New Pre in the mix

george daniel
george daniel Posts: 12,096
edited May 2009 in 2 Channel Audio
Got a new pre today. EE Minimax that has been modded/upgraded by Tom Tutay of Transition Audio--Florida. Among the upgrades, the gain has been changed to 9dB. This is a tube rectified component,and dead quiet. It seems to be "organic" for lack of a better term, and somewhat neutral,at least to my ears.Soundstage is very wide with good detail and exquisite imaging.Just a hint of that tube midrange that I am so drawn to.Listening impressions were done with Quicksilver M-80 monoblocs and LSI-15's with upgraded crossovers (thanks to Jerry).I gotta tell you that my 15's never sounded this good.Anyway a few pic's,and enough of my "babble",as I suck when doing reviews, but this little jem is certainly worth a listen,and warrants some attention/investigation into Mr. Tutay's work,which appears to be "top shelf"
Thanks
JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
Post edited by george daniel on
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,244
    edited March 2009
    Very nice looking setup, What are you using as a center? There is a guy at work that has tube amp's and pre amps, I really need to visit him for the experiance of hearing tubes, maybe learn a few things.
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited March 2009
    Just 2 channel,, no subs or center were active.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,244
    edited March 2009
    It look's like you have a center in the pics. I was tring to figure out what it was.
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited March 2009
    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    It look's like you have a center in the pics. I was tring to figure out what it was.

    I'll ask,, pic's were taken at Jerry's casa,, his gear, aside from the pre and amps(tubers)
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited March 2009
    Well had a blast a Jerry's house. I wasn't much on the social end. I was trying to fix Jerry's tweeter. The Blues on tubes, and Jerry's modded LSI15's sounded real good. We didn't notice the taps were at 8ohms till we were pulling them apart. As always good to hook up with fellow Polkies.
    Ben
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited March 2009
    george --

    Have you written a mini review of your Quicksilver monos yet? Just wondering what you think of them compared to the other amps you've owned.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited March 2009
    ben62670 wrote: »
    The Blues on tubes, and Jerry's modded LSI15's sounded real good. We didn't notice the taps were at 8ohms till we were pulling them apart.
    Ben
    You probably weren't missing much, they only dip down to 3ohms briefly and appear to be easier to drive than the 9's.

    Congrats on the new pre George.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • W WALDECKER
    W WALDECKER Posts: 900
    edited March 2009
    Hey George,I am glad that you found a nice preamp to go with your mono's :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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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited March 2009
    Thanks all,, I'll be happy to post a review of the Quickies,, gimme' about a week,as I have new tubes coming for them,, but I'll say now that they are quick, detailed, and the soundstage,,if applicable here,,is phenominal.I want to get the new tubes in them before I comment on the bass,,musical,,they are.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,561
    edited March 2009
    I gotta tell you that my 15's never sounded this good.

    'Nuff said. Enjoy!
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited March 2009
    F1nut wrote: »
    'Nuff said. Enjoy!

    Yep modded 15's on tubes with only 80 watts was sure sounding sweet! I wish I had a little more time to actually sit down when George was there. He is close to my buddy Jerry so we will do it again:)
    Thanks George for bringing over the tubes. BTW we fixed the tweeters so you will be in for a treat when you can hear the Morel's instead of the cheap Vifa's.
    Ben
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited March 2009
    Congrats George. You do find some interesting gear my friend. Enjoy.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    edited March 2009
    It looks like you found yourself a winner! Congrats & enjoy!!!
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited March 2009
    cool beans George looks nice.......as we know

    Tubes Rule.

    RT1
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited March 2009
    Nice snag George . . . enjoy.
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,663
    edited March 2009
    Very nice. Congrats to you.
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited April 2009
    Nice system,How do you like the Tube Pre and Amps?
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,788
    edited April 2009
    Damn you to Hell, George.;)
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited April 2009
    danz1906 wrote: »
    Nice system,How do you like the Tube Pre and Amps?

    Love it,, I have it set up with the Quicksilvers and listening to vinyl right now.This is the sound that I'm looking for,,a tad laid back, very organic,soundstaging and imaging is almost spooky with this combo.Bass is tight,not overpowering,mids and highs have that warmth/smoothness,,and,, what I am finding,is that I do not have to play it LOUD to get what I want to hear,,I'm just enjoying the music,, it's just so natural and easy to get "drawn" into it.As my esteemec collegus,,EB would say,,I'm DONE,,,almost;)
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited April 2009
    george daniel wrote: »
    Love it,, I have it set up with the Quicksilvers and listening to vinyl right now.This is the sound that I'm looking for,,a tad laid back, very organic,soundstaging and imaging is almost spooky with this combo.Bass is tight,not overpowering,mids and highs have that warmth/smoothness,,and,, what I am finding,is that I do not have to play it LOUD to get what I want to hear,,I'm just enjoying the music,, it's just so natural and easy to get "drawn" into it.As my esteemec collegus,,EB would say,,I'm DONE,,,almost;)

    Your never done,your just in a good place:D
    How to the Quicksilvers compare to the Odyssey monos?
    Or is it apples and oranges?
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • Lowell_M
    Lowell_M Posts: 1,660
    edited April 2009
    George, Very cool. Enjoy!

