TLC - Tube Lovers Club tube amp/preamp/phonostage owners

[srinisundar]

Reposted::

Some of my notable days in my music journey is yesterday session at Rajiv house on continuation with day before yesterday visit to Captn house with presence of Rajiv & Sasi.

As most of the guys knows his Altec based system is terrific and gives out only the necessary music for the ears which we can hear whole day without fatigue/strain or whatsoever which one day i want to achieve and settled down.

Never know what tube rolling is only heard of and just see thru here in the discussion since i am not an tube guy- itz an different territory which we should enter only know about handling and different types. But once we hear and used to tube sound we will become fond of.

Hope the tube rolling session will be put by Captain in brief since not accustomed with the tube no's and other details. However just want to mention Rajiv's Lyrita Pre has transformed his Altec system to an different level and the sound is more precise and bass was controlled and tight.. Yes to mention Captain Accoustic Portrait DAC makes a lot of difference in the chain and it is an fantastic value of money and tube rolling session is done with his DAC and the tubes given by Rajiv made his system to an high end and the voice level is so natural and superb..

Ending the session is the crown has to be given to Wharfedale Full range speakers and it mesmerize your with an mind blowing clarity with an neat output.. May be as Rajiv suggested the next Audiophile meet can be an theme based meet. Why not an vintage meet?

Special thanks to Rajiv/Sasi/Captn for sparing their valuable time in evaluating my MF Pre and Music hall DAC.

Forgot to mention about the smokey Laphroaig(am i right) single malt -10 years old.. Captain and Sasi enjoyed as much as possible

 

[srinisundar]

As for my DAC, it not only passed with distinction but won Gold, literally.hyeah: (Rajiv was so happy with the way DAC sounded that he let me retain the Gold pinned EC88CC BEL/Mullad tubes) :yahoo:

It is the reward for arranging an sucessful tube rolling session and also to continue your journey in tube lane By the way what a difference we would see immediately on changing the tubes, it is wonderful..

 

[captrajesh]

Reposted::

Saw your post on the Wharfdale thread and was wondering "Daaru hum piyela aur nasha inhe chadela hei baap":lol:

(We consumed the intoxicant but he has gotten high.)

 

[stevieboy]

Vinyl 'n' Valves

Finally got the blog up and running. And the first post is up. In due course when I get my amps, will start adding videos showcasing my tube collection, the making of the Moth DIY RCM, the rewiring of the SME 3012. Those of you who'd like to stay updated, add me on Google+, on the blog you can subscribe, share through FB, Twitter. PM me for my gmail id if interested in being adding to my G+ circle, would love to connect with similar minded folk with similar interests.

Regards

 

[soulforged]

Nicaa...will subscribe :clapping:

I wanna take Gerald for a spin...when?

 

[Sumanta]

I am seriously thinking about finding a job in Bengaloru.
I should have done so when I thought about Baroda. But at that time I didn't know about HFV friends in Bengaloru and their capabilities!

I like (love) tube sound, specifically for voice and instrument sounds. I like tube playing high efficiency drivers although I have heard only my case as of now but I think physics work right with art and emotions somewhere in this combination.

Even if I do not get a job in Bengaloru, I have to be there to listen to you guy's system and to be able to share some time with you all.
this is a lovely thread to follow. How to follow this by the way? And

 

[murali_n]

Hi all,

Ordered all the components for a Conrad Johnson PV-10A Tube pre, work should start as and when they arrive. :licklips:

N.Murali

 

[jls001]

A needle drop is a vinyl to digital rip or recording. Drop the needle and record

New argots surface daily Incidentally, when music royalty payable by broadcasters is calculated by record companies (or their industry body PPL and IPRS), they still use the term needle hours.

Which amp did you have? Sounds like a huge feller with 4 6550s per channel!

The Audio Research Classic 60 power amp. 60 Watts, runs real hot. Older pre is Audio Research LS2B.

 

[sachu888]

I am thinking of starting a group buy of Single ended Tube power amp like this The "$250" Amp? - 6LU8 Compactron SE, UL - AudioKarma.org Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums
This amp uses low cost GE 6lu8 tubes and has very positive reviews.

Regards,
Sachin

 

[Sumanta]

Sachin,
How much will they cost to us?

 

[stevieboy]

Nicaa...will subscribe :clapping:

I wanna take Gerald for a spin...when?

Once the amps reach me will put a month on them and then invite you over for sure. Finyl vinyl also has a long pending invite.

Regards


DHT - Direct to Heart Tube

 

[stevieboy]

this is a lovely thread to follow. How to follow this by the way? And

Sumanta,

Simply subscribe to the thread there's a button somewhere on the top of the thread. You can even set email alerts for when someone makes a new post in a subscribed thread.

Regards


DHT - Direct to Heart Tube

 

[sachu888]

Sachin,
How much will they cost to us?

This should cost us INR 12k-15k(maximum)including chassis.

Regards,
Sachin

 

[Sumanta]

This should cost us INR 12k-15k(maximum)including chassis.

OKAY. I am and want to continue active cross over way. I have a stereo tube amp and for mid and high SS amp for bass. I am right now playing music from laptop through Creative USB card. I want to shift to DSP to get away from laptop dependency.

How this situation can be improved through amplifying route?
I have a music angel stereo tube amp at present. It has EL34 and 6N1 tubes.

I know I can search and get answers in net, but need to save time, so guide me to links to read about various types of tube amplifiers and their pros and cons. Like the differences between Push-pull and SET (Are there any?).

 

[sachu888]

OKAY. I am and want to continue active cross over way. I have a stereo tube amp and for mid and high SS amp for bass. I am right now playing music from laptop through Creative USB card. I want to shift to DSP to get away from laptop dependency.

