costerdock

Thanks. I think as a consumer - I found the Rubli delay board a reasonable solution - however I did not know I was dipping my toes into a controversial subject 'Cathode Stripping' which that board solves. I was hoping to try these cheap chinese Kt88s: https://www.ebay.com/itm/183711711760 Some have reported they work well. All I know is the Gold Lions I buy haven't lasted very long. Perhaps I should just jump to the KT120s. First things first. I'll get it to a tech and report back. Thanks again - have a wonderful weekend!!! Chris

Thanks - backordered for 4-6 weeks - will do!

So what is your point - I don't need the slow ramp up? It won't help? It will help the caps? I don't recall bringing up cathode stripping - so not sure where that topic came from. I'm going to bring the amp in to a local tech to have checked out - I'll see what their assessment is. I'm not trying to be argumentative - this is not my wheelhouse - so I have to consolidate all the advice and determine a reasonable path. I think the tech first - then I can report back on their findings and get better direction. Thanks

It is awesome that you liked the Aegir so much that you got another - that is a great indication to me that these are nice amps. Thanks again for your comment.

I've run my tube monoblocks very close to the speakers w extremely short speaker cables and long interconnects - and I've also run the amps on my rack with very long speaker cables and short interconnects. I could detect no noticeable difference. As such I have no preference - I'm OK with either setup.

Whether it is a myth or not - I'm adopting the delay board: - ($)Buy RUBLI delay board (http://rubli.net/HT_delay/) I'm doing this because - my amps have killed enough tubes and people that seem to know what they are talking about (VTA folks - Bob, Roy) - non VTA folks - all say - you can't run the SS WS1 w/o a time delay module. As a consumer I have to listen to what I feel are experts - not to mention my own experiences with these amps blowing rectifiers, and output tubes - I'll do anything to take it easy on those tubes. That is - if I decide to put any more effort into these amps.

I used the webers back in 2011 (W68) as recommended back when I built the amp - until one burnt up. But back then the bias was set at 1.2 amps - way too high - and VTA came down with a setting of 1.0. I was told to use Mullards as they are "indistructable" so I bought a couple WZ37s and used those for years - I'm hoping my last meltdown didn't destroy them as they are very $$$. The only one to run SS is the WS1 - but that requires a slow tube warmup module - otherwise the voltage will come on too fast and hurt the tubes. That is something I have to adopt. Tubes just get beaten up with these amps - they are just too much over the top. I'm a frustrated M125 owner - you will hear of the others in my AK thread - all with similar stories. I had good luck with glass when I ran two output tube config with a bias setting of .500 mA. I've had the best luck with that setup - @ 5 years of stability. The ST120 and M125s - I've heard from very good sources that they should really have two rectifiers.

Thanks that is wonderful to hear. I have a good baseline with the M125s so we will see how this works out. Thanks again!

Thanks - I think you are probably right and I certainly don't want to make the same mistake twice buying monoblocks again. I would have been much better off with an ST70 - especially now dealing with all the issues that M125's bring.

Thanks! Me too - wish I could play - I'm working on it - weekly skype lessons with a pro - really helping me improve from years of self study where no one corrects your mistakes.

Thanks again - really appreciated.

Absolutely beautiful - really nice - love the blue meters.

Thank you - yes - I've read some reviews here - seem favorable - some noise - which could be a concern - obviously would be a concern. I'll have to hear them myself and make a judgement - good to know there is a 15 day trial period. Thanks again!

Awesome - that is very helpful and similar to the manual for testing voltages w/o removing the red leads. Thanks again! Edit - only reason I want to look inside - especially the output transformer - is that the boom was substantial - I mean loud as hell. I can't imagine there being no visible damage as a result. The can cap - looks fine - no buldge - nothing - but sure inside it could be a different story. I'd just like to see what suffered from that boom. Anyhow - I really appreciate your comments - you clearly work on this stuff. Thanks again!

Seemed like a well regarded mod - "yellow sheet" supported by folks I highly respect so I have to trust it is harmless and good to do. Thanks.

No I didn't - but I definitely plan to. And thanks for the info - I plan to look into getting an ESR meter to begin testing all the caps and will open up the trannies and do a visual inspection first before asking what else I can do. The issue that caused my rebuild was a bad sound followed by really foul burning smell where I had to unplug the amp to stop it. I figured something must have not survived that - and is the reason I'm having issues now. So - long story short my plan: First test all caps (if you have a recommendation for a good esr meter - I'm all ears) and open trannies for visual look for burns etc - anything out of the ordinary. Thanks for your interest - I'm open to all ideas - really appreciate it! Cut and paste from AK: Minimal road to recovery: - ($$$$) Open Transformers and inspect (completely remove) and replace. - ($)Replace CAN cap (assume it is bad being over 10 years old.) - ($$) Build Bucking Transformer as my voltage - 122 is very high. Both amps will plug into. - ($)Buy RUBLI delay board (http://rubli.net/HT_delay/) - Only use my WS1/Thermistor SS rectifier - wow no money as I already spent it on them... doh! ($$) - Adopt two fuses (assume 5 amp slo-blo perhaps) as outlined above in post 257 - Use my Sovtek 6550 tubes only (look into sending my KT88s to someone for testing - open to suggestions - Jim McShane much too busy) - ($$) AutoBias boards

Not in the case - but in my office - a blue American standard. Somewhat simple amps until you have a melt down. I completely rebuilt it - worked for a week or so then failed. I likely have to replace a tranny and quad cap. Long story - full details here: https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/yellow-paper-mod-vta-m125s-did-it-help-my-situation.985784/ Thanks

Been running my Cornwalls on VTA M125 Monoblocks for over 10 years - but having serious issues with the amps. Working those out - I ordered the Schiit Aegir. Seems it will be a good match - I'm going to run one in stereo mode - and they try it with XLR - mono mode - I'll use my working tube amp to complete it - to guesstamate what monos would be like. If it works out - I might buy a second one - or simply return it. Hoping it works out.

Great story and great looking Cornwalls. Congradulations!

Looking great Arash. Can't wait to see them finished. Thanks, Chris

Thanks very much Islander, jrod. They guys that refinished them really took care of me - they suggested an ebony inlay around all the edges - at first I wasn't sure about it - but decided to pull the trigger - I'm very glad I did - it is very subtle but adds nice contrast against the red mahogany. Thanks again, Chris

Thanks Jay. Yep - the top of the speakers are not the best place for tube amps from what I've read - eventually I'll move them when I get a new rack - I'm short on space at the moment. I've ensured the Cornwalls are sitting on rubber cups and the amps sit on thick rubber and then a black cloth mat. So far no problems at all - I do not feel any vibration on the top of the speakers - I'm not listening to them so loud that those 100lb puppies vibrate. Thanks! Chris

Thanks nu2toobs - I feel very luck to have them.

Yes, I like the color, what is that color called ? Thanks a bunch cornfedksboy, duder, dtel. The color is custom - the guy who did my veneer work used some red dye and other stains - since I said - redder not browner - so he mixed up quite a few samples until we arrived at that color which I'm very happy with. Here is how they looked when I picked them up: I'm really digging the M125s - very fun to put together and the sound is very nice - I'm still listening to them and trying different tweaks like different preamp tubes - I've tried some mullards in the phono section and they seem to have made a nice difference. Thanks,

Thanks a bunch Runninshine - I'm very happy with the Technics.