NOSValves

Yeah that looks special alright.... a brief peak gives me a chronic headache..

Christ I figured COVID took you out! Yeah I always have had trouble letting go LOL!!

Yeah someone around here was nice enough to send me a manual for a MC2000 these later year 4 or more tube per channel McIntosh amps have bias controls and test points. The vintage models I'm used to working on could have been modified to do the same but that would be a sin to any true McIntosh lover With these newer units only being around 20 years old I serious doubt many have needed repair McIntosh amps are really reliable even the vintage ones will keep working and working long after they should be for there own good!

Self bias takes care of tube drift? Please explain how it does that continoulsy?

Your first new amp? You must be getting forgetful in your old age

They may be great amps but the description of the Spirit V on that USA audio website makes me want to barf it's so full of BS..

Well pain before pleasure begs to differ LOL!!

Did McIntosh change something I'm not aware of in the later versions? McIntosh as never produced an amplifier that required manual biasing that I know of. They do not utilize a cathode resistor so they would be considered a fix bias amp. But the output design is very different then anything on the planet and is self balancing fixed bias to a degree. To me any amplifier that does not have the ability to test and adjust the bias is always off by some degree. Even those modern Primaluna jobs with the logic board controlling the bias. Nothing wrong with cathode biasing I think it has a really warm natural tone to it kind of rolls with the punches! With Push pull amps closely matched quad of output tubes are very much advisable.

I have to ask what are you mega watt SS guys doing posting in the Tube section 🤷‍♂️... Us tube guys all know you have long ago burned all the hairs out of your ears to know what sounds good

I use the DE-10 and have for a good many years its not a spring chicken either but it is most definitely very good HF driver for sure. I've never cared for the Beyma but I've never used it when I had the ability to attenuate it.

I'd imagine which would be better would depend on what your EQ'ing it with and how good it is theoretically if your able correct it making it flat throughout its range I'd say EQ should be better. But I've always found the simplest path to get the job done usually sounds the best to me.

Thanks! Better than it has been in a long time. I've had a pretty horrible couple years. long story....

That's because they were most likely playing 4 to 6 db too hot! Almost all the aftermarket tweeters folks use are too efficient for a Klipsch speaker. You need to invest in ALK tweeter attenuator at the very least. Same goes for changing mid horn, mid driver or both. If running the DE-10 it's too hot with a Stock Klipsch crossover too! About 3 db in my opinion.

The discontinued Ruby from Doug was identical to the Penta Lab which is also impossible to find. This tube used to be the same I'd write them ask before buying https://www.thetubestore.com/preferred-series-kt88. Those Penta triple getters were my favorites for many years. The Ruby STR you have is the same as the Valve Art or Chinese KT88-98 made on the same factory line as the Penta's it's a decent tube and has always been my #2 and the tube I supply with amps. The thing is I think you'd be ahead of the game to play with the 12AX7 and 12AU7 slot to rid yourself of the fatigue or possibly look the the source or source material. Changing output tubesa is going to have nearly the least effect out of the tubes to fine tube. The 5AR4 will have zero musical effect unless it wore out or defective.

Hey guys On The Fly is just fine the only thing is you'll most likely get a electric spark sound out of your speakers. It's not spark going to your speakers its just the amplifier reproducing the sound of the connection change.