laurenc319

hi, Great thread. A question, where do pp triode amps fit in the spectrum, not a SET, but they use triodes with low negative feeback or none, and how about the pentode pp amps with a psudo triode mode. Larry

hi Smutty, Here's a link to the EBAy page which has a picture of this amp ( with the cover removed ) and a description of the goods http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5746038073&indexURL=2&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting Larry

hi Smutty, I'm thinking about it, I like it so much I may not it give it up. I'm thinking about selling my B&Ws and getting higher efficency speakers to use it in my second system. Give me a few days to think about it. FYI I got this amp on EBay for $475.00 plus shipping in early January of this year. The amp was rebulit and retubed by Hot Glass Audio (http://hotglassaudio.com/) by the previous owner about 6mos prior to my buying it. The amp has no issues I know of and is plug and play. The previous owners first name is George and if I do decide to sell it I'll give you his email address should you want to get some additional info. Larry

Hi, I sprung and got a dealer demo CARY SLI-80 Signature integrated tube amp to use with my Fortes. 80/50 watts per channel in the ultralinear/triode modes using KT-88 tubes. Up till now I was using a EICO HF-81 (14 watts/channel). Compared to the EICO it can play a heck of a lot louder, has more bass authority and still has the very sweet mids and highs, espicially in the triode mode, which I favor. The bigger amp really made the Fortes come alive. It has the ability to use 6550, 6L6, KT88, KT66 or EL34 output tubes, so there will be a lot of tube rolling fun going on. It's a dual mono design with a 5U4 retifier a 6SN7 driver a 6922 input tube and 2 KT88's in each half. Do I still like the EICO ? Yes very much. It's one heck of an amp with the sound only the EL84/6BQ5's can give. Is the CARY better with the Fortes... Yes, not 5x better (price ratio of the two) , but a definite step up in quality of sound. Besides, it just great to look at, those big tubes really glow. A keeper for me for sure, Larry

hi, Sorry I asked about the Cayin, didn't mean to start a debate. I like my ECIO a whole lot. BTW my other tube amp is a CARY SLI-80 Signature with upgrade caps, I use that to drive my B&W's. The Cary is a far cry from a Cayin, and it does very well with the 88 db sensitivity B&Ws, and btw I still like my rebuilt EICO hf-81 a whole lot with the Forte's. The two systems are different from one another and for me they are equivalent in listening pleasure. A rebuilt EICO or Scott or Fisher , I don't think you can find better for the money (or a whole lot more money for that matter) when used with high efficency speakers. Larry

hi , I like rebuilt old stuff also. The EICO hf-81 is a steal at the $ 475 I paid for it. The guy I bought it from sold it and kept his Scott btw. I was just wondering about the Cayins. Larry

hi, NOS wrote " Reading Stereophile are we? Nothing more then a Cayin TA-30 with a higher price tag. Upscale Audio had it renamed and had the goofy bias circuit installed. Which from what I have found out is a step back from the Cayin TA-30 sonically speaking restricting the amp reach but it will suit the lazy man for sure. The Catic group that manufactures the Cayin and others has changed its distribution setup all dealers have to name there own gear and make mild changes to the circuit to call it there own to keep the price wars down and drive there retail prices upward." I thought the Cayin was a well regarded amp for its price and can be bought used for around $700 . Are rebuilt vintage amps in this price range a better deal ? Is it the Cayin TA-30 you don't care for or the new marketing tatics being used to sell them ? thanks, Larry thanks, Larry

hi, I have a EICO HF-81 and use it with Forte speakers in a 24x14x8 room. It is a great amp. Dual mono design with 2 rectifiers, all triode input stages and low negative feedback Williamson design output stage with EL-84 tubes. There is a rebuilt one up for sale on Audigon now http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatube&1117634188 and everything the seller says about this amp is TRUE. It has a very sweet midrange and enough muscle to give tight bass. The volume levels I can reach in my room with it can shake the walls. Highly recommended. good luck Larry

Hi, I can't compare the two, I have a HF-81 driving a pair of Fortes in a 14x 25 foot room and the sound levels produced can be VERY loud. The amp is very sweet and is articulate ... great on female voice and acoustic jazz. However it can rock very well and for it's power has a very controlled bass.

