I am joining the tube club

hoosier21
hoosier21 Posts: 4,411
edited October 2005 in 2 Channel Audio
I made a deal on a small Triode amp, it is a Decware Zen SE 84B. I have been looking at this site for a long time, I like the low price and simple design, and hope this little gem is the ****.

MFG Link: http://www.decware.com/zpage1.htm
Reviews: http://www.audioreview.com/Amplifiers/Decware+Zen/PRD_115750_1583crx.aspx

I know its low on power and high end looks, but it is a low cost baby step to see if tubes are for me. I will keep you posted on what I find.
Dodd - Battery Preamp
Monarchy Audio SE100 Delux - mono power amps
Sony DVP-NS999ES - SACD player
ADS 1230 - Polk SDA 2B
DIY Stereo Subwoofer towers w/(4) 12 drivers each
Crown K1 - Subwoofer amp
Outlaw ICBM - crossover
Beringher BFD - sub eq

Where is the remote? Where is the $%#$% remote!

"I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us have...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..."
Post edited by hoosier21 on
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Comments

  • jrausch
    jrausch Posts: 510
    edited March 2003
    Most of the reviews look killer. Which speakers are you going to drive with this amp? It seems there are certain requirements of speakers that would be more suited to this amp. I would think that a mono block setup would be needed to maximize the output of a pair of 4ohm 88db Lsi's. Good luck with your new purchase and keep us apprised of your findings. :cool:
    "The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it."
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited March 2003
    Woo Hoo!!! That looks like an interesting little amp. I'm afraid I have no real input on this style amp because I have never tried one but I hear you need very efficient speakers to get good level out of them. Let us know how it goes. It says you have 30 days to make up your mind so that sounds pretty safe. Lets look at power. Ten times the power makes it twice as loud. That means a 50w tube amp will be twice as loud as this one. (50 watt tube amps are VERY loud). I think these will give you a decent listening volume.
    Good luck!
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • hoosier21
    hoosier21 Posts: 4,411
    edited March 2003
    I have a pair of RT25i that should be ok with this amp. I am already thinking of another one to run them in monoblock, there is one on Ebay now.
    Dodd - Battery Preamp
    Monarchy Audio SE100 Delux - mono power amps
    Sony DVP-NS999ES - SACD player
    ADS 1230 - Polk SDA 2B
    DIY Stereo Subwoofer towers w/(4) 12 drivers each
    Crown K1 - Subwoofer amp
    Outlaw ICBM - crossover
    Beringher BFD - sub eq

    Where is the remote? Where is the $%#$% remote!

    "I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us have...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..."
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  • HBombToo
    HBombToo Posts: 5,256
    edited March 2003
    If after you get started and want more power here is a good start.

    http://www.svetlana.com/graphics/products/pdf/SV300Bspec.pdf

    Long story short this triode can do 450V across the Plate and deliver 100mA of DC Current. Huge POWER Rating of 40Watts before melting the anode! I would need to see some details of the Power Transformers to see if you would need to upgrade but this will give you something to think about.

    OH... I forgot to tell ya that if you go with the 12AX7 you can in theory double the power because of the current split through the dual triode.

    HBomb
    ***WAREMTAE***
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  • hoosier21
    hoosier21 Posts: 4,411
    edited March 2003
    well that was a fun 24 hrs, the deal is off, I will search for another, maybe look for a 20wpc as a min.
    Dodd - Battery Preamp
    Monarchy Audio SE100 Delux - mono power amps
    Sony DVP-NS999ES - SACD player
    ADS 1230 - Polk SDA 2B
    DIY Stereo Subwoofer towers w/(4) 12 drivers each
    Crown K1 - Subwoofer amp
    Outlaw ICBM - crossover
    Beringher BFD - sub eq

    Where is the remote? Where is the $%#$% remote!