How this situation can be improved through amplifying route?
I have a music angel stereo tube amp at present. It has EL34 and 6N1 tubes.

I know I can search and get answers in net, but need to save time, so guide me to links to read about various types of tube amplifiers and their pros and cons. Like the differences between Push-pull and SET (Are there any?).

Hi,
Tube amp topologies Tube amp topologies - AudioKarma.org Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums
DIy Tube push pull amp Finished! Kegger-designed SE EL84 monoblocks - AudioKarma.org Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums
This site has some good build info of tube amp This Site has some very good info for tube amps : Simple SE Manual

Regards,
Sachin

 

[stevieboy]

Hi all,

Ordered all the components for a Conrad Johnson PV-10A Tube pre, work should start as and when they arrive. :licklips:

N.Murali

Lovely! Do post pics and build progress when you get it Murali!

Regards

 

[stevieboy]

I am thinking of starting a group buy of Single ended Tube power amp like this The "$250" Amp? - 6LU8 Compactron SE, UL - AudioKarma.org Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums
This amp uses low cost GE 6lu8 tubes and has very positive reviews.

Regards,
Sachin

Yet another interesting build coming up I see Should be very interesting for those who take part!

 

[sachu888]

Yet another interesting build coming up I see Should be very interesting for those who take part!

Yes Steve,
Tube amp is on my list.I never heard a tube amp except valve radios.I don't want to do point to point so thinking of making few PCBs for this.

Regards,
Sachin

 

[stevieboy]

Sachin, if you're ever in bangalore you're most welcome to drop in and hear my tube amp set up. No digital here pure vinyl.

Regards

 

[slbender]

If you've got a tube amp, one of the joys is the sheer variety of rolling options to tweak the sound of your amp or preamp or phonostage to just how you like it. So I though I'd start a thread for members to chip in with pics of the tubes they use and experiences with each so it will help others who want to perhaps buy a different pair of tubes or for those thinking of getting a tube amp.

Torque ain't cheap but it sure knocks yer socks off

Hi Stevieboy... Hey, hey, my father used to call ME that when I was a much younger boy. Back then I used to go to a neighbor I was thrilled by their Grundig tube radio, and I listened to it for hours and hours, week after week, year after year.

Shoot past several decades, and I now make my own SET tube amps from the bare chassis up. My tube Preamp is a modification of the old Dynaco PAS 3x, of which I have two, and my two SET Amps, also two older tube amps, one that needs repair and I haven't had the time for it.

For input, I like Reel Tapes, Vinyl, and SACD's can be neat too. I've got half a dozen working and semi-working older Reel to Reel Tape Decks; and a pair of 4 way speakers I made several decades back. Ten or so years back a friend and I mounted a carbon fiber arm on my old AR-XA turntable, boys and girls that is so neat! :clapping:

My other three belt drive TT's include a Thorens TD-145, a TD-160, and a weird Stanton that uses a proprietary headshell (really dumb idea) and large opposing magnets for the platter bearing (really neat idea) - Its True!

My two Direct-Drive TT's are the Technics SP-15 and a much simpler Sony. I have been working to repair my broken Technics SP-15. Last week, with two other techie/engineers, we were troubleshooting two identical SP-15's with two very different problems. We may be on the track of solving the failure on mine - it currently spins way too fast. While I really don't believe the Laser Tachometer reading, it clearly showed 440 rpm instead of 33.3 rpm. Still, my friend swears that his Tach is dead-on-accurate. hyeah:

Later this week, I'm finishing a Hot Air Desoldering Tool, I started to modify, which (I hope) will allow me to work with Surface Mount Printed Circuit Boards, so I can modify and improve some of the lower and middle of the line Sony SACD Players, for Even Better Sound. I heard a really top-of-the-line Sony SCD-XA5400ES at a friend's house, and SACD can sound really, really good!

My current / newest SET Amp - its from 8 years ago. :lol: I started working on an even newer one, but ran out of space inside the chassis (bummer) so I never finished it.

My First SET Amp was similar, but less complex using a 12AX7 driving paralleled 10BQ5's, it was Six Watts per channel, in a smallish chassis 13 x 10 x 4 inches form-factor, and it weighed in at about: 36 lbs.

Here's the 411 on the SET Amp pictured.

My 2nd SET Amp. First, I tossed out F. Langford Smith (1953) 4th Edition - I decided: That is just not the way to design a SET Amp to drive a complex Speaker Load. My Totally Unique All 5687 Tube Circuit. It can also use 7044, 7119, E182CC, or a bunch of 6900's if I can ever afford them, etc. Built from a naked 10 x 13 x 4 inch steel chassis maybe eight years ago.

Six Watts per channel; 300 Volts B+; Built-in: Power Conditioning; 1:1 Isolation Transformer; Switching Power Supply; Two Separate High Voltage Capacitor Banks (one for each Channel under all those bias controls); using a Defined Startup Sequence - like in a Missile Silo (but not required to turn two keys simultaneously); Delayed Plate Voltages via - Timers and Relays.

SET Amp Specs: 12 Watts / 2 channels / 12 lbs. (with the steel perforated cover, without the carry-around case - not seen). Bass straight down to hell; Purrfect Midrange; the Sweetest Extended Treble. Sounds Better than Sex!

I finally got the software to accept the image, it didn't work at first. It wanted a URL, and then told me I wasn't "logged in" :sad: and it refused to browse my desktop. Oh well! I tried again later, looks like it did work now.

Wish me luck repairing the Technics, that project is coming up again in two days.

Keep them warm and glowing,

-Steven