I'm a tubie

Schwingding

OK, I'm a tube convert

My Onix SP3 arrived today. I got the "last one" according to the folks at AV123, (until the next shipment comes in I suppose).

I had been running my pretty new Strata Minis off of two Outlaw 2200 monoblocks and thought they sounded awesome.

Within just a couple of hours of firing up the SP3, I can't believe my ears. Every single aspect of sound has improved, clarity, depth, dispersion and imaging, all drastically improved. I continue to hear things in CDs I've never heard before, and I had that experience when listening to the Minis for the first time, too - but all over again to a new level with the tubes.

At present I'm running things through my Yamaha 5990 as a pre/pro, but that'll change for 2 channel music in another few hours.

Something else I never noticed before - the "pure direct" mode does really make a difference! I guess it takes a certain level of amp and speaker to notice it, with the monoblocks I could never tell a difference between those two modes, but with the SP3 - amazing how crappy all that processing makes things sound!

I know this is only an entry level tube amp, but what an introduction!

Can't wait to get my Jolida from Noel!

Thanks for listening to me gush.

madmax

Entry level or not you can hear many things through tubes that get covered up in the solid state jumble.

When you get that Jolida and remove the pre-pro a whole new era should start for you if you listen closely. Oh yea, give those tubes an hour to warm up before expecting to get all the details out of them.
madmax

Systems

Welcome to the world of tubes brother. Now start rolling a few combo's and watch what happens to the sound. What Jolida are ya gettin'? I've got 3 and love them all. I really like my 801.

Systems

BTW...when you get ready to buy tubes I have a great guy I buy from on the bay that sells true matched pairs and quads at a great price.

Midnite Mick

Congrats...from one tube newbie to another.

They are different than what my preconceived perceptions thought that they would be.

Mike

ND13

Schwingding wrote:

Can't wait to get my Jolida from Noel!

Thanks for listening to me gush.

It's shipped. The wife should be getting me the tracking number sometime soon.

Congrats on the SP3. I've been eyeing that one for a long time. I think it's one of the sexiest looking pieces out there.

JimBRICK

is anyone on here using tube amps for hometheater?

Early B.

JimBRICK wrote:

is anyone on here using tube amps for hometheater?

I did that at one point in the evolution of my HT system for the front speakers. I used a Jolida 502 with 60 wpc. It was incredible. Highly recommended.

MillerLiteScott

Congrats Mike.

Another tube convert. And it only gets better. I listen to tubes for about 2 hours last night and I could not stop. I kept saying to myself just one more song.

Then my wife came down and she wanted to watch AI on DVR.

Scott

JimBRICK

cause I always thought If I ended up buying those strata minis. going tube for them would be awesome. and ad the 2 channel angle when listening to music

tonyb

JimBRICK wrote:

is anyone on here using tube amps for hometheater?

I use a Butler TDB 2250 and couldn't ask for more in 2-channel or HT.
It is a hybrid though.

Dennis Gardner

The SP3 is an integrated amp, running through your Yamaha is a waste. Just run the analog outputs from your Denon into the SP3. Keep it simple.

halo

^^^ What he said

MillerLiteScott

Mike, I am looking forward to your post weekend tube review.

dane_peterson

Man, $1000 for an entry-level tube amp, eh? I'm screwed if I ever get bitten by that bug.

Schwingding

Halo wrote:

^^^ What he said

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Cut me some slack boys, that was the plan but I just HAD to hook that thing up quickly. It is now connected properly.

halo

:cool: beans