Hi, " i was simply astounded at how cornwalls could sound with 17 watts, i was kind of from the school the more watts the better (those days are gone forever) his 17 watts kicked the hell out of my 200 wpc " I had the same experience ... 14 watts ( Eico Hf-81 ) with Fortes are now king of the house. My 200/channel watt ss amp and B&W Matrix 2s are in the rec room. The EL84/6bq5 is a real sweet sounding tube. cheers, Larry in PA

hi, What 2A3 and what Klipsch please. Larry

hi, Here's a vote for the Fortes. I'm running my Fortes in a 14 X 23 room with a ECIO Hf-81 amp ( 14 watts a channel ) and they fill the room with sound. The Fortes sent my B&W' Matrix 2's into retitrement. Larry

hi Joe, Glad you got them. I gave them some serious thought as they are just 2 1/2 hours from I live ( in the Reading PA area ). Give us a follow up as how they sound and how you like them. I would love to hear them sometime. Larry

hi, i know the last few minutes is where the action is. Right now 27 min to go and at 810 dollars. They are not mine btw. Larry

hi, In case someone may be interested. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5756390029&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT Larry

hi, i moved my listening chair 2 feet forward and the bass from my fortes became tight no more booms. I was sitting in the peak of a standing wave and didn't know it until I bent forward to pick up a glass. Larry

hi, Money no object, I'll take one of these http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/rise39.htm and for loads of high end power, one of these http://www.stereophile.com/amplificationreviews/157/ they look like this http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstube&1114340808 now if I just hit the lottery ... Larry

hi, The path to audio nirvana is unending and thats the fun of it ! Larry

hi, I or my rib loven buddies can't cook them any better then this place .... the best there is, east or west of the Mississippi. They got a great cook book. Order it ... you will be pleased. see here http://www.dinosaurbarbque.com/ BTW great blues in addition to the ribs. It all started in Syracuse, NY. Larry Citro

hi, Cant' decide if I like the inside or outside better !! Great stuff. Enjoy them, Larry Citro

hi, She is beautiful, got any lingerie for her ? :0) larry c

hi, Take a look at these modified ASL products. They are taken to the next level. Larry Citro

hi, I listen to the Dead also on occasion ... great stuff. I didn't discover them until after Jerry G died, but at least I discovered them. Quite a contrast to the rest of the stuff I listen to ... Davis, Coltrane, Monk and about 300 other jazz CDs. Mix this in with Mahler, Mozart and Brahms and some bluegrass and blues and it's quite an eclectic musical experierence. I have a pair of B&W Matrix 2s which were my preferred speakers until I came across a pair of used Fortes. This may have set me off on a quest ...Khorns or bust. I just have to hide them from my wife. Got any ideas how I do that ? Larry

hi all, Thank you for your replies. The room I listen in is 24 x 14 x 8 with hardwood floors. A little on the bright side but not overly so in that there are drapes, rugs, and not that many windows. The little EICO opened my ears to the sound of tubes, although only 14 watts per channel it can fill the room with more adequate listening levels. The highs and mids are glorious and the bass if not pushed too loudly is accurate and not mushy.The sound stage is very deep and life like. The bass is much tighter with the 200 watt/channel ss amp but the mids and highs are not as mellow or pleasing to the ear... just a bit harsh in comparison. The first thing that falls apart at loud levels with the EICO is the bass of course, not enough horswpower to move the big bass cones. I listen to all kinds of music from Pink Floyd, to John Coltrane, to Mahler with a little touch of bluegrass and blues. Day time I like it loud and night time I like it soft. In addition to crisp fast transient highs and mids I like the kick of solid, room rocking bass ocassionaly. So the dilemma fo me ... a SET fot the realism an highs/mids or a push pull for more thumping bass. Can a 7 or 8 watt SET move enough air fo good bass definition ? The new Jolida ? 701 40 watt/channel sounds intriguing ... maybe it can combine both. It is claimed to have the sound of a SET in a pp 40 watt amp. The mods by Underwood make it more enticing. Thanks, Larry

hi, Very interesting post. I guess it points out that one is not the best for all, and that's no surprise. Larry