    I'm especially interested in the effect of the detachable olive oil dispencer as shown in the first picture. I would guess that is where the organic sound comes from. :rolleyes:

    Congrats on your next stopping point! I told my wife a month ago I was done for a while too, but the local Rockford guys have bought so much cool gear in the last month that I my ears have again been opened to better sound and I can feel a case of the upgradits coming on. I think the closest I will get to tubes might be pure class A SS amp with a SS Pre, but we will see based on the great reviews you guys give the tubes with LSi15's I might have to put a tubed pre in my rig for a while and see what happens.

    Enjoy your Nirvana while it lasts! :D
    HT
    RTi70 mains
    CSi30 center
    RTi28 Rears
    Velodyne CHT-12
    H/K AVR-247
    ADCOM GFA-7000
    Samsung PN58B860
    Playstation 3
    2-Channel
    Polk Audio LSi15's
    Rotel RCD-1072
    Nakamichi CA-5 Pre
    ADCOM GFA-555
    Signal Cable Analog II IC's
    Signal Ultra Bi-Wire Speaker Cables
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited April 2009
    danz1906 wrote: »
    Your never done,your just in a good place:D
    How to the Quicksilvers compare to the Odyssey monos?
    Or is it apples and oranges?

    The odysseys have more bass,, and coupled with the Wright or the modded minimax sound very good, soundstage, imaging, detail,,nothing wrong with that,,,and not to be a smartass,,it just ain't tubes,,for me tubes have that midrange,and high effect of clarity that just kinda hangs in the air and then,poof,,gone,,just magical for me,,maybe because I grew up in a generation of tubes,, tv's,radios, hifi,,if I possessed a better vocabulary maybe I could describe it better. Tube just have that "touch",,just magic,man.;):)
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited April 2009
    a_mattison wrote: »
    George, Very cool. Enjoy!

    I'm especially interested in the effect of the detachable olive oil dispencer as shown in the first picture. I would guess that is where the organic sound comes from. :rolleyes:

    Congrats on your next stopping point! I told my wife a month ago I was done for a while too, but the local Rockford guys have bought so much cool gear in the last month that I my ears have again been opened to better sound and I can feel a case of the upgradits coming on. I think the closest I will get to tubes might be pure class A SS amp with a SS Pre, but we will see based on the great reviews you guys give the tubes with LSi15's I might have to put a tubed pre in my rig for a while and see what happens.

    Enjoy your Nirvana while it lasts! :D

    The gent that sold me the quickies,, has a setup of single driver speakers(hornshoppe) a 1.5 watt set amp,,, and that may very well be my next adventure,,talk about a refined sound--WOW,,,with or without a sub.I may very well visit "hornfest" this year. Heck,, they listen to tubes,ss,,launch rockets,shooting range,,homemade ice cream,BBQ Pig,-South Carolina style,, but those little 5.5 inch drivers with the SET amp knocked me back down in my chair.:)
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • biffbyun
    biffbyun Posts: 35
    edited April 2009
    I have an EE minimax and I absolutely love it. It's a tube roller's dream and a great bank for the buck. Awesome pre. Congrats.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited April 2009
    Congrats on the Minimax and I've seen some EE stuff floating around on CL and other places lately. BTW, I like those big speakers in the back, whatever those are. :p
    Jake
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited May 2009
    Update,, just swapped the tubes in this thing,one at a time,,Genalex 6x4 rectifier,,, then a Tungsram E80cc (middle tube) and a Siemens Silverplate,,, this thing is responsive to tube rolling,,and after listening to this all I can say with the utmost respect is My God

    Couple of fuzzy pic's

    Folks,, I'm not bragging,, I'm just excited with the quality of the sound. The rest of the system is a pair of Quicksilver M-80 monobloc's and Tyler Acoustics 7U's,, and it ain't ever sounded like this before.What did I learn about tubes,, there is no substitute for NOS tubes,,go ahead and buy em' now,, the prices are only going to go up.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • NJPOLKER
    NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
    edited May 2009
    George my friend, Keep rolling along!
    Maybe I missed in in this thread but will you share with us what you paid for the pre-amp and upgrades?
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited May 2009
    Sure,, IIRC, 825 included the Tutay mods,,dB decreased(much lower noise floor),,, Genalex tube for rectification 40.00,, Tungsram E80cc---60.00 Siemens silverplate--125.00. My wife said that after listening, it made her feel like you do when you've just got back from a live concert,,kinda pumped up. I am totally amazed at it's performance. Here's a link,, and expect alot of tubes on the FM soon,, as I'm ridding myself of most of my stash,to invest in NOS from reputable dealers. Enough of my longwindedness.



    http://www.audioasylum.com/scripts/t.pl?f=tubes&m=169148
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • nikolas812
    nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
    edited May 2009
    How would you compare it to the Dodd ELP? Is there any hum?


    I'll more than likely build my own pre. But I am still looking at others from certain manufactures. I figured if I come across a really stellar pre for a good price I might buy one instead of building one.


    One of these just sold on A-gon for $650.00 with the same mods as yours. Thats not a bad price if the pre is as good as you say it is...



    Also. Did you buy used or new? If new. Can you provide a link to where you bought it?






    Nick
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited May 2009
    Hey George --

    God grooves with tubes, and so do you.


    Rock on.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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