HornPenguin

---------------- On 1/13/2004 12:59:07 AM NOSValves wrote: Naa you did good ! You can almost never go wrong buying Cary ! If you don't like it you can always sell it and get your money back ! I bet you love it. Craig ---------------- Craig - I noticed that NOSValves does not service Cary. Do you know of someone that you would recommend to service my new amp if need be? Thanks, Brad

My offer has been accepted. I'll keep you all posted on my impressions when I've had a chance to use the amp. Hopefully it has enough power for my room/music/listening volume taste. Now in the mean time, if anyone could help me find a manual or other information on the amp, it would be appreciated. Thanks! Brad

Well all, I offered to purchase a Cary SLA 70. Hopefully the deal goes though. http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?ampstube&1079145122&class&3&4& This will be my first tube amp that I will be using it to replace my NAD 314. Hopefully I made a good choice and that it will compliment my Cornwall's. So, let me have it. Is it a good choice for a first tube amp and keeping in mind that I wanted to stay below $1000. What is your take on the sonic qualities of this versus the NAD? Where can I get more information, a manual, schematic. Any good service technicians in Houston? - Brad

Mobile - What type of reliability problems do you refer? I have read some postings about high plate voltage requiring careful selection of tubes, otherwise they may have an short life. Do these problems afflict the VTL compact 100? What is your take on the ARC VT50? Cary? - Brad (aka Horn Penguin)

Ok, I've been doing a lot of reading I am now %99 sure that I'm going for tube power, either mono blocks or stereo amp. Furthermore I think it's going to be VTL. Now it's just a matter of finding the amps. There are some VTL Compact 100 Mono's on eBay. Any opionions? It seems that I can re-tube them for a reasonable (relatively speaking) price. - Brad

Thanks everyone for the excellent insight and ideas. I think that I will very likely go tubes. Now, I may be wrong but I have the impression that I need to spend more for a quality tube amp than SS. I was wanting to keep the cost below a thousand bucks if possible, perhaps I would go a couple of hundred more if the right amp presented itself. Anyone try VTL products? Extra eyes in the search would be very welcome. I'm not in a hurry, but am ready to buy as soon as I see something that I feel comfortable with. I want to make a good decision so that I don't need to upgrade soon down the road. I will also be on the lookout for better tubes for the ARC SP9MKII, but will need to resolve the amp purchase first. - Brad

Greg - I would love to pick up some Khorns, but that is entirely out of the question. I don't have room corners to put them it! My listening room (living room) is about 15x22 or so with a sloping ceiling from 9 to 15 feet, lots of open doors to other rooms and no corners in sight. And I do like my Cornwalls. So, I'll replace the amp, buy some cables and perform some tweeks here and there. Loud to me is well above the level of converstion, I like to feel the bass. Thunderous dynamics. So with the large room, and the love of bass, would the tube still cut it. Yes I love quieter music also with warmth and air and a nice stage. How about bi-amping tube up top, ss on the bottom?

I'm new to the group and would first like to say hello and thanks for any responses that I recieve to my questions. I have enjoyed reading many posts here. I am looking for a new amplifier and need advise. My biggest question is should I go for tubes, say perhaps the VTL Stereo 90 or solid state like a McCormack or Bryston ST. Current system: 1984 Cornwall I CWO's - (stock, no mods) Velodyne DLS4000 Subwoofer w/built in amp - crossed over at about 50 Hz NAD 314 integrated amp - (using amp temporarily until new purchase) Audio Research SP9 MKII hybrid pre-amp - Sovtek 6922's Parasound CDP1000 CD player Cheap cables - I will replace shortly I like the sound but the system can be a little edgy on the highest notes sometimes, but not to bad overall, rather smooth if the recording is good (could be improved). I feel that there could be better dynamics, not bad but room to get better. The system could use a bit more bass slam. Bass dynamics are important to me. I listen to mainly classic rock, acoustic guitar, really old country and maybe a little bit of orchestra. I do not have the ability to listen to a lot of equipment and will be purchasing used most likely through Audiogon and will very likely not audition the amp I choose. I have read alot of posts regarding the tube/ss question and would like to hear some of your valued responses with my system/needs in mind. Would I lose bass dynamics by going to a lower priced tube amp? Will some of the upper end sizzle disappear? Would a lower powered tube amp be a good choice for rock music played loud? I would love to bi-amp the tube up top and ss on the bottom with an active cross over if there is a way to do this with my Cornwall's. Any suggestions, or do I need to stick with a singular amp? Thanks !!! Brad (aka Horn Penguin)

The risers are on the way. I sent the FedEx tracking number to your personal email address. Let me know how they work out. - Brad

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon SACD followed by Damien Rice - O

Yes. I have some that I would part with for a very resonable price. Let me know if you still want them. We can make arangements. - Brad