doctorcilantro

http://www.audiocubes.com/product/Panasonic_CQ-TX5500D_Vacuum_Tube_CD_Receiver.html DR. C

Dr. B, Well WMNF is the local station and it can't be more than 7 miles away. We live near the water south of Ybor City and Tampa. Pretty flat down here. I think I might want to try an indoor antenna for now; just have to pick the right one. thanks Dr. C

My wife & I just purchased our first home and I would like to get a decent FM antenna for our Sansui tuner. I have been considering the Terk50 but some of the smaller indoor ones look enticing. I may also put an FM transmitter on the roof so I was thinking that having indoor recption would prevent any future interference. The Terk 50 can be used inside but it obviously performs best at the highest point available. Any have any reccomendations. My current dipole creates reception w/ a lot of static. JC

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Craig doesn't dissapoint...the Captain does. Hope everythings going great out there NOSvalves! JC

It's all subjective because we are all using different OS's, drivers, motherboards, and PCI buses made by different companies; all I'm saying is that the EMU drivers are rock solid on my system. Their buffer system produces much more stable performance for me than any other M-Audio card ever did, period. That's my experience, and it is subjective to the differences in PC "environments". Based on my experience, I would say that a PC with a limited PCI bus size that is choked by many devices, and resulting on corrupted audio would be better off with a Creative Pro card rather than an M-Audio card. Dr. C

Anyone know of any DAC's with 2 set's of RCA to digital coax inputs & ouptuts. I'd like one with: RCA pair input>Digital out Digital in>RCA pair out Basically, I need an AD/DA converter. If anyone knows of a similar device that has ADAT instead of digital coax, that would work too. thanks Dr. C

Erukian is right the EMU cards fit the bill. I went from 2 M-Audio cards to the 1212M and it is simply much more stable (less fuss rigging your PC for stable audio playback, of course, we're talking Windows here) and the quality is better. No breakout cables either like my Delta 44. Remember your ASIO drivers! DR. C

Hey all, I am looking to buy a DAP and I have a hardly used Grado PH1 phono stage in original box for 375$ shipped. I am using the Sunfire Classic phono and have no need for this. It was either stored or sitting next to my TT. Email at jcatuccio@tampabay.rr.com v/r Jonathan

LOL I just sold my 750$ Numark digital mixer that had a bazillion outputs/inputs. headphones would be through tapedeck; still no chance? Dr. C

Thanks for clarifying...I was hoping this would not be the case. I have unbalanced RCA > 1/4" cables going to the sound card from the main outs of the Sunfire. I have to crank the volume way up to get a good signal. Using ASIO I can't affect the input volume with Trim Pots on the Emu software because Wavelab is using ASIO directly. This is unfortunate. But, the phono would be my main recording source. It would also be nice to capture radio. This is starting to taste sour. I was really depending on that TAPE preout but I wanted the tubes on the signal. Even if I devise a resistor circuit as suggested I lose out. I'll have to check again how high the gain has to be on the Sunfire volume control and will record to see if the SNR is good or bad; another obvious downside is with 103db efficient speakers I won't be able to listen through the speakers. Maybe headphones through the TAPE out, but what kind of input impedance does a tapedeck have ( I connect my headphones to this) ? For the record: Sunfire tech support is horrible. I have called three times and cordially inquired as to this unit; fully explaining that I don't know a lot but being very friendly. This guy RXXXX says we'd need all your gear to reproduce the effect when all I want to do is talk about impedence, try to generate some ideas so I can diagnose the issue and find a starting point. It was like pulling teeth; at one point I think he was watching TV and I had to coax him back to the conversation which was rather one sided. I understand he thinks I am a worthless consumer but geez....it was really sad actually. He could have been off the phone in 3 minutes if had been the least bit proactive..."Hey okay have you tried this...it's definitely not that so try this" The funny thing is Sunfire states on their wwebsite that this is how they prefer to handle things, "I quick aside in a phone call can hold the answer that a tech can pick up on". Depressing, I'll shoot them an email. Dr. C

