jjhaz@ont.com

I have not been to the Klipsch page in months. Please know my prayers are with you and your sun. May the peace that passes all understanding hold you and your family in the arms of our Lord. I will put you on my prayer list. Yea what about those cables? Jeff

I have a pair of HD600's and love them. I use a Headroom Max amp. There is no comparison between running the phones with and without an amp. When I first heard about headphone amps I thought how stupid. Then I listened to the Max. The cost is roughly ten times what you paid for your HD600's around 1700.00 new 600.00 used. I also have Headroom "Air Head" which is a portable amp. I had it modified with Black gate Caps. It runs off of 2 AA batteries. All the Headroom amps have a processor in them that mixes a small amount of left and right channel to both ears while adding a small amount of delay. That's an over simplification of what it does but it sounds great. It sounds more open and natural as well as less fatiguing. Have fun and good listening, Jeff ------------------ Home Theater Room Cornwalls Main fronts ALK Networks Heresy Center run parallel with KLF-C7 Center IW-150 Rears KSW-12 200watt Sub (na) Anthem AVM20 Preamp 5 Adcom 555s Modified By Musical designs all mono Block Toshiba 9200 DVD Echostar 5100 DD Satellite Listening Room Cornwalls (not modified yet) Cary Rocket 88 Anthem Pre L2 SE Rotel RCD 991

Josh, Cary is recommending either the SLP 88 or the SLP 2002. The interesting thing about the 2002 is the Home Theater by-pass switch. My Anthem also has a HT by-pass switch. The pre l2 SE is available at upscale audio for 963.00, which is an absolute steal. The SE comes with upgraded caps, Kimber wiring and Brimar Tubes. It has a squirrelly remote for the volume, mute and bypass. The volume is hard to control. The process of biasing the Cary is nothing to be afraid of. It comes with a 1/4 jack attached to two alligator clips. You take the positive and negative leads and attach them to your voltmeter. Set the voltmeter to read DC current in the MA scale with in the 0 to 300 ranges. With the unit warmed up and no music playing you simply take a reading with the voltmeter and adjust one slot head screw until you get the meter to read 200 DC/ma. If I can do it you can do it. Let me know if this doesn't make sense. Jeff ------------------ Home Theater Room Cornwalls Main fronts ALK Networks Heresy Center run parallel with KLF-C7 Center IW-150 Rears KSW-12 200watt Sub (na) Anthem AVM20 Preamp 5 Adcom 555s Modified By Musical designs all mono Block Toshiba 9200 DVD Echostar 5100 DD Satellite Listening Room Cornwalls (not modified yet) Cary Rocket 88 Anthem Pre L2 SE Rotel RCD 991

In a word, enveloping, in another word, extremely flexible (OK so that was two words). When I first set up the Rocket I was replacing a Sonic Frontier Power One SE that I had own for about 3 weeks. The SF power one sounded great, all matched Svetlana 6550cs Valvo 6928s. I still had the lust for the Cary Rocket 88. I traded in my SFP1 and forked over another 800.00 and waited. It came, I set it up and immediately thought Oh no Ive made a huge mistake. I new in my brain it had to burn in but in my heart it stunk. Fast forward five days of burning in while trying to figure out how to get the SFP1 back and not look like a total idiot. It was getting better but still had a harshness or grainy sound in the highs. I made two calls to Cary, who was very helpful and listened and we ran through cable brands biasing and possible tube replacement. The 88 has 2 bias LEDs that when lit show the amp is within bias tolerance. At Carys suggestion I put a voltmeter to the amp and found the DC/ma reading was about 192. The optimal target for the 88 is 200 DC/ma. Cary told me the under biasing will cause too much brightness and over biasing causes dullness. I made the adjustment to 200 DC/ma and magic all objections were gone. It was musical and engaging. Incredible detail good bass, not as deep or detailed as my modified Adcom SS. At the same time he had me pull my one silver interconnect and replace it with a second copper based interconnect. Not to start a cable war here or anything but he said the silver wire would increase brightness. Anyway with the cables now both monster 850is and the bias set to 200DC/ma and six days of burn in time; the Rocket is all I hoped it would be. Triode mode has a deep smooth sound stage while the ultraleaner adds punch and headroom for wide dynamic pieces. I have found both setting very useful depending on the music. I am using the 88 with Klipsch Cornwalls with the original networks. I have a second set of Cornwalls that have the ALK crossover, which changes the Ohm level to 4 Ohms. The rocket switches between 4 and 8 ohms with the flick of a switch. My pre amp is an Anthem PRE L2 SE. When I used this preamp with my Adcom and with the SFP1 an audible hiss was there in-between music cuts. Now since the Rocket does not incorporate a gain stage, the Anthem is totally silent until the music comes up out of the blackness. (Wasnt that poetic) The only possible change that I might do at this point is to change the Ruby KT88s to Svetlana KT88s or 6550cs. I hope this helps anyone looking at this amp. If you have specific questions just let me know and Ill try to answer them. Happy in Rocket land, Jeff ------------------ Home Theater Room Cornwalls Main fronts ALK Networks Heresy Center run parallel with KLF-C7 Center IW-150 Rears KSW-12 200watt Sub (na) Anthem AVM20 Preamp 5 Adcom 555s Modified By Musical designs all mono Block Toshiba 9200 DVD Echostar 5100 DD Satellite Listening Room Cornwalls (not modified yet) Cary Rocket 88 Anthem Pre L2 SE Rotel RCD 991

