every penny. i am going to put in the KT 88s and bias them and see what they will do in comparison to the KT 90s. :) thanks....WCW III
Rogue Audio stereo 100 tube amplifier - Lector Zoe preamplifier with 6H30 pi's
.Audience AU24SE speaker and ic cables- Chord Qutest DAC - Black Cat Silverstar II 75ohm digital cable-Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Signature system with large bass cabinets to accommodate 10" Seas magnesium woofers.2xhmpsuownoj.jpg
Post edited by W WALDECKER on
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,497
    edited February 2007
    Good for you William! Rock on, with tubes.:cool:
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited February 2007
    Make sure you set the bias again after 45min or so of listening - I can almost guarantee you'll be high on the meter if you biased with cold tubes. You can run KT88's, 90's or 100's in that amp, in addition to 6550's (my favorite).

    Rock on.
    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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  • pblanc
    pblanc Posts: 261
    edited February 2007
    What current maker of 6550s do you prefer?
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited February 2007
    The SED Winged C SV6550C.

    It can handle plate voltages over 600v, bulletproof reliability, and THE best sounding current production 6550, period. The may cost a little more, than say the new Tungsol re-issues, but it's more than worth it.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    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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  • pblanc
    pblanc Posts: 261
    edited February 2007
    William, I would be very curious what you impression is of the Ei KT90s. It seems people either love those or hate them, I suppose depending on whether they work or not.
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  • W WALDECKER
    W WALDECKER Posts: 900
    edited February 2007
    pblanc wrote:
    William, I would be very curious what you impression is of the Ei KT90s. It seems people either love those or hate them, I suppose depending on whether they work or not.
    These Ei KT90 tubes sound great in the SFS 80 they are the older versions that were used by VTL, Manley Labs, Jadis...Etc.i am Interested in trying the JJ KT88s because i have been looking them up and from what i have read they are desirable also. the version i have are marked with white lettering TESLOVAK KT88 and they are supposed to be very good power tubes. thanks....WCW III :)
    Rogue Audio stereo 100 tube amplifier - Lector Zoe preamplifier with 6H30 pi's
    .Audience AU24SE speaker and ic cables- Chord Qutest DAC - Black Cat Silverstar II 75ohm digital cable-Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Signature system with large bass cabinets to accommodate 10" Seas magnesium woofers.2xhmpsuownoj.jpg
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited February 2007
    Congrats. I would like to get a tube amp for two channel someday.
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • W WALDECKER
    W WALDECKER Posts: 900
    edited February 2007
    wingnut4772 wrote:
    Congrats. I would like to get a tube amp for two channel someday.
    :) Thanks , i think that you would probably love it Darla :cool:
    Rogue Audio stereo 100 tube amplifier - Lector Zoe preamplifier with 6H30 pi's
    .Audience AU24SE speaker and ic cables- Chord Qutest DAC - Black Cat Silverstar II 75ohm digital cable-Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Signature system with large bass cabinets to accommodate 10" Seas magnesium woofers.2xhmpsuownoj.jpg
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited February 2007
    Go Darla Go.

    Rock On William, sounds very nice.

    RT1
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited February 2007
    Congrats William. One day I will do the tube thing.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited February 2007
    wingnut4772 wrote:
    Congrats. I would like to get a tube amp for two channel someday.

    I thought that once. A few days after receiving the amp I made the decision that I no longer wanted to listen to any of my other non-tube amps. Off for sale they went. :)
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • MillerLiteScott
    MillerLiteScott Posts: 2,561
    edited February 2007
    I have been thinking about warming up my tubes all day.

    I had them playing over my computer last night. My thoughts are that things can only get better from here and I am already loving it.

    MLS

    I am not going to sell my HT amp just yet though.
    I like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited February 2007
    madmax wrote:
    I thought that once. A few days after receiving the amp I made the decision that I no longer wanted to listen to any of my other non-tube amps. Off for sale they went. :)
    madmax

    Well I can't afford that right now for sure.:p
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter