snilsen13

Please Please do not start that here the last refuge of common sense Okay, I won't "start" that. How then do people describe this obvious defficiency in the tripath? It's also missing in the SI too (the $30 jobby). I think that whatever it is could come back with some more muscle, but maybe not. I'll take back the "PRAT", and just leave it at this, they're reasonably detailed but for mysterious reasons, uninvolving. Here's an example of what make tripath weird to me: when I get a pop from the turntable, I'm used to hearing a quick like "pop" but with the tripath I hear "pft", more like the crackle of burning logs than a turntable. This happens with both chip amps, either of several phono amps (but was most striking with the Lehman I sold), and either of my turntables, so I think it might apply to all amps using this architecture. What the heck is that about?

Dr. Who, I thought you were a Crown'd man? Don't you have a K2? I've seen K1 go for under $1000. Are you serious about the Carver? Maybe knowing how "old" you mean could help, but I've read a lot of negative opinions on Carver, compared to say, Bryston.

What is lacking is the big difference between my SS and tube amps I've listened to. When I had a 3/4 W SET I had no bass, but many instruments sooo real sounding I almost didn't care about the bass. Now, that amp had mechanical issues too, so it's gone. With the h/k SS I like the image width and the total clarity of what I can hear, but I would like to find a SS that can deliver more detail with the same clarity and perhaps a better soundstage. I can hear depth in the soundstage, when it's there, I would like to hear some depth again. This h/k doesn't deliver in that respect. So, some think that the SS gets harsh with louder volumes? That's certainly true about the h/k too. Cranking it reveals all kinds of distortions that never revealed themselves when I listened to the tubes I've used. I don't think I need a bigger amp, but I think pure class A might be the route to go. Some folk have compared Forte amps to tube amps, and I guess folks here think those QSC are smooth tooo, however, smooth is not the adjective I would use to describe tubes, unless we're taling about their physical proprties. Tell me about a SS amp that can make a pin drop sound like a pin drop, that has nothing to do with sounding "smooth". Can you get that from SS?

So, I tried that too. Adding a tube preamp allows me recognize more of the instuments textures and some more detail, this is a TEAC tripath I'm speaking of, no mods at all. I like this amp, for the price, incredible. My criticism of this amp is somewhat weak, but it motivates me. The image is balanced but narrow compared to the SS and FWIW, that dullens the excitement I can get from the amp. My guess is that it lack the umph. Even at low volumes the h/k takes more formidable control of the music. On the other hand, the TEAC gets more details out of the music... still, something exciting about music is just plain -gone-. Wish I knew how to explain it better - could it be the PRAT? Maybe the mods give this back, but I would have to hear it to believe it. Nobody here has really A-B'd those Redwine mods ... at least not in the big threads I read. I think if I rebuild my gainclone, which is currently faulty, I may have something to compare with a SS. Gainclones have the umph.

Greg, Do you have 2 different model Bryston or you using them as monoblocks? If they're different can you report on your listening impressions? Thanks, Steven

Look into a Squeezebox. You can get one for $250. You will love it. As a CD transport substitute it suposedly ranks up there with the best (unaffordable). -Steven

I'm still trying to settle down on the right amplification for my Cornwalls that match my current needs/budget. So far, I've now gone through gain clone, tripath, two PP tube amps, an under powered SET, but I've been most happy with a finally dropping some cash on a good tubed pre-amp (MFA Magus) and have been using it with a decent SS amp (H/K 630 amp section). This last combo sounds the most satisfying to me. To my ears it is obvious that SS can't match up to SET for the qualities I like most in music, but after a myriad of discuusion of professional amps, I wonder what the "line" is on some highly reguarded yet affordable, at <$500 used, home audio amps, such as: Forte 1A Bryston 3B NRB others? As a follow up, how much do these improve on the amplifiaction supplied by the h/k? -Steven

Everything that passes through the Squeezebox is 44.1 so far, digital radio and obviously CDs. That's what my DAC reports. As for loss, I would guess that you couldn't possibly be loosing if you are outputting MP3s at 44.1 or 48. The only thing you'll find at 48kHz are some live recordings that were not downsampled for burning, as 48kHz is the standard for recorders. That's irrelivant to the radio, as the convention is 44.1 broadcast, but I recall seeing some 32kHz MP2 and ealry MP3. I think 32kHz is pretty much phased out. You would really like this Squeezebox, I am telling you! Sounds like just what you need.