Thanks for the input. The rocket is still burning in so I don't want to say too much. I had a Sonic Frontier Power one SE that after a week of burning in sound very good. I know some people say it's not tubey enough. I was swept into the Rocket 88 out of fear that I wasn't getting a tubey amp. Well the Jury is still out which sounds better. The Rocket is coming along I will keep you in touch. By all accounts it should be great! I talked to a guy from Cary who use to work for Klipsch, we had a great time talking. He suggested puting 2lbs of soft modeling clay on the mid horns for all of us with Khorns, La Scalas, Cornwalls, well you know the models. He said he stopped some ringing that was inharent to the large horn. I'll give a complete report on the Rocket 88 Monday night. Still want some tube suggestions. Jeff ------------------ Home Theater Room Cornwalls Main fronts ALK Networks Heresy Center run parallel with KLF-C7 Center IW-150 Rears KSW-12 200watt Sub (na) Anthem AVM20 Preamp 5 Adcom 555s Modified By Musical designs all mono Block Toshiba 9200 DVD Echostar 5100 DD Satellite Listening Room Cornwalls (not modified yet) Cary Rocket 88 Anthem Pre L2 SE Rotel RCD 991

Does anyone know anything about Ruby tubes? I just set up my new Rocket 88 and I'v been burning it in for the last three days. I'm not sure about these Ruby KT88's any replacment suggestions? THanks, Jeff ------------------ Home Theater Room Cornwalls Main fronts ALK Networks Heresy Center run parallel with KLF-C7 Center IW-150 Rears KSW-12 200watt Sub (na) Anthem AVM20 Preamp 5 Adcom 555s Modified By Musical designs all mono Block Toshiba 9200 DVD Echostar 5100 DD Satellite Listening Room Cornwalls (not modified yet) Antique Sound Labs Integrated Tube Amp Rotel RCD 991

mdeneen, Thanks for that last explanation. Your answer makes perfect sense. Jeff ------------------ Home Theater Room Cornwalls Main fronts ALK Networks Heresy Center run parallel with KLF-C7 Center IW-150 Rears KSW-12 200watt Sub (na) Anthem AVM20 Preamp 5 Adcom 555s Modified By Musical designs all mono Block Toshiba 9200 DVD Echostar 5100 DD Satellite Listening Room Cornwalls (not modified yet) Antique Sound Labs Integrated Tube Amp Rotel RCD 991

Ok so we all seem to agree that out music sounds better with a preamp. I agree. This question came up because I was comparing a new Antique Sounds Lab integrated amp against one of my modified Adcom amps. In this second room I didnt have another preamp. I hooked up my Rotel CD to the ASL amp; the ASL has no balance control, no tone controls, just 3 input selects and a volume control. I hooked up an older HK 380 CD player with a volume control to my Adcom and just switched the Cornwalls back and forth. I know my Adcoms sound great in my main system but there I have a Sonic Frontiers Anthem AVM20 preamp. So the whole question came up in my mind (as small as it is) what was the preamp contributing. I always listen to my system with the tones flat, although I dont begrudge anyone the right to tweak their sound however they like. The Anthem is also a processor but I can and do bypass the DAC and tone system when ever Im listening to music. I agree with mdeneen and others in this thread that voltage regulation in all its forms must be the key to the preamps sound function. Jeff ------------------ Home Theater Room Cornwalls Main fronts ALK Networks Heresy Center run parallel with KLF-C7 Center IW-150 Rears KSW-12 200watt Sub (na) Anthem AVM20 Preamp 5 Adcom 555s Modified By Musical designs all mono Block Toshiba 9200 DVD Echostar 5100 DD Satellite Listening Room Cornwalls (not modified yet) Antique Sound Labs Integrated Tube Amp Rotel RCD 991

It sounds like if we set aside the convenience of source switching and the necessity of volume control, the real function of the preamp is to regulate voltage and impedance. Is that right? Jeff ------------------ Home Theater Room Cornwalls Main fronts ALK Networks Heresy Center run parallel with KLF-C7 Center IW-150 Rears KSW-12 200watt Sub (na) Anthem AVM20 Preamp 5 Adcom 555s Modified By Musical designs all mono Block Toshiba 9200 DVD Echostar 5100 DD Satellite Listening Room Cornwalls (not modified yet) Antique Sound Labs Integrated Tube Amp Rotel RCD 991

