Holy Schnikes!!!!!!! Guess you don't always need tubes!

SolidSqual
SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
edited May 2009 in 2 Channel Audio
Been doing some critical listening with my W4S STP. Out of the box it's been amazing. After 75 hours the highs flowing so smooth and the bass plays real deep. I can't believe it, but this preamp beats the pants off my VK-3ix SE. Easily. WOW.
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited May 2009
    It's all about synergy. You have a link to that Pre?
    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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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2009
    BAT is over rated IMO.
    "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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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited May 2009
    Face wrote: »
    BAT is over rated IMO.

    {Gets popcorn:D}
    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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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited May 2009
    I"d like to see a link to the pre as well. Are you running SS pre into the Jolida tube amp?
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited May 2009
    Seriously, this is real synergy. My sources are all tubes, but my pre is passive and my 4 amps are class D W4S as well.

    http://www.wyred4sound.com/

    http://www.wyred4sound.com/webapps/site/74030/117839/shopping/shopping-view.html?pid=335184&b_id=&find_groupid=17873
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited May 2009
    Zero wrote: »
    Solid,

    While I love the sound of tubes, there are some solid state pieces that I've come to enjoy far more than the glowing glass that I've heard or owned (to include some very nice stuff). I think I've found my huckleberry with Karan Acoustic. Glad you've found yours with W4S.

    I feel ya' on this one. When one starts messing around with high-end stuff, the weaknesses associated with a class of gear begins to fade.
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited May 2009
    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1246211672&/Wyred-4-sound-STP-rediscover-y

    Also, check out this link. Wyred4Sound also sells a $200 upgrade. I bought the $2K version.
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  • Rocco1
    Rocco1 Posts: 190
    edited May 2009
    SolidSqual wrote: »
    Seriously, this is real synergy. My sources are all tubes, but my pre is passive and my 4 amps are class D W4S as well.

    http://www.wyred4sound.com/

    http://www.wyred4sound.com/webapps/site/74030/117839/shopping/shopping-view.html?pid=335184&b_id=&find_groupid=17873

    Guys,

    I have never heard of these amps before. How do they compare to Adcom, rotel, sunfire??
    Man Cave: 7.1
    -PS Audio Power Plant Premier
    -PS Audio Power backup
    -Onkyo Pre/Pro> 2 Adcom555se bridged and bi-wired> RTi A9s
    > Adcom GFA 7605> CSi A6 center, RTi A3s side rears, FXi A6s rears
    >Sub = MK Audio 10'
    -PS3
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    -Directv
    -Samsung 59' plasma flanked by 2 Samsung 43' plasma's
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited May 2009
    I read a review in TAS on the w4s amps, for the money the amps were rated as pretty darn good, although the reviewer found other comparative sand amps to have a better sound, of course they did cost more.

    Fact is most gear today sounds pretty good as long as its fed a quality signal.

    Not suprising to see good synergy between a pre and amp from the same manufacturer, kind of expected.

    However......Tubes Rule.

    RT1

    Edit.....after looking at the A-gon link the text hype just turns me off, companies claiming they are suddenly better than or are now doing things better than any other audio company in the world is just nonsense, kind of "new kid on the block" stuff.
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited May 2009
    NOS Tubes Rule ;):cool::)
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited May 2009
    Face wrote: »
    BAT is over rated IMO.

    Whatever you have done with Michael I am telling you to let him go.

    If you do I will not pursue you, however, if you do not you should know that I posesses a unique set of skills which make me a nightmare for people like you.

    I will hunt you down, I will find you, and I will killlll you.

    I am RT1
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited May 2009
    reeltrouble1 wrote: »

    Edit.....after looking at the A-gon link the text hype just turns me off, companies claiming they are suddenly better than or are now doing things better than any other audio company in the world is just nonsense, kind of "new kid on the block" stuff.

    Oh god, come off of your high horse. Comments like this are useless. This is the nature of the business. Every manufacturer has their marketing nonsense. It's hardly a reason to pass judgment.

    SCREW TUBES!!!!!! VISHAY RESISTORS RULE!!!!

    Son, we live in a world that has choices, and those choices have to be exercised by men with open minds. Whose gonna do it? You? You, RT1? I have more musicality here than you could possibly fathom. You weep for solid state gear, and you curse small manufacturers. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That giving up tubes, while tragic, produces better sound. And that my choice, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, results in better tunes. I know deep down in places you don't talk about at Polk Fest, you don't want me with solid state gear, you need me with tube gear. Real Polkies use words like dynamic, organic, truthful. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent pursuing better sound. You use them as a punchline defending old technology. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps without the hope that something can outperform tubes, then questions the manner in which the manufacturer claims such success. I prefer you accept my perspective, and went on to other threads, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a STP preamp, and perform your own comparisons. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you know!
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  • HB27
    HB27 Posts: 1,518
    edited May 2009
    SolidSqual wrote: »
    I feel ya' on this one. When one starts messing around with high-end stuff, the weaknesses associated with a class of gear begins to fade.
    I'll admit I'm a tube freak and not many SS pieces impress me BUT... lately I'm running across some SS gear that's not leaving the house.
    It's still ALL about matching everything up to get a desired result.
    SolidSqual...I'm always looking for a better "mousetrap" and IF you ever feel the urge I'd love to "take a peek" & "grab a listen" sometime.
    I'm still on the southside but I'm all over Indy on a daily basis.
    Harry
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited May 2009
    thats cool, by the way did you know BAT tube gear uses Vishay Resistors??????? you should since you own the gear.

    waaaaaaaaaaaaaa

    Tubes Rule.

    But all are welcome to PF where you will see and hear all kinds of things. No one should ever think its a "tube guy" thing.

    RT1
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited May 2009
    SolidSqual wrote: »
    Son, we live in a world that has choices, and those choices have to be exercised by men with open minds. Whose gonna do it? You? You, RT1? I have more musicality here than you could possibly fathom. You weep for solid state gear, and you curse small manufacturers. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That giving up tubes, while tragic, produces better sound. And that my choice, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, results in better tunes. I know deep down in places you don't talk about at Polk Fest, you don't want me with solid state gear, you need me with tube gear. Real Polkies use words like dynamic, organic, truthful. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent pursuing better sound. You use them as a punchline defending old technology. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps without the hope that something can outperform tubes, then questions the manner in which the manufacturer claims such success. I prefer you accept my perspective, and went on to other threads, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a STP preamp, and perform your own comparisons. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you know!




    What have you been smoking lately? :confused::rolleyes:
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited May 2009
    Ricardo wrote: »
    What have you been smoking lately? :confused::rolleyes:

    Mike just finished watching "A Few Good Men" for inspirational purposes. Nice quote Mike.

    And as Marcuse states, "Even the most insane calculations are rational: the annihilation of five million people is preferable to that of ten million. twenty million. and so on. It is hopeless to argue that a civilization which justifies its defense by such a calculus proclaims its own end."
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2009
    Ricardo wrote: »
    What have you been smoking lately? :confused::rolleyes:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1075729&postcount=133
    "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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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited May 2009
    SS -- glad you're diggin' the new preamp. It looks like a solid piece of gear. Enjoy!

