tube fanatic

Download this entire book: http://www.paleoelectronics.com/RDH4/ Start at page 1, take your time (you'll have no choice!), and don't stop until you understand everything pertaining to audio amplifiers!!! This may take you a couple of years (no, I'm not joking), but when you're done, all of your questions will be answered, including questions which you haven't even imagined yet! And, as mentioned above, you will need to have solid math skills.

Can you describe why you are dissatisfied with the sound of your current equipment, or what you are looking to improve? That may provide some clues as to how you can get closer to what you are trying to accomplish.

If you're handy with a soldering iron it would be quite easy to make your own (you can buy spade lugs at any electrical supply place); or, you can make jumpers using banana plugs which will work quite well (Parts Express has a number of types of good quality which you can choose from).

Absolutely incorrect!!! Who ever told you this???

None whatsoever. For each doubling of power applied, you will only get a small increase in sound (typically around 3 db). The maximum power rating of the speaker really doesn't mean anything as you couldn't possibly stay in the room with them (or possibly in the same house!) if you applied that kind of power. Most listening, even at loud levels, isn't going to need more than a few watts/channel. The best thing is to buy the speakers and try them with your current receiver. If it plays loudly and cleanly enough, and you are pleased with the sound, save your money and just enjoy them.

For a run like that, with La Scalas, #16 lamp cord is more than sufficient (I assume you are talking about the interconnects between the speakers and your amp/receiver)!

The risk to the speakers is from being driven by an amplifier that is clipping (i.e. being pushed to the point that it generates distortion products which can overheat the tweeters, in particular). So, it all depends on how loudly you intend to listen, how far from the speakers you will sit, whether the room is very heavily sound absorbent (carpets, rugs, book cases, drapes, and so on), and the type of music that you listen to. For most applications, however, 40 watts/channel should be plenty.

I own many Time Life CDs and find the recording quality inconsistent. That said, the Singers and Songwriters CDs which I own ('74-75, '76-77, '78-79) are fairly decent; Some of their other stuff is positively awful- brutally compressed and bright. The CDs which they put out in the 90s seemed to be much better overall.

Just spotted these, and the price is amazing: http://cgi.ebay.com/Klipsch-RF-15-Tower-speaker-NEW-CHERRY-/300386182841?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item45f06966b9

Before you invest in a pair of Heresys, see if you can locate a pair of RF-15s. Although they are discontinued, some new ones are still around and are far less costly than a new pair of H3s. The RF-15s are very well suited for use in a room of that size (look at my system profile to see how I'm using them), and provide a very easy load for a low power tube amp. You do need to be careful not to excite too much low frequency energy in a room of that size as it can definitely cause smeared imaging, among other things.

Check out this site: http://www.angelfire.com/vt/audio/ It will give you lots of useful, and accurate information about tube amps. To learn about tubes, pick up any of the RCA receiving tube manuals (many on Ebay all of the time) and read the entire introductory section which explains vacuum tube construction, operation, etc.

Check out Cayin, Prima Luna, and Decware. All make very nice products at very fair prices.

Not to get too far off the track, but have you tried changing the positioning of the speakers as a means of bass enhancement? Because of varied room responses, combined with reflections/absorptions, sometimes moving speakers even a couple of inches can greatly increase bass output, change treble response, etc. In some rooms, moving the speakers closer together creates an additive effect in the bass without significantly affecting soundstaging and imaging. In my own amp voicing room, I am able to get bass ouput which my speakers should be incapable of based on their specification; this achieved by experimenting with their location. The method of reducing treble to increase perceived bass has always worked- the majority of antique radios, including some respected consoles, used treble attenuation to "increase" bass, and it is quite effective indeed.

To make that judgment the specific tubes have to be considered. Some may have audio amplifier applications, and others not. Where is he located, and can you get a list of all of the tubes? Be glad to help if you want to put me in touch with him.

Did you switch the speakers between the right and left channels to determine if it's the speaker or amplifier? That would be the first thing to try if you haven't already done so.

At risk of starting the usual firestorm, for runs up to around 20 feet, #16 lamp cord is all you need. For longer runs, get some #12 (the stuff often used for low voltage lighting). You can also just buy a couple of spools of wire and make your own twisted pair speaker cables...............