No can do, but their quality varies. Some will broadcast in 64kbs and many others in 128kbs and you can hear a huge difference. The few I've been tuning into have been 128 or 192kbs and when they're the latter they're fairly enjoyable. We're not toalking audiophile tuner FM signal quality, but it's very listenable. Perhaps you're using the analog outputs? Not so bad, but not nearly as good as an external DAC, and for the $, a LinkDAC III is a bargain and one person on the squeezebox forum suggested there's good synergy between them. My luck, I guess. BTW, most of them go for the reference DAC, whatever it be called. I wouldn't mind owning one too, but the word "analytical" does concern me. I like the right kinds of distortion, esp. a little valve distortion. Maybe LinkDACs have that special something? Just installed my ripper drive, Sony DDU 1622, takes out a clean CD in 12x using secure mode Exact Audio Copy. You heard it here. -Steven

This might come off as an ad, but stay with me, it's at least interesting to think about. I just got myself a Slim Devices Squeezebox (wireless v2) to integrate this thing I'm typing on and all the music I can store on it with the stereo, not more than 35 meters away. Check these things out. A little device that can receive streaming audio from your computer, tell your computer what to play via a remote control from your easy chair and outputs nearly jitter-free SPDIF or TOSLINK. They sound every bit as good as a decent transport (some say very high end transports too). My MSB LinkDAC likes this a lot. This thing does the trick really really nicely. I was giggling with bliss as I flicked it on, discovered digital volume control on the remote, and then I went into hysterics when (me an once Phishhead) realized I had direct access to streaming from the Internet Live Music ARchive. Imagine the bliss of clicking on Grateful Dead, picking which year (65-90s) and choosing which of 100+ show I want to steam. That plus easy access to SHOUTcast, Live365, LastFM, or radioio streaming radio. WOW! So sweet just picking your genre of choice on a whim, Bollywood to Honky Tonk, and just relaxing about the music choice. It sounds great, for soulless digital, and has just devalued my LPs by making the flip that much more a PIA. My only gripe, and it's a small one, is that Squeezebox is currently limited to 24bit/48Khz. My DAC can decode 24/192, but I've yet to find a source for this. Anyhow, there are lots of tweaks you can play with too, like making the squeezebox control you PC video feed, becasue it's piloted by open source software and has upgradable firmware. I speant $250 the other day on it, another $40 for a wireless router and another $40 for a fast ripper (yeah there's a lot of CD>PC to be done). I'm thinking of upgrading the PS for another $40 and I'll need to sink in another $100 in harddrive space. With some work all 1000+ CDs I have will be accessible, fully and easily accessible. Honestly, a very smart buy for anybody with more didgital music than you can keep track of physically. -Steven (no conlict of interest, no relation to Slim Devices)

So, basically, not enough power for what kind of volumes? I was thinking that 100W would be enough for the whole speaker, not just the mids... anyhow, how's that price? These seem to be from 8 years back, which is squarely 1997 or 1998 now. Here's the link to the model from the ad: http://www.midweststereo.com/catalog/Screen=PROD&Store_Code=midweststereo&Product_Code=CROCT200 If anybody else wants the ad, here it is: http://boston.craigslist.org/ele/121043375.html I'm waiting to hear back on availability. PM me if you're interested in getting in on this should I get on board. -Steven

I'm thinking of getting a some SS amplification to match my tube preamp I'm so happy with. I suspect a good Crown may out perform the h/k 630 I'm so impressed with, based on other's opinions. So I came across an ad on Boston Craigslist of a fella who's liquidating 12 of these amps for $150/ea (may be gone already as it was posted 12-29). Anyhow, I see Duke has several of these amps and I'm curious. How do they compare with more vintage Crown and at this price could you do any better? I'm running a Cornwalls. Thanks, Steven