Thanks for all the help guys. "The selector switch is a "Y". It takes the input source and feeds one copy to the linestage amplifier and one copy to the tape out jack." Does this mean the tube stage is literally bypassed? The TAPE out is handy in that it is a "jumper wire". I can bypass the volume control and record to PC with better SNR and don't have to leave the power amps off. The tuner is a Sherwood S-3000. Mono old tube tuner. I don't have a schematic. I have an old RCA cable that is opened up. I connected it to the TAPE out and then read the resistance on the two center wires and was getting 8.76K with the TAPE out selected on tuner; when I yanked the tuner out of the Sunfire I get 176K I don't really know if this is accurate, I doubt it. When I try the phono section I read about 50K out of the TAPE out. The line inputs of the Sunfire are 50K and the MM phono stage is 47ohm. Are you saying that the TAPE out won't put out the 1.5K ? Rather, it is directly connecting the source to the tape out and thus impedance? I'm in way over my head here. thinking out loud: The quicksilvers and the Sunfire share 1.5K and the volume into the PC from Sunfire TAPE is okay but obviously not loaded correctly if the Sunfire out to Quicksilver >>>RF-7's is getting decreased in volume (overloaded and distorted). Dr. C

Everything is hooked up A-okay. I was waiting on some cables. The line stage seems to drop in volume more, uese (3) 6922's and I am playing the tube tuner though it. The phono seems to lose less volume. Is this strictly a loss of DB or am I affecting the sound? Possible damage to components? I am under the impression of no damage but high distortion is occuring. Can this be the result of grounding issues? The PC and stereo are hooked up to the same outlet; stereo through line conditioner and PC through mov power strip. How can I check the soundcard's output impedance. Simply put the two wires for the multi-meter in there and read the display? The Emu 1212M is suppoed to have 10K impedance, so if the Sunfire TAPE out has 1.5K I should be golden. Sunfire claims that the TAPE out could handle as low as 600 ohms. Now, hookin up the soundcard's ouputs to the line stage inputs of the Sunfire does not induce the volume drop, it only happens when I finsih connecting the soundcard; by hooking up the TAPE out to the soundcard's inputs. Is there a simple way to see what impedance there is at both ends? Dr. C

AMD is too tempting with all the stability and power, I too have fallen victim. The VIA sounds interesting though for something stashed in a closet or listening where water cooling is not the best option. I'd like to hear more about the grounding of the PCI cards; this is one tweak I haven't heard mentioned yet. The PSU is not grounded to the chassis of the PC? Dr. C

I have (4) seperate runs of CC89259 7ft. It was original made by Element Cable, but I cut it in half and wired it up in cross connect. I also made some 6" CC89259 jumpers; kind of pointless but it was a good learning tool on how to do CC89259. I might sell the cables and since I am not using the jumpers I'd sell them to you. If you scroll over about 7 pictures you can see them w/ attached banana plugs in the white heatshrink. http://www.catuccio.net/web/index.html Dr. C

There's quite a bit of free .wav editors out there; I'd search the web for shareware. Wavelab Lite if you can find it would nice. I find the Steinberg products very flexible and they are well designed. Actually, I think J. River Media Center may have a wav editor and record funtion. It's a really great program and you can try it for 30 days. Others popular "expensive" progs include: Magix Sequoia, Sonic Foundry Soundforge, Steinberg Wavelab. What about your phono stage? Going direct from a TT with an onboard amp? Receiver? Integrated? I'll try to dig up some FAQ's.... http://forums.pcper.com/showthread.php?t=298117 http://forums.pcper.com/showthread.php?t=381168 http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm Dr. C

Now I am confused. The Sunfire manual: The output from your Tape deck connects to the preamplifier's TAPE inputs. These inputs are only selected by using the preamps Tape Monitor switch. The inputs of your Tape deck connect to the preamplifier's TAPE outputs. These outputs are unaffected by the setting of the volume control or the countour controls. BUT: AN external processor can be connected in exactly the same way as a Tape deck - 1. The external processor outputs connect to the preamplifier's Tape inputs. 2. The external processor inputs connect to the preamplifier's Tape outputs. 3. Select the source you would like to listen to, such as CD, and then selct the Tape Monitor switch to listen to the proccessed sound. WTH? Is this a tape loop? Let's say I hook a tape deck as described. If a cd is playing it will combine with the whatever is coming in to the Sunfire via the Tape inputs? If I use my PC in this manner maybe it will eliminate the problem I'm having? I desperately need to learn something about this stuff....may have to switch majors : D Well I just tried setting up the "loop" using the tape deck since I don't enought cables yet to go to the PC. Volume did not seem to cut out. I need to wrap my head around how this "loop" works before I post any further. Dr. C