Ok I know its a stupid question on the surface. We all know that preamps control volume, balance, tone and source. Why do many exotic preamps have elaborate voltage regulation, tubes, all kinds of hi tech schemes only to top it off with the ability to Bypass everything but the volume for the true purist audiophile. Why dont we simply hook up our CD players directly to our power amps? I know turntables need a preamp but why line level components? What does the preamp do to enhance the sound of our sources? Jeff ------------------ Home Theater Room Cornwalls Main fronts ALK Networks Heresy Center run parallel with KLF-C7 Center IW-150 Rears KSW-12 200watt Sub (na) Anthem AVM20 Preamp 5 Adcom 555s Modified By Musical designs all mono Block Toshiba 9200 DVD Echostar 5100 DD Satellite Listening Room Cornwalls (not modified yet) Antique Sound Labs Integrated Tube Amp Rotel RCD 991

leok, Thanks for the thoughts I'll try changing the ohms setting and reground the amp. Thanks, Jeff ------------------ Cornwalls Main fronts ALK Networks Heresy Center KLF-C7 Center IW-150 Rears KSW-12 200watt Sub (na) Anthem AVM20 Preamp 5 Adcom 555s Modified By Musical designs all mono BLock Toshiba 9200 DVD Echostar Dolby Satilite. JVC-7800 SVHS VCR ----------------------- Project room Genelec Nearfield Monitors with Genalac Sub Alisis 32 channel board Joe Meek VC1Q Studio channel Art Power Plant Roland R8 Wave/24 24bit and Delta 66 digital recording Aphex Comperesors And so on.

john, No it seems to be in the lower register. It seem to build. I've thought maybe standing waves but why with this one tube amp? JEff ------------------ Cornwalls Main fronts ALK Networks Heresy Center KLF-C7 Center IW-150 Rears KSW-12 200watt Sub (na) Anthem AVM20 Preamp 5 Adcom 555s Modified By Musical designs all mono BLock Toshiba 9200 DVD Echostar Dolby Satilite. JVC-7800 SVHS VCR ----------------------- Project room Genelec Nearfield Monitors with Genalac Sub Alisis 32 channel board Joe Meek VC1Q Studio channel Art Power Plant Roland R8 Wave/24 24bit and Delta 66 digital recording Aphex Comperesors And so on.

This is weird!! I just hooked up a Dynaco ST70 on loan till my NEW ALS Tube amp comes next week a whooping 5 watts per channel. (yea!!!!) Anyway the ST 70 is hooked up to a pair of Cornwall's Original Crossovers. I turned on some music and almost immediately both my friend and I felt like we were in an airplane with our ears popping. (No drugs involved) I have never experienced this type of effect. I took one speaker and changed the wires to be out of phase. The pressure sensation stopped but so did the stereo sound field. Other amps with these speakers in this room have never yielding this ear popping pressure. Ive tried many different CDs and the effect is the same, when wire correctly ears start popping move one out of phase and the ear popping starts. Change both speakers out of phase and the ear popping starts again. The big question "Whats going on here?" Help, Jeff ------------------ Cornwalls Main fronts ALK Networks Heresy Center KLF-C7 Center IW-150 Rears KSW-12 200watt Sub (na) Anthem AVM20 Preamp 5 Adcom 555s Modified By Musical designs all mono BLock Toshiba 9200 DVD Echostar Dolby Satilite. JVC-7800 SVHS VCR ----------------------- Project room Genelec Nearfield Monitors with Genalac Sub Alisis 32 channel board Joe Meek VC1Q Studio channel Art Power Plant Roland R8 Wave/24 24bit and Delta 66 digital recording Aphex Comperesors And so on.

Any thoughts or suggestions about a small Tube amp in this price range? Thanks, Jeff ------------------ Cornwalls Main fronts ALK Networks Heresy Center KLF-C7 Center IW-150 Rears KSW-12 200watt Sub (na) Anthem AVM20 Preamp 5 Adcom 555s Modified By Musical designs all mono BLock Toshiba 9200 DVD Echostar Dolby Satilite. JVC-7800 SVHS VCR ----------------------- Project room Genelec Nearfield Monitors with Genalac Sub Alisis 32 channel board Joe Meek VC1Q Studio channel Art Power Plant Roland R8 Wave/24 24bit and Delta 66 digital recording Aphex Comperesors And so on.

Rob, Thanks for the specs. I find this subject some what confusing. Look on page 43 at the table of audio conversions. "DVD Video" through the bitstream will only output a digital stream at 16 bit/48khz. You are correct that using the analog out both 2 channel and 6 channel you can decode 24 bit up to 96 kHz. You can decode DVD Audio discs at 24/196kHz. The HDCD is not transmitted through the bit stream at all. It's kind of a strange arrangement. Even with all these oddities, I'm with you, it is a very impressive unit. By the way I can't afford a CD-1 either. Wish I could. Have a nice night, Jeff ------------------ Cornwalls Main fronts ALK Networks Heresy Center KLF-C7 Center IW-150 Rears KSW-12 200watt Sub (na) Anthem AVM20 Preamp 5 Adcom 555s Modified By Musical designs all mono BLock Toshiba 9200 DVD Echostar Dolby Satilite. JVC-7800 SVHS VCR ----------------------- Project room Genelec Nearfield Monitors with Genalac Sub Alisis 32 channel board Joe Meek VC1Q Studio channel Art Power Plant Roland R8 Wave/24 24bit and Delta 66 digital recording Aphex Comperesors And so on.