I recently bought a pair of RF-82IIs from an authorized dealer. Right out of the box one had minimal bass output (yes, the straps were connected!)- it almost sounded as if one woofer was wired out of phase with the other. The dealer replaced it, and all was well for a couple of weeks, when the tweeter in the other original speaker suddenly dropped out, producing very low output relative to the "good" one! Just wondering if anyone else has experienced issues with the new Reference series speakers. I don't believe in having to repair new speakers which are defective. I'm returning both, even if there's a restocking fee, as I've lost faith in the speakers which are not made in Hope!!!

Try removing the tubes and reinserting them a couple of times. Even in equipment which receives regular use, it's possible to develop slight oxidation of the tube pins and socket receptacles which can cause such noise. If that cures the problem, pick up a little bottle of Deoxit and put a very thin coating on the tube pins. That should prevent any recurrence for many years You can also try removing the interconnect between the noisy channel and your amp and reinserting that a couple of times for the same reason.

Speakers with rear ports usually need to be quite far out from the back wall to sound as they should. I have RF-15s and RF-82IIs, both of which need to be around 24" from the back wall to not only provide proper bass response, but also to create a spacious soundstage and image well.

Speaker placement is one of the most critical, and often overlooked, parameters in setting up an audio system. Sometimes moving the speakers only one or two inches can have a dramatic effect on the sound, as can your listening position in relation to the speakers. Don't hesitate to try every conceivable placement option available to you. Also, the speakers don't have to be symmetrically placed in some rooms to achieve superb sound. In some installations in which I have been involved, having one speaker a few inches farther from the wall than the other had a dramatic effect as well.

The 6V6 family of tubes, unless you really push them, will only generate 1 watt +/- when triode strapped. But, as mentioned, the sound can be wonderful. Even such little power, however, can generate very substantial sound pressure levels with high efficiency speakers in rooms of moderate size. Bass ouput, when used with large output transformers (like the Hammond 1628SEA) can be quite surprising! In fact, one of the most popular amp designs which we turned out in the shop, usually for K-horn/La Scala/Cornwall owners, used either a triode strapped 6AQ5 or 6CM6 (both nearly identical electrically to the 6V6) coupled to a Hammond 125ESE (the performance of which will get you very close to that of the really big opts). We built them as individual mono amps which sold for $650-$850/pair depending on the choice of chassis, and people absolutely loved them!

I'd be more concerned about the speaker than the amplifier (amplifiers can generally work into a higher impedance without problems). Guitar amps, regardless of quality, can produce distortion products which are much greater than what are tolerable or safe for music listening purposes. There is the potential for speakers which are not intended for that type of use to be damaged as a result; don't try it!

Are you planning on playing your guitar through the Heresys, or connecting a music source to the guitar amp?

You need to be careful not to put too much dependence on the specified voltage sensitivity of a speaker; one must also consider the efficiency (i.e. the amount of acoustic output power for a given amount of applied power). If you put both of those topics into Google, you will find many informative articles which can give you some insight into these issues. Yes, in the case of the RF-62 vs RF-82, you can draw some comparisons since both have "basically" the same impedance (as opposed to a comparison between an 8 ohm vs 4 ohm speaker, each having the same specified voltage sensitivity), and are of similar design. As stated above, the maximum power rating of a speaker means nothing in most applications. You also need to consider the characteristics of the listening room- i.e. how much sound absorbing materials are present (book cases, carpets, area rugs, furniture, etc.), and how far from the speakers your listening position is located. It's unlikely that your receiver will be inadequate unless you want to attain enormously high sound pressure levels.

I have recently obtained a pair of RF-82IIs. Based on initial testing, they will need to be around 24" from the back wall to get proper bass response, which is extremely potent and goes very low in frequency (to be measured at a later date). Right out of the box the highs are a bit prominent, but begin settling down after 10-12 hours use. They are capable of throwing a huge soundstage and can produce very high sound pressure levels with minimal power. I only use tube amps, including some SET designs with less than 1 wpc, and that's more than enough to generate levels which are beyond my level of tolerance. I'm anxious to experience the sound after 100+ hours. I can't speak for the differences between the RF-82s and the series II, but imagine that they aren't enormously different.