In my never-ending budget-minded search for Cornwall amplification, I think I've made a relatively useful discovery for those of you who own the h/k x30 series and have the pre-out and amp-in connections on the back. Mine is an h/k 630. Preface: I'm new to all this and for lots of you this may be obvious but I didn't get this advice early on and have to admit that I'm too excited to not deliver it now. You should read other members impressions of the h/k x30 for some point of reference. I connected the pre-out to a PP amplier (7868 quad with 12AX7 pre and ? rectifier) at got surprising improvement over no preamplification. Compared to the h/k alone, details were richer and more pronounced and graininess on the top end was replaced with airiness. compared to the same tube amp without a preamp, there are much better dynamics, a clearer image and much better bass. This was a totally favorable upgrade and I picked the amp up off audiogon as a trade (listed near $300 but the traded amp had cost me $480). Recently, I bought a tube pre-amp (upgraded Magus MFA from Tigerwoodskhorns, uses 12AX7 and is near the quality of the local favorite Blueberry (arguments sure to ensue)). Hooking up the h/k amp to this preamp is really a stellar combination. Now, I don't have quite as much detail I'm used to hearing with an SET or even the Scott, but the image is solid, dynamics are improved and the frequency response (like the other combo) is extended. Most notably, I have a dead quiet background and massive headroom. Bass is firm all the way down. The critical goal has also been achieved: this marks the first time I've ever wanted to turn the volume up to where the music would be if it were really in the living room with me. Also, my wife is tollerating more decibles without even knowing it. Finally, and this is quite outstanding, at low volumes the stereo retains this richness and I can enjoy listening without disturbing anybodys sleep. I've read the threads about other SS amps and I wonder how some of those pro-sound or budget stereophile class A options compare with the vintage dual power SS. Specifically, DeanG recommended an amp because it sounded good even at low volumes. Has anybody done an A/B of this amp with an h/k? Somebody else mentioned the h/k as being very sweet. It is, but I wonder weather more detail is preserved moving to a separate SS. Also, I'm felt that a configuration of the Magus to the jukebox PP failed to synergize. It was like the h/k > jukebox, only more quiet and perhaps too tubey? I heard distortions that were sometimes nice and sometimes not nice. It wasn't nearly as right as Magus > h/k. I may switch back to confirm this impression, but I'm so pleased with the SS amp I think I'll mementarily relish this synergy I've finally achieved, on the budget. So, if you've got your heritage Klipsch speakers (finally) and you're interested in a sub $1000 option that sings: a used tube-pre (a good one with an excellent phono section) and an h/k x30. I think you'll be very happy. On the other hand, if you can get yourself some really good SET monoblock (2A3 or 300B) for that money you would be equally well off. On the third hand, if you've got half that amount of money, a Scott 222 is a mighty nice integrated unit. -Steven

My living room, I wish.

For a newbie, there are some jazz recordings that'll really capture your heart. As you get into the genre, you're tastes will change and those may no longer be your top 5. These were my Top 5 traditional bop/post-bop recordings that got me started: Cannonball Adderly - Mercy Mercy Mercy Miles Davis - (too many, but if just one) In a Silent Way Charles Mingus - Ah Um Sam Rivers - New Directions (this was my avant-garde) John Coltrane - My Favorite Things Yeah, this could be anybody's random sample of great recordings, but my real suggestion is get yourself The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD and follow their advice. Eventually, you won't regret any of those buys. You could do really well in the used bins... lately though I've turned to LPs and have lost interest in my CDs... which number over 150 of just jazz (contempories like Frisell and Zorn going back to The Birth of Cool), and which I would be happy to let go of for the right price. Incidently, I started listening to cassettes, which are probably a super value to get initiated. Started with the cassette clubs. That's a great call BTW, join BMG or Columbia House (again) and get yourself a quick jazz collection on the cheap. Jazz really sounds amazing on Klipsch regardless of format. You'll love the genre twice as much because you'll really hear the horns sing. You'll love it two times more if you you use SET amplification, which seem to complement this genre perfectly.

top view (if you want more detailed front or back I have some)

after rebuild (all of these are big pics, click to blow them up)

before rebuild

rear view

front view

I've got more info on the tubes: 4 amperex bugle boy EL84 (sell between $60-$120/ea) 4 telefunken 12AX7 ($30-60/ea) 2 "HH Scott" "Made in England " 6U8 tubes ($20/ea) [] So there's at least $380 of value right there. [] Consider the almost perfect Auricap rebuilt hardware as having some value. [E] Make an offer. I would have pix but the digital camera is broken. If I can find the ones take 8 month ago (no changes since), I'll post them. Another correction: The name isn't HOFFMAN, its HALLMAN.