Thanks for the schematics. I think there is a little transformer on the Emu. The Sunfire has (3) unbalanced RCA outs. It has (1) XLR out. One of the RCA's is pre-out; the other two are: Mains 1 & Mains 2. There are no 1/4" jacks on the Sunfire. I do not yet have aschematic; if someone does I would pay for the trouble of a copy. When I run any of the unbalanced RCA mains to power amp or tape deck (for headphones), the volume drops as soon as I hook up the Tape Out to the computer OR to the tapedeck's input. What's the deal with this Tape Out. I put the Sunfire Main into the tapedeck's CD Direct Line In and when I hooked up the Sunfire TAPE out to the tapedeck's Tape In ...it gets bogged down just like the PC did with the speakers, etc. Again, how well matched do I need to get. Is the difference from 1.5K to 10K causing a problem or is the answer more complicated than this. Shouldn't the Sunfire Tape Out be able to handle a Tape In without bogging itself down like this; as I imagine they would most likely have similar impedance. Dr. C

I used to have a 24/96 then a Delta 44, now I've got this EMU 1212M. I should have mentioned this before; the Delta 44 has a breakout box and I got the same symptoms when I pulled the plug in & out of the PCI card that leads to the breakout box. So something was going on with the last card too. I'll double check the connections but I think I had them right. Is 10K to 1.5K a mismatch that would cause this? Dr. C

The setup: Sunfire Preamp runs to Quicksilver monoblocks; as soon as the TAPE out of the Sunfire is hooked up to PC....volume drops on RF-7's. Emu advised that the I/O impedance on the analog I/O (4 1/4" jacks) is 10K. The Sunfire output impedance is 1.5K I am using a silver core cable that is terminated at one end with RCA's and the other is TRS 1/4" As soon as that TRS is plugged into the Emu soundcard (from Sunfire's TAPE pre-out), the volume drops on the RF-7's. The Sunfire uses a (3) 6922 line stage and a (2) 12AX7 phono stage. I could have sworn the phono took less of a hit than when I was using the tube tuner through the line stage. I can re-test that if it turns out to be a clue. Maybe the Sunfire's line stage 6922's are going? Emu said maybe the Sunfire is putting out at a higher impedance the spec'd. HYe suggested I try connecting the Emu soundcard output to the power amps directly, but I told him I wouldn't be able to discern any drop in volume because I couldn't remove the PC>Stereo connection without losing the experiment all together. Dr. C

Craig & I discussed this once with the Sherwood and I seem to be encountering it again. When my Sunfire (ungrounded) is connected to my PC's audio card via RCA>1/4" cables the volume drops big time in terms of speaker output. the levels stay nice & hot in Wavelab but the speakers take a 10db hit AT LEAST. I was grounded out the + tips of the 1/4" jacks into other components and the PC case is the only one that causes this.... The Sunfire has 3 unbalanced ouputs, one of which is a pre-out (TAPE), and also one set of balanced XLR outs. I am using the Tape so I don't have to crank up the tunes to archive to the PC. The tube tuner seems to take the biggest hit in volume whereas the TT doesn't drop too bad. The cable from the TT to preamp is very short, 1' and the cable from tuner to preamp is about 6ft. I wonder if grounded the Sunfire or ungrounding the PC (not a great idea) it would help. I really know very little about impedance and all that good stuff so I am sitting here scratching my head trying different things. Dr. C

Anyone know where I can pick this up on a nice, thick vinyl pressing? Dr. C

RF-35's that I bought at New England Hi-Fi last winter. I have a set of 10ft. Monster Mseries internally bi-wired cables included that came with the RF-7's I picked up. I don't have the original boxes, and apparently it will take about 80$ about 406 weeks to get some. Local pickup preffered but shipping is an option. I'd do 650 split shipping. Dr. C

Thanks for the advice guys, I really appreciate it. I look forward to trying both some EL34's and KT90's eventually. Once I get organized around here I'll start doing some tub rolling and listening tests. best regards, Jonathan Catuccio aka "Dr. Cilantro"

I am selling my RF-35's as I just upgraded to RF-7's. PM me if your interested. Dr. C