Deang

Yes, going to a separate amp will help tremendously. The amp sections in most HT receivers are sub par at best. A word of caution here. Using the Denon's preamp section as the front end to a quality amp is probably not the best option either. However, it will sound better than it does now. Any of the B&K amps are excellent choices for the Reference Series speakers. Have you really optimized placement? Even two inches can make a dramatic difference. Make sure the baffles of the speakers clear any shelving, or the front of your HT entertainment center. Also make sure the speakers are toed in, with the axes lining up with where you sit.

So what happens if someone in Canada buys something from me, sends me a check, and I ship via fedex? How are duty and taxes collected?

The 6SN7 tube is a medium-mu twin triode in an octal based package, usually glass, although some metal envelope types were made. In normal use it operates as a class A amplifier. It was widely used in the early days of television as the vertical amplifier, and it's use was so common in most TV chassis designs that vintage 6SN7 tubes are still fairly easy to find today. Audio designers soon found it made a great audio preamp with it's large plates, ample power reserve, and low microphonic octal package. The GTA and GTB types, having been fine tuned for demands in television chassis vertical sweep circuits, can handle up to 7 watts maximum plate power! The demands for these tubes today are primarily in vintage and recent design audio amplifiers and preamplifiers of the high-fidelity type, up to and including the most expensive and esoteric. It seems there is a 6SN7 tube for every taste and budget, and some of the vintage versions are being hunted to extinction, especially those made for the military. I will try to explain the differences between some of these tubes, and list specifically what I have in stock. I expect some of these tubes will skyrocket in price worldwide as more and more audio designers find out that this preamp tube is a design that really can't be improved upon....and that the fine vintage tubes just cannot (and probably will not) ever be duplicated by a current production tube. Three envelope sizes are common in the full octal base version: SHORT, glass is 1.5 inches high; MEDIUM, glass is 1 3/4 inches high; TALL or "TALL BOY", glass is 2 inches high. 6SN7GT / G: This is the original version of this tube. It may be found in all three sizes of glass envelope. The Sylvania Tall Boy types have two triangular shaped plates facing each other mounted high in the tube, with either a top or bottom getter. The early Sylvania types had a top getter and silver flashed the entire top of the tube, sometimes called "chrome tops". Many brands used this design, but the high mounted triangular plates means it most likely was made by Sylvania. The early RCA "GT" types were usually in either a medium or short envelope and have a grey RF shield sprayed on inside the glass. The GE and KenRad types were similar, but the inner glass coating is deep black. These tubes usually have flat black plates, like large 12AX7 blackplates. The military versions of these are the VT-231 and are in very high demand today. 6SN7GTA / GTB:This is the later improved version, and the improvements were primarily geared toward the TV chassis designers who demanded more max. plate wattage and voltage, where vertical circuits can put up to 1500 volt pulses at 7 watts on the plates. For hi-fi audio use, these improvements are meaningless. These are fine tubes, nonetheless. Most are found in the short glass envelope, but some brands like Raytheon used the Tall Boy style. Sylvania made tubes have the triangular plates mounted lower, and set at angles to each other, although some of the very earliest examples of the GTA types still used the dull blackplates facing each other. RCA used the flat black plates "sideways" to each other, and GE used the grey plates parallel to each other. The Sylvania types in demand have a large top getter patch. The earliest Sylvania GTA types have a green label and heavy top getter flashing extending down the sides of the tube. The early GTB types are similar, but have a yellow or red label. The versions from the 1960s have the getter just covering the top of the tube. All of these have the same black triangular plates and are excellent tubes. The GE types have a side getter and large parallel grey plates, and the RCA used both bottom or side getter. Most other vintage USA brands you find will have been made by these three vendors, and will be one of the above variations, regardless of brand on the label. A few were made with brown micanol bases, the RCA types being very dark brown, the GE types being a lighter, marbled brown. Many audiophiles prefer either the Sylvania chrome tops, the RCA, or the GE side getter over any others, even over the military or redbase types. These are all a great bargain now, and are sure to be rare and expensive tomorrow. 6SN7W / WGT / WGTA: This type indicates a military spec tube that was not made for consumer use. These usually have extra support posts on the plate structure, heavy mica spacers, and brown micanol bases. These also have the famous triangular shaped black plates. They have been ruggedized to withstand shock, the brown low loss micanol base resists mold, mildew, and fungus growth, and they can withstand heat even if used upside down. The early Sylvania 6SN7W types from the 1940s had a metal collar around the base, then later a black base. These look internally alot like the early Sylvania GTA types listed above. Sylvania made these for other brands as well, including RCA. Easy to spot as they have the triangular blackplates facing each other in a short bottle, with a very heavy chrome top flashing extending down the sides of the tube. These are RARE and worth seeking out! The WGT and WGTA types all had brown bases. Only the WGTA types made in the late 70s and 80s reverted back to black bases then coin or wafer bases. These are all wonderful tubes, are long lived, and sound fantastic. No wonder they are fast disappearing from the vintage market. 5692:This is the premimum commercial / "industrial" grade of 6SN7. The most famous of these are the RCA "redbase" series, with their distinctive red marbled full octal bases. These are always in the short glass envelope style, and most have four support rods joining the four corners of the top and bottom mica spacers and supporting the plate structure. These have 10,000 hour life filaments and are very resistant to shock and vibration, making them low in microphonics. The RCA versions have the "stop sign" label on the top of the tube with the number 5692 inside, and on the older tubes this was often smeared off, being printed with a chalky white paint. ALL of the redbase versions of this tube were made by RCA, regardless of the brand on the label. TungSol, GE, and Raytheon can often be found branded on the label, but RCA made them all. Other brands like CBS/Hytron and Sylvania made brownbase versions of this tube, but I suspect all were actually made by RCA, as they are identical inside. These are all really fine tubes, but have been hunted nearly to extinction. I usually only have a few in stock, but they are worth the higher cost in overall long life and great sound. Brent Jesse

We should probably give some credit to the preamp section then. Maybe it's all that beer people dumped into those things over the years.

Phil, What are you trying to accomplish? Deep bass extension for movies? Punchy tight bass for music? Seamless integration with the mains? Using the high pass and low pass, or just the low pass? Think about your room size, placement, and how loud you are likely to play it.

With solid state, the least amount of watts the better. Once transistors are doubled up to gain high output -- crosstalk distortion comes into play. Notice they don't make that a measurable when rating solid state amps. This is probably the main reason the little HK sounds good to you guys. It's probably also discrete, and since it doesn't use IC's -- this helps as well.

I kind of agree with Tom here. I sure never felt the need for a center channel -- even with the lowly RF-7 Klipschcones.

Yes, but then they would be 'Falseklipschorns".

There is no way this can be right. The NAFTA trade agreement has all but eliminated this nonsense. The shipping calculator on the SVS site factors in the brokerage fees. I would call, or email SVS. You should also call Canadian Customs and ask. You will have to pay taxes of couse, but duty and brokerage fees should be minimal. Using the calcuator at the fedex site, I came up with $137 total to get my SVS and Samson to Ontario.

For all intents and purposes -- it's new. Has both high pass and low pass filters. The crossover is not adjustable on the fly. It uses interchangeable chips, which set the crossover. This unit has the 50Hz chip in it. Other chips are available for $15 each. Since it is a 'stereo' unit, it requires two chips. Used for systems like the SVS subs that use a stand alone amp. Read about it here: http://store.yahoo.com/hsusubs/highendcrossover.html $300 shipped.

Oops. I never went back to that thread. I just figured when Craig was done with it he would send it to me. Sorry Chris. I'll email you here shortly. Enough with the equipment bit Kelly. Really. I've gone through less than a half dozen variations in the last two years. Considering how serious I take this hobby, I believe this to be more than reasonable. At any rate, there should be a half dozen or more pictures in the first post above. The first two pictures ARE of Jim Morrison, linked to another site. The remaining pictures are yours truly, linked to pictures I loaded up to an AOL server. Did it work?

Craig, quit smoking that poison. Go to a tobacco store and make your own. The tobacco in an American cigarette is the LEAST harmful carcinogenic in them. There's enough ammonia in a pack of Marlboro to strip your kitchen floor. Get yourself some Zig Zag American Blend. Good old fashion Virginia tobacco. It's moist, rolls up easy, and has an outstanding taste. You can twist them up and smoke them without a filter (which is really not bad, because since you don't draw as hard, there isn't as much heat hitting your lungs. There's also more O2, which makes the smoke much smoother) -- or you can get the 'tubes' with the built on filters. You'll need the machine that runs about $7. A barrel of tobacco, and the tubes or papers will give you about a carton and a half for $10. Smoke these for three days and then try to go back to Marlboro and watch your gag reflexes go off. Kelly, gee, I don't know. My preamp is two years old, and my Apollos appear to be about 4 or 5 years old. Since I am often accused of going through equipment faster than changes in underwear, I've often wondered how many pieces you have gone through before settling on your current setup.

I throw myself out there, get 50 views -- and not one wise crack. Man, this board is going to the dogs. Or is this another one of those posts of mine where the pics only show up on my computer?

Yeah, I'm around. Sounds like just the ticket. unload all this high priced, overrated B.S., and go with a nifty little receiver and a set of Heresies. Heresyguy -- get yourself a product called 'krud Kutter' -- it's my secret weapon for cleaning up stuff. Just follow the directions. You can find it most hardware stores. Wonderful stuff. The front label says: *Non-Toxic* *Biodegradable* *Non-flammable* *Non-abrasive* On the back it says: "Eye and skin irritant, In case of contact with eyes or skin, flush with water for 15 minutes. If irritation persists, seek medical attention. If swallowed, take large amounts of water. Do not induce vomiting. Get medical attention." Sounds "non-toxic" to me.

Just a few thoughts here. It sounds like you want to achieve volume levels that bring the music to somewhat live levels. I then think about your room size (and ceilings), and the fact that you are using 3 Heresies for HT. You need to achieve several things here: 1) You want superior two channel performance -- You need to get tubes on the horns. 2) You want mains that integrate with the Heresies -- Cornwalls will give you the best timbre matching with the Heresies. 3) You want somewhat realistic sound pressure levels -- Room size, HT requirements, and the moderate sensitivity of the Cornwalls (98db/w) -- puts you at 50 wpc. You'll probably have to go ultralinear. You might get away with push-push triode, if you can live without the extremely high SPL's for HT. Or...build your false corners and go with the Klipschorns. Doing this means you can go with SET, at 8 wpc or less -- or 15 watts of push-pull triode. Subs really need to be SVS Ultras -- you might get by with one, if placed in the perfect spot.

"There is no spoon" -- reminded me of Monty Python:) yes there is no there isn't is isn't Of course there is, it's right there isn't

Go the site and put together your order. Enter all the info. When you are done, you will see the shipping charge in the lower left hand corner. You can then cancel out without submitting the order. I'm thinking about $137 for shipping.

What two or three CD's could I buy that are very well recorded, and lean towards 'foot tapping', or 'groovin'? I simply can't deal with music that sounds like everyone is playing off sheet music from different songs.

I thought this was the 'real' world. I don't go outside anymore, it's simply too dangerous. Since I'm a sociopath, it's much safer for everyone if I stay indoors.

A very nice set of Cornwalls are hard to come by. If you have heard the Heresies, than simply think of the Cornwalls as Heresies on steroids. Bigger bass drivers, larger cabinets, and bigger sqawker lens'. More/better bass and higher sensitivity. I buy things all the time I have not heard. That's why I buy them! If I am displeased, I sell. If I am pleased, but want to upgrade, I sell. This is very common here. It's virtually impossible to lose money on these things, or anything else in the Heritage lineup. There is implicit trust between the 2-channel forum members. There is no real reason not to move on anything here, uh...unless you're broke. Personally, I think Jeff should just go to eBay with a reserve of $750. The way the Heritage prices are going right now, I don't think he'll have any trouble getting $1000 for these. Hell, a set of Heresies just went for over $600. I know where my Heresies are going today.

Keith, Why would you drive since Jeff has the original shipping material. UPS will deliver these just about anywhere in country for less than $200.

No he won't. Besides, if he did decide to stumble over here, by the time he got around to it -- your post would be three pages back. You want the AES AE-3, better yet would be the AE-3 DJH version. $600 new from http://www.upscaleaudio.com You can pick them up used for around $350, buy they don't come up often.

When a sub "bottoms out" -- what you will hear is metal hitting metal. The sound is unmistakable. At any rate, you might want to back down on the volume just a little. How big is your room?

Yes, silver is somewhat colored sounding. A very nice color indeed.

The problem with the Shaman was that he had no sense of humor.