About a 8 months ago I bought this amazing integrated from a fellow forum member who saw that I needed an amp. This quest for the right amp has taken me in a different direction now and this unit should get passed on to a different forum member. High points of this Scott 222a: 1. rebuilt by Craig (NOS Valves) 2 years ago (see his www) 2. all vintage tubes (4 amprex bugle boys, 4 telefunken and more) that are famously long lived, so tube replacement shouldn't ever be an issue. Not to mention that it's a self-biasing design. 3. all controls are 100% functioning: tone controls, noise filter, reverse stereo and RIAA switch all work and make no noise. 4. very clean, all lettering good on gold faceplate (usually silver), one little dent on edge of face plate, a little scratch around 3 on volume knob, one shallow dent on rear chassis and one previous owner's name ("HOFFMAN") scrawled onto unit's top. No wood frame, just big rubbery feet. 5. Most of the time this amp doesn't make any funny sounds and has a nice dark background (see below for exception). And, in my opinion this is a great amp becasue: 1. tremendous volume/dynamics for 13W 2. fantastic phono stage (I've been using it for the phono stage alone during the last 4 months as this easily bests my ex-Lehmann Black Cube (just sold) 3. generally a low-risk buy becasue these amps don't loose value and you could get a ot for the tubes on their own. 4 tubes, duh. However this unit has something funky with the left channel: 1. it doesn't gain volume as quickly as the other until you reach "one" on the volume knob. It plays out-of-balance at "half of one" up the volume knob. 2. I notice the soundstage is less precise than is reported by other forum members. 3. this initially weaker channel very occationally picks up some output volume independent low volume crackle (not detectable in tape loop) that lasts 3-5 seconds and reappears every so often. This seems to happen only after the unit has been on for many hours and isn't that annoying. Since this is one of Craig's rebuilds I've been meaning to send it Craig to go over these issues. All I've done is switch the channels of the tubes and this didn't change which channel showed the symptoms, so these valuable tubes seem fine. Craig has a long cueue and I don't know anybody else who I could give it a proper diagnostic. Now, I've been getting myself into some more expensive stuff and I would rather sell it than wait. Plus, a more satisfied owner should decide if they would like to have this investigated, or not. Given this issue, I'm not sure what to ask for this amp, so I'd like to consider offers instead. -Steven PS. I've gone so far as to say I like the H/K 630 better than this unt in terms of tonal balance and soundstage. However the Scott is more detailed, dynamic and less distorted, by a long shot. Perhaps the most telling test for me is that from across the house, the music coming through this amp sounds sweet and clear. Music through the H/K is nowhere as nice sounding except in the swetspot. Also, the Scott has much more volume than the H/K - oh yeah! You could fill a good sized space (much greater than my 1000 sq ft.) with this amp and a pair of Cornwalls!

chris, you have email. -Steven

I like the idea of owning a Blackberry, but it's too much $$$. Maybe somebody has a demo? No doubt it would fit my requirements really nicely. I suspect it's on the same level as some of the pre-amps I listed, and it would be nice to know if anybody has compared the phono stage to these. I read somewhere that the Blackberry competes with the $3k Southerland PhD phono stage, on AA I think. Now I read that somebody else here prefers the Peach to the Modulus for the line stage... shoot I should spend a little extra..... grrrr. Okay. The Modulus is out of the running, but I still wonder if the ARC SP8 (save $400, ie. 40 LPs) isn't a better buy than a Blueberry. I could pretty easily find 40 more LPs to resell if it's really worth it. Anybody have any idea what the Juicy Music gear may be worth in resale? Are these going to be those rare components that keep their value? -Steven

I'm really giving serious thought a tube preamp n acount of how much I'm enjoying my h/k 630. I'm listening to Cornwalls. The more I think about it, the better I feel about the decision if I would just plink down the dough for something I won't ever be inclined to upgrade. My requirements limit my choices: MM phono (but I would like to control MC too) at least 3 aux inputs balance control I'm solidly in the used market, nothing more than 20 years old. Based on what's currently on audiogon: Audible Illusions Modulous 3a... $1100 Audio Research Corop. SP8... $1200 Counterpoint SA-3000... $800 Magus MFA-A with tweaks .... $750 http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatube&1138658912 Conrad Johnson PV-5 ... $550 these are all suggested on (actually this model of counterpoint isn't, but I am under the impression that this model wan't around when the list was compiled) http://www.high-endaudio.com/index_ac.html but this list doesn't seem to include all of the new imports and such. What competes wih these? Other preamp threads I've read here don't include any of these. Lastly, budget minded as I am, If I buy Conrad-Johnson, what am I missing? -Steven