I'm Toobed!!

AudioFilet
AudioFilet Posts: 235
edited January 2008 in Electronics
I just set this rig up in my listening room yesterday. OK, so it's just a tube preamp, but it's still tubes, right? Anyway, I have this thing plugged into my Audiosource Amp Seven, and it is night & day from the Audiosource preamp I was using, which is way too bright (I hate it). The little tuber seems a little too warm, or maybe it is just lacking crispiness on the low end. I think I have heard on this forum somewhere that the LSI9's I am using don't get along with tubes too well. Is there anything to that?
2 Channel rig:
LSi9"s (modified xover's) & HSU Sub
Harman Kardon HK 990 Amp
Onkyo C-S5VL SACD
Music Hall MMF 5.1
Furman Elite 15

HT rig:
HK AVR-745 & Polk Monitor Series
Post edited by AudioFilet on
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Comments

  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited January 2008
    Where is the power tranny for the preamp?
    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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  • AudioFilet
    AudioFilet Posts: 235
    edited January 2008
    It is sitting behind the amp. It looks like a computer PS, flat box type thing.
    2 Channel rig:
    LSi9"s (modified xover's) & HSU Sub
    Harman Kardon HK 990 Amp
    Onkyo C-S5VL SACD
    Music Hall MMF 5.1
    Furman Elite 15

    HT rig:
    HK AVR-745 & Polk Monitor Series
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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited January 2008
    Sweet.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,824
    edited January 2008
    * The speakers shouldn't care about whether the preamp's tubed.
    * Are the JJ tubes 6922s or...?
    * Sort of looks like a toy :-( (not that you asked, I know, but your expectations should probably be commensurate with price)
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  • AudioFilet
    AudioFilet Posts: 235
    edited January 2008
    It does kind of look like a toy in the photo, but it is hand-made, with a wood case. Tubes are ECC22s. There is an "input trim" pot on the back of the thing. The instruction sheet says to start with the main volume set to about 1/4, and adjust the "input trim" to clipping, then back it off. I did this, but it sounded muffled and bland. The power cord is non-polarized, so I flipped that over and, Bingo! After making the adjustment again, this little thing sounds great, much better than the Audiosource preamp it replaces. After the power cord flip, I was able to get considerably more gain out of the trim adjustment too.

    I like it.

    I like it a lot.
    2 Channel rig:
    LSi9"s (modified xover's) & HSU Sub
    Harman Kardon HK 990 Amp
    Onkyo C-S5VL SACD
    Music Hall MMF 5.1
    Furman Elite 15

    HT rig:
    HK AVR-745 & Polk Monitor Series
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,824
    edited January 2008
    ECC22? Not showing up in TDSL. You sure about the tubes?
    http://tdsl.duncanamps.com/tubesearch.php

    EDIT: Maybe ECC82... 12AU7?

    Flipping the cord should've had no effect except to minimize hum. Plus, it should have a polarized cord (although I doubt that it's UL listed).

    EDIT^2: I am glad you like it; I am sure that it sounds better than the Audiosource preamp.
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  • BaggedLancer
    BaggedLancer Posts: 6,371
    edited January 2008
    They definately have the 12au7 look.

    Congrats on being bit by the toob bug.
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  • AudioFilet
    AudioFilet Posts: 235
    edited January 2008
    Correction to the tubes, they are ECC82. The instruction sheet also says to flip the cord, here is exactly what it says:

    "Note 2: The power supply cord is not polarized. Please try the cord plugged in both ways to find out which way sounds better in your system. The unit will work fine either way, but one way will yield better results."

    Here is a link to a short review of the preamp:

    http://www.speakwisdom.com/Reviews.htm

    Here is a link to the builder's website:

    http://www.aricaudio.com/

    I bought it on eBay.
    2 Channel rig:
    LSi9"s (modified xover's) & HSU Sub
    Harman Kardon HK 990 Amp
    Onkyo C-S5VL SACD
    Music Hall MMF 5.1
    Furman Elite 15

    HT rig:
    HK AVR-745 & Polk Monitor Series
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,824
    edited January 2008
    ahh, OK... I know who this is from now.
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  • AudioFilet
    AudioFilet Posts: 235
    edited January 2008
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    ahh, OK... I know who this is from now.

    OK.... Do you know anything interesting about him??
    2 Channel rig:
    LSi9"s (modified xover's) & HSU Sub
    Harman Kardon HK 990 Amp
    Onkyo C-S5VL SACD
    Music Hall MMF 5.1
    Furman Elite 15

    HT rig:
    HK AVR-745 & Polk Monitor Series
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,824
    edited January 2008
    No, I just know who it is now.
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited January 2008
    Definitely an inexpensive way to try out a tubed pre. His 3.5 version is only $225.
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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