    "I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us have...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..."
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  • HBombToo
    HBombToo Posts: 5,256
    edited March 2003
    20 is good
    ***WAREMTAE***
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited March 2003
    Email me Russ, we need to talk.

    10wpc tube mono's
    http://www.divertech.com/aslwaveav8.htm
    or
    20wpc tube mono's
    http://www.divertech.com/aslwaveav20dt.htm

    Paired with this pre
    http://www.divertech.com/aq2004dt.html
    or this pre
    http://www.divertech.com/aslwavel1.htm

    Cheers,
    Rooster
    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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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited April 2003
    Russman,
    I'm just thinking here but are these really the same? First of all there are the reviews of the one hoosier was after. Beyond that I think it has a tube rectifier and these use diodes. (big difference in sound---good or bad I'm not sure). And I don't believe these have point to point wiring. I'm just wondering if we are talking apples to apples? Don't get me wrong, I like my ASL headphone amp and I'm sure the other stuff is decent. I'm wondering if they are the same though.
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited April 2003
    Actually, I was looking for the article, wango posted it some time ago. I guy that bought the ASL Wav8's swapped the diode with an 'Audiocap' capacitor (I think), and said it was a major improvement.

    While on the topic of no-diodes, have you seen the nOrh tube int?

    http://www.norh.com/products/se9/index.html

    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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  • Jstas
    Jstas Posts: 14,820
    edited April 2003
    Why not go with one of these two amps?

    Antique Electronic Supply

    At 90 bucks for a mono amp and 140 for a stereo amp, they are much more financially insiginificant investment than 300, 400 or 500 dollar amps. They aren't up on power as much as the others are but I have found in my own personal experience that its a very goo beginner's amp to get into and learn something about tube amps. Especially since it is a kit and you have to put it together. If you are so inclined that is.
    Expert Moron Extraordinaire

    You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you!
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited April 2003
    The Nohr amp is really cool. I like that they are using EL-34 tubes. I like the pricing of it better than the ASL.

    I think if you wanted a starter amp and wanted to learn about them the AES would be a cool little project.

    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • wangotango68
    wangotango68 Posts: 1,056
    edited April 2003
    try thishttp://www.tubehifi.com/

    scott:cool:
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited April 2003
    Using tubes is just part of the equation. If in the end you do not have the total package, who really cares. I think the combination of tubes, good music and a trustworthy affiliation with fellow enthusiastes is key. Otherwise, you are missing out on the basics.
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,549
    edited April 2003
    That's going to buzz the tower.......
    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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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited April 2003
    Not really, it's all part of the fun of getting into something new. Especially when you build a relationship with someone who is really into it. Before you know it you end up helping them as much as they help you. My friend who is into guitar amps got me into tubes. Now we throw around tube lingo every day. It really fuels the fire!
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited October 2005
    RuSsMaN wrote:
    Email me Russ, we need to talk.

    10wpc tube mono's
    http://www.divertech.com/aslwaveav8.htm
    or
    20wpc tube mono's
    http://www.divertech.com/aslwaveav20dt.htm

    Paired with this pre
    http://www.divertech.com/aq2004dt.html
    or this pre
    http://www.divertech.com/aslwavel1.htm

    Cheers,
    Rooster

    Well now I have the stats on the Wave 8, but the page on the AQ2004DT has been pulled. :(
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited October 2005
    Imagine that....the thread is only 2 1/2 years old.

    Try here....

    http://www.tubehifi.com/amp/amp/aq2004dt.html
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited October 2005
    Awesome! Thanks!
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited October 2005
    Bliss,
    Don't know why but the 2004 on that link looks like ****. I saw the same pic on the website I ordered mine from but the actual unit is black and looks much nicer than what's on the link. I think the one pictured is the non "DT" version. As you already know, ASL is from China and those that are shipped to North America have "DT" which stands for Divergent Technologies (N. America's distributor) with upgraded caps and stuff. I hope you find yours soon.

    Maurice
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