I need some help for tube separates

chargerman426
chargerman426 Posts: 419
edited April 2010 in Electronics
I'm looking into up grading from my Jolida JD202 and getting into some tube separates. I have been looking at the Ming Da MC 34-AB7 (link below). But, I have looking at reviews and reading up on it and I not happy that they want you to take it to some one to re-bias the power tubes. That one of the things I injoy about tubes is the tinkering with them. I'm open for any pre but I do want to things. 1. I want it to based on 12AX/T/U/Y/Z7 tubes and 2. It has to have a remote. I'm trying to stay under or around 3K for both the amp and pre Please give me some ideas on what brands to look at or modals to look at.


MC 43-AB7

http://www.pacificvalve.us/MDMC34AB.html
If life had more tubes it would be a lot smoother.
Post edited by chargerman426 on
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,890
    edited April 2010
    You may wish to consider Rogue Audio as well. I am also getting me feet wet with tubes and have much to learn. The homework I have done so far makes Rogue look pretty good, and they are 100%made in the USofA
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2800 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

    How many flies need to be buzzing a dead horse before you guys stop beating it?
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  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,941
    edited April 2010
    take a look at quicksilver they have a great reputation.
    http://www.quicksilveraudio.com/products/index.html
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
    Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
    Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
    Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
    Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
    Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
    Puritan PSM156
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited April 2010
    If I understand you correctly,,my vote for a pre would be a Belles 21a,,auricapped,, 2 -12au7's,,tube hybird IIRC,,, very dependable piece of gear.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,941
    edited April 2010
    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatube&1275821649&/Belles-21a-Special-Auricap-ver :)
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
    Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
    Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
    Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
    Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
    Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
    Puritan PSM156
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  • tcrossma
    tcrossma Posts: 1,301
    edited April 2010
    Do you guys know if the Belles 21A has HT bypass? Can't seem to find a definitive answer on that...
    Speakers: Polk LSi15
    Pre: Adcom GFP-750 with HT Bypass
    Amp: Pass Labs X-150
    CD/DVD Player: Classe CDP-10
    Interconnects: MIT Shortgun S3 Pro XLR
    Speaker cables: MIT MH-750 bi-wire
    TT:Micro Seiki DD-35
    Cartridge:Denon DL-160
    Phono Pre:PS Audio GCPH
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  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,941
    edited April 2010
    yes it does have ht bypass. even with the preamp turned off.
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
    Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
    Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
    Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
    Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
    Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
    Puritan PSM156
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  • tcrossma
    tcrossma Posts: 1,301
    edited April 2010
    marvda1 wrote: »
    yes it does have ht bypass.

    Thanks
    Speakers: Polk LSi15
    Pre: Adcom GFP-750 with HT Bypass
    Amp: Pass Labs X-150
    CD/DVD Player: Classe CDP-10
    Interconnects: MIT Shortgun S3 Pro XLR
    Speaker cables: MIT MH-750 bi-wire
    TT:Micro Seiki DD-35
    Cartridge:Denon DL-160
    Phono Pre:PS Audio GCPH
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  • chargerman426
    chargerman426 Posts: 419
    edited April 2010
    The pre looks interesting. I will do some more research on that. Now what about the amp. I would like mono blocks but they seem to be more expensive so I can deal with a stereo amp. I'm going to be running my LSi 15's so no 300B tubes. :)
    If life had more tubes it would be a lot smoother.
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited April 2010
    FWIW-- I ran a pair of LSI 15's (upgraded crossovers) with a pair of 80 watt Quicksilver monoblocks and they never seemed to break a sweat,,plus they have never sounded better to me,,and that's comparing them to a pair of Odyssey Monos SE's,,, Quicksilvers were my choice--hands down,, the Belles 21a plays nice with a variety of tube and sand amps,,,, BTW--the Quickies and LSI were connected to my Belles 20a at the time,,, hmmm,, good luck,, you are in for a treat.

    Edit-- you can easily afford the pre and power amps and still have money for sonicaps. ;)
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,796
    edited April 2010
    george daniel wrote: »
    FWIW-- I ran a pair of LSI 15's (upgraded crossovers) with a pair of 80 watt Quicksilver monoblocks and they never seemed to break a sweat,,plus they have never sounded better to me,,and that's comparing them to a pair of Odyssey Monos SE's,,, Quicksilvers were my choice--hands down,, the Belles 21a plays nice with a variety of tube and sand amps,,,, BTW--the Quickies and LSI were connected to my Belles 20a at the time,,, hmmm,, good luck,, you are in for a treat.

    Edit-- you can easily afford the pre and power amps and still have money for sonicaps. ;)
    ...and Mr. Daniels knows his tubes!!! I have witnessed this first hand. Tip O' the hat George.
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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited April 2010
    Pre-owned Modright 9.0SE for the Pre.
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited April 2010
    You have a lot to choose from at your price range. Check out some ASL www.divertech.com

    When you said you want it based on the 12A*7 tubes, are you talking about tubes in the pre, amplifier or both? There are great designs out there that use the 6DJ8, 6922 or 6SN7.
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  • chargerman426
    chargerman426 Posts: 419
    edited April 2010
    Thank you all for the suggestions. I have been looking at all the brands you have mentioned as well as some others. So I bring to another brand I haven't heard from you yet that I'm very interested in. The company is Cayin audio and the Pre I'm looking at is the

    SC-5LS - http://www.aurumcantususa.com/Product_Name.asp?Category=26:50:31


    and the Amp is the

    860 (I would get the one with 6550 tubes) - http://www.aurumcantususa.com/Product_Name.asp?Category=26:48:29

    Has anyone heard thsi gear before or any of Cayin's line? If so what did you think?
    If life had more tubes it would be a lot smoother.
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  • chargerman426
    chargerman426 Posts: 419
    edited April 2010
    organ wrote: »
    You have a lot to choose from at your price range. Check out some ASL www.divertech.com

    When you said you want it based on the 12A*7 tubes, are you talking about tubes in the pre, amplifier or both? There are great designs out there that use the 6DJ8, 6922 or 6SN7.


    I already have NOS 12A*7 tubes and I rather not re-invest in a different type of pre amp tube. It's a bigger deal for me for the 12A*7 tubes to be in the pre then the power amp for the reason that tubes in the pre amp stages make a bigger difference.
    If life had more tubes it would be a lot smoother.
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  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,941
    edited April 2010
    chargerman, what did you decide on?
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
    Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
    Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
    Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
    Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
    Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
    Puritan PSM156
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  • chargerman426
    chargerman426 Posts: 419
    edited April 2010
    marvda1 I think I'm going to go with Cayin. I have heard a lot of good things about there integrated amps so I'm going to give there separates a try. I'm excited about the power amp. It would allow me to run pretty much any power tube I want and it is very easy to bias.


    Just out of curiosity has any one every used or heard Cayin gear?
    If life had more tubes it would be a lot smoother.
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