Dipping my big toe into the TUBE POOL...

nooshinjohn
nooshinjohn Posts: 25,552
edited February 2010 in Electronics
I just hope it's not going off the deep end. :eek::cool:

Tonight I picked up a Carver SD/A 490t tubed output CD player. I know little about tubes, so was hoping someone might be able to give me a bit of insight as to what I can expect. I know... pics or it didn't happen. I will get some up tomorrow night.:D

Thanks!

John
The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited February 2010
    It will completely suck return now before....

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited February 2010
    Tubed CDPs are awesome! I'll bring mine over for you to check out and compare on the 7th.
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  • Jetmaker737
    Jetmaker737 Posts: 1,072
    edited February 2010
    I have a Jolida tubed CDP and love it. It came with JJ Teslas which were a bit laid back. I rolled some sovtek LPS's and it brought it a bit more forward and sharper, which is a good match with my LSi's.

    Anyways, you'll love the tube sound along with ability to roll in new tubes to suit.
    SystemLuxman L-590AXII Integrated Amplifier|KEF Reference 1 Loudspeakers|PS Audio Directream Jr|Sansui TU-9900 Tuner|TEAC A-6100 RtR|Nakamichi RX-202 Cassette
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    edited February 2010
    you getting the carver listed on craigs list?
    Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,576
    edited February 2010
    I don't believe in tubed CDP's.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,552
    edited February 2010
    erniejade wrote: »
    you getting the carver listed on craigs list?
    yessir!:)
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    edited February 2010
    congrats and good price!! local!! cant ask for more!!!
    Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited February 2010
    dorokusai wrote: »
    I don't believe in tubed CDP's.

    It's not as necessary as a tube preamp, but that's not to say that there are some tubed CDPs that sound truly beautiful.
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,552
    edited February 2010
    SolidSqual wrote: »
    It's not as necessary as a tube preamp, but that's not to say that there are some tubed CDPs that sound truly beautiful.

    Can I just try this first before you start me thinking about soemthing else?:p
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited February 2010
    I love my tube CDP! I rolled some nos tubes in that Beardog sent me and it really sounds close to that vinyl air that I love so much. Good luck John and have fun with it.
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    edited February 2010
    I like my Jolida tube cdp also. I remember somewhere i think on the carver boards someone was saying they perfered the carver cd over the jolida. but then... for every 1 opinion you will find 4 saying something different lol
    Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,576
    edited February 2010
    SolidSqual wrote: »
    It's not as necessary as a tube preamp, but that's not to say that there are some tubed CDPs that sound truly beautiful.

    100% uneccesary.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited February 2010
    John while you are in the pool I am going to hold your head under water.
    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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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,552
    edited February 2010
    ^^^ thanks Ben. Great to hear from you again too:eek::rolleyes: Glad you are feeling better.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited February 2010
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    I love my tube CDP! I rolled some nos tubes in that Beardog sent me and it really sounds close to that vinyl air that I love so much. Good luck John and have fun with it.

    The musical presentation that this player (Raysonic CD 168) puts out is probably so good due to the fact that I have it running though the tube preamp of my integrated hybrid amplifier. Whatever it is, synergy or just good old tubes in the CD player it sounds awesome and as I said is closest sounding to vinyl I've heard from a digital medium. I love good SACD playback sound as much as I love the vinyl sound but they are very different in how they present music.
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited February 2010
    nooshinjohn wrote: »
    Can I just try this first before you start me thinking about soemthing else?:p



    :):):):):):):):):)

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,467
    edited February 2010
    Try running just the CDP straight to the amplifier when you get it. ;)
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,552
    edited February 2010
    But it still does not compete with Vinyl:)...

    I have been trying to get back into CD's for a couple days now, but with the exception of a very good SACD, this player just cannot touch the magic of the black. I guess it's true that once you go black, you never go back!

    The Carver SD/a 490t is easily the best cd player I have heard, and I will keep it, but I don't think it will be seeing as much play time as I had hoped.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,467
    edited February 2010
    What tubes are you running in it?
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,552
    edited February 2010
    they are the stock tubes... Bob is sending me some from his personal stash that he says were much better than the stock ones. I am waiting for those to come.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,467
    edited February 2010
    Worn out tubes would sound better than the stock ones. Get some real tubes before you make a decision.....then give them time to properly set themselves right. In other words, burn in. After that point, come back to us with your observations. ;)

    THEN try the suggestion on post #18.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,467
    edited February 2010
    One more thought.....you might also be experiencing harmonics for the first time.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,552
    edited February 2010
    harmonics?


    I have run it straight through the amp and do not hear a difference between going this route or through the preamp. That said, after tweeking things a bit, this is seriously a very good CD player, and could easily become my primary source. I love my vinyl still, but with this, I can say that my shiny silver discs will be getting some quality playing time again. Thanks T3 for the help and the input.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter