derrickdj1

My wall voltage is in the same range as yours. I don't have any problem with any of the electrical device in the home, HT, 2ch system with several different amps over the years. I have a new amp. I have heard that amps from the 50's, 60's and early 70's were made for 110 volts. Here is something off the internet:https://www.quora.com/Can-low-voltage-damage-home-appliances

HDMI will be better for you. It can do everything optical can and will do higher resolution audio and transmit video. It is simpler and cuts down on the amount of cables. HDMI also contains the auto return channel capability.

Many tube vendors will burn in the tube prior to shipping to weed out some bad tubes. I personal just warm the amp for a few minutes and play my music. I don't push the amp hard in the first 1/2 hour or even after that since my normal listening level requires very little power. I got this from the The Tubedepot: The Benefits of Burn In Power Tubes New tubes have always sounded and performed better when burned in prior to final testing and installation. By running a tube at full operating voltages (and not just the 6.3 heater voltages) for 24 hours, the cathode is allowed to stabilize and any oxide contaminants on the metal surfaces evaporate and are collected by the getter. The burned in tube is "cleaner" inside and better able to reproduce sound. For burned in power tubes, the initial matching is less likely to drift and rebiasing isn't needed. The stability is immediately apparent. And for preamp tubes, the improved tone is instantaneously accessible without having to wait for the tube to stabilize making "tube rolling" much easier. And the combined benefit, the burn-in process quickly weeds out weak and suspect tubes before they get into your equipment. If you want the best for your equipment and your listening enjoyment, burned in tubes are the most effective methods to insure your satisfaction. You don't have to wait for the best. https://www.tubedepot.com/the-benefits-of-burn-in-power-tubes

I would just get regular surround speakers from Klipsch. The 140's don't do much below 100 Hz. The surrounds can be a bit in front or behind the listener using the WDST speakers.

Mentioning a politicians name should not be off limits. Starting a discussion is another story. Saying you were surprised to hear about Lauer, Cosby or Franken is not political. Only a discussion including party affiliation or political views IMHO.

I had a quad set of 6CA7 tube that came with my amp. One tube would red plate every time I cut the amp on and then the glow would go away. After I learned what that red glow indicated, I got rid of all 4. I don't know if they were damaged during shipping.

A 10 db increase will sound twice as loud. A 3 db increase will double the power being used.

I wonder if a tube red plated?

Congrats on the tube amp. The amp is switchable from triode to pentode, wouldn't this make it ultralinear?. I have only heard the RF 3 and can relate it to my experience with the RF 7 and 7 II use with tube amps. The amp should work well with the Reference speakers. As for volume, the Pentode mode should get quiet loud.

A lot of the question deals with if you are talking about a TV vs a Projections Screen. I use an RC 64 which is about about a good foot or a bit more below the RF 7' II's. The sound is fine without tilting it up. But, I am one that does not like the tweeters of the RF 7's or any other speaker pointing directly at my ears. That rules applies more for non-horn speakers due to the directivity, IMHO.

I thought A sounded better.The B had harshness. I brought up the age thing because, my SS does not have that type of sound or harshness to the sound. I did have the use of the soft filter employed on the preamp(tube sound) and will try it without any filters.

Do you think it had anything to do with the age of the amp B and new more modern amps would fair better?

My take on the whole high end audio is that it is base on cost and quality. It is also a market dominated by people more interested in SQ and don't care as much as to what they are listening to. The hazy thing with high end audio is that cost in many cases does not necessarily relate to great sound quality. I will admit, many of the speakers are beautiful and are certainly meant to make a visual statement.

Which do you like and pick?

I have a Samsung top of the line BDP and the Oppo 203. With blurays, the pic quality is pretty much identical on TV and using the projector. Is there a major difference in SQ, to close to call. I keep the Samsung for all the streaming options like Netflix, Amazon Video, Pandora and I Heart. This sound like the Oppo is not a step up but, the Oppo has the option of functioning close to a home theater on it own. Once I step up to 4K, maybe I will see a difference even though both units are 4K.

Carl, I made a mistake. I did get it correct and posted the wrong answer this morning. I should of double checked. I do think this is a good test for new people to get a good ideal of the sonic difference between tube and SS amp. I had to do a direct comparison of my SS, Acurus amp using the Pioneer Elite SC 99 preamp set to the tube like setting vs the Yaquin(Ja Chin). Both were in Class A and there is a subtle difference. The difference was not as striking as in the blind test. I used Peter White's Reflection album for the test. It is slow enough and simplistic to use for the test.

Thanks, that translates to $1, 400 for the speakers and $700 for the amp/avr. I used $1 = 13.8 Rand.

I failed the test and don't qualify for the golden ear award, lol. Which did you pick, A or B? My pick: .

Here is the answer:

List you dollar amount and there will be more help with getting an integrated amp or avr.

Is there anything to use on the amp case and transformers to keep them shinny and protect the metal?

I think I read a while back to replace all the tubes with new ones from McIntosh were around $800.

He should just deny it, totally deny it and he will get his job back. If that does not work, just run for the U.S. Senate.

Time to call it a night. See ya tomorrow.

Sorry to hear of the incidence. Eighty days is a slap in the face. The $300 is for how many power tube?