    With regard to the whole "tubes rule" comments -- um, yeah, that's correct. It's not because tubes generally sound better than SS gear (that's tough to prove). It's because you can change the flavor of the sound by popping in another set of tubes. The tremendous value of tube gear lies in its flexibility to shape the sound to your liking. With SS gear, you gotta keep chasing your tail to get there.
    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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  • Braddles
    Braddles Posts: 228
    edited May 2009
    Son, we live in a world that has choices, and those choices have to be exercised by men with open minds. Whose gonna do it? You? You, RT1? I have more musicality here than you could possibly fathom. You weep for solid state gear, and you curse small manufacturers. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That giving up tubes, while tragic, produces better sound. And that my choice, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, results in better tunes. I know deep down in places you don't talk about at Polk Fest, you don't want me with solid state gear, you need me with tube gear. Real Polkies use words like dynamic, organic, truthful. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent pursuing better sound. You use them as a punchline defending old technology. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps without the hope that something can outperform tubes, then questions the manner in which the manufacturer claims such success. I prefer you accept my perspective, and went on to other threads, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a STP preamp, and perform your own comparisons. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you know![/QUOTE]


    LOL. VERY CLEVER:D
    2 Channel
    Amp - Jas Audio Bravo 3.2 set
    Power Cord - Tunami GPX
    CDP - Marantz cd6002 - Audio gd Ref 5 Dac
    Speakers - Tekton Lore,Polk Audio RTA11tl completely refreshed.
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited May 2009
    Braddles wrote: »

    LOL. VERY CLEVER:D

    Absolutely. Shows great potential in the field of Fictional Fairy Tales.......

    Tubes Rule.

    RT1

    Guys lets keep it light-hearted. Either way its 2-channel madness.
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited May 2009
    reeltrouble1 wrote: »
    Absolutely. Shows great potential in the field of Fictional Fairy Tales.......

    Tubes Rule.

    RT1

    Guys lets keep it light-hearted. Either way its 2-channel madness.

    To be fair I think we are all on the same page guys. My sources are all loaded with tubes from my DAC to my CDP to my Phono pre.

    My philosophy is that I can better control my tubey musical sound by making sure it's introduced at the source and the remainder of the system is as neutral as possible.
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited May 2009
    Face wrote: »
    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1075729&postcount=133

    Haha, you caught the tater.
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited May 2009
    Tubes Rule.
    polkaudio RT35 Bookshelves
    polkaudio 255c-RT Inwalls
    polkaudio DSWPro550WI
    polkaudio XRT12 XM Tuner
    polkaudio RM6750 5.1

    Front projection, 2 channel, car audio... life is good!
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    edited May 2009
    appadv wrote: »
    Tubes Rule.

    I take it your signature hasn't been updated in awhile, or did I miss the tube gear you have listed? :D

    Me likes tubes in the winter & SS the rest of the year!!! After all they are good for something. :rolleyes:
    "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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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited May 2009
    I have been so torn lately. It boils down to synergy and personal preference. "Tubes rule" in certain system with certain music. Ever since my last DAC and going passive(with some tweaks of coarse) I am going to sty SS for now. Tubes are real hard to find the synergy. Synergy is key. I will not say one is better for anyone, or any system. I do have to add that George has taught me a lot, and Jerry's system has solidified a few things. Again let you ears be the judge.
    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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  • Ern Dog
    Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
    edited May 2009
    I feel pretty open to both SS and tubes. The only part I care about is how it sounds. It needs to have that Magic you get when the synergy of all your components come together. With that said, currently all my components have tubes and I think I can finally say that I've found the sound I've been looking for.

    SolidSqual- Congrats on your new preamp and finding the right synergy!
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  • W WALDECKER
    W WALDECKER Posts: 900
    edited May 2009
    Glad to hear that the new preamp has great synergy with your system however that being said TUBES RULE! :D
    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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  • nikolas812
    nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
    edited May 2009
    Does it sound any better since its been breaking in?






    Nick
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited May 2009
    Congrats on the new found synergy. One of the local tube guys that I know always asks this question,,,Is it better,,or just different ?,,, different does not always mean better. I am dealing with the same type of (issue) in my quest for NOS tubes in my pre,,so far,,it's better,, but as a rule of thumb,, you need to ask yourself that same question in 2 weeks. Is it better,, did someone "tap" you on your shoulder,,OOB experience? Anyhow,, congrats and good luck on your journey,, and thats what it really is,,, a journey. :cool:
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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