Jump to content

jimmytamp

Regulars
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    108

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by jimmytamp

    Bob Latino ST-120 Kit Review/Experience

    in Talkin' Tubes

    Posted

    On 2/4/2018 at 6:44 AM, BFaught said:

    I purchased the ST-120 kit without the tubes from Bob Latino, shipping was fast and everything was very well packed and organized into neat sections. Instructions are very clear and concise. the entire kit went together in about 10 hours just like estimated. Anyone with decent soldering skills and some patience can do this kit. I enjoyed the whole assembly process, very satisfying to get to fire it up when finished and hear just how the work paid off.

     

    I was having a problem getting any kind of voltage readin from the bias pins and sent Bob a email he was able to quickly help me check some connections and voltages. He identified the issue very quickly, I had placed a connection in the wrong place. I got very lucky it didn't cause any major issues. Very good customer service though he really knows his amps!

     

    The sound of this amp is just beautiful, crips highs and nice deep lows.  Now I have it connected to the pair of stock 1982 Klipschorns I recently acquired, they make quite the match made in heaven.  Way more than enough power for me, I was worried I would be pushing the 60 watts per channel to the limit. Boy was I wrong, I haven't moved it much past one o'clock (half volume) for my daily listening. If I wanted to shake the paintings off the walls this amp could probably do it. I got the 21 step attenuator and it's just perfect for playing straight from a DAC without a preamp. I can't get over how this amp sounds every instrument sounds very real, like the artists are standing in the room playing in front of me. 

     

    Truly a wonderful amp and experience. Someday if I decide to upgrade to the monoblocks I know I will go right back to Bob at www.tubes4hifi.com for them.

    image.jpeg

     

    Well done, you did a great job.

     

    I bought my ST120 fully assembled in 2013 and it's still up running my 1980 Conrwall.

     

    cheers..

    • Like 1

    Cornwall K-77M driver-to-horn gaskets' modification

    in Technical/Restorations

    Posted

    Just to share my experience.

     

     

    I just replaced my K-77M driver-to-horn gasket with the "Garlock Style 3000 Blue-gard compressed non-asbestos" sheet gasketing (1/32 inch thickness).

     

    I could hear the improvement especially (at least to my hearing) it eliminates the high-end distortion that usually heard whenever I maximised the treble gain on my pre-amp (I'm using VTA-12 tubes pre amp).

     

    Does anybody has the same experience by replacing their K-77 driver-to-horn gaskets especially when there are NO aftermarket gaskets for K-77M driver-to-horn?

     

     

    My Cornwalll is the 1981 version with all original stocks and Bob Crites' B2 crossovers inside.

     

    Cheers,

    Jimmy

     

    Your first Klipsch experience?

    in General Klipsch Info

    Posted

    My first Klipsch experience was in 2008 when I decided to get a 5-channels surround on Klipsch Ref. Series. I'm more to music than movies. 

    Few years ago, I went for 2-channels 1981' Cornwall. Upgraded the crossover, and have it hooked on tubes amp/pre-amp.I love the sound of my Cornwall.

     

    Cheers,

    Jimmy

    Look What Followed Me Home Today! Cornwalls!

    in 2-Channel Home Audio

    Posted

    Because I got these for a really nice price, I've got about $500-$600 to spend on an upgrade path. Doing some research, one path that seems to be popular is to replace the K-77-M with Bob's CT-125 tweeter, replace the diaphragms in both of the K-55-V midrange drivers and then rebuild the crossovers with Bob's rebuild kit (which I did on my Forte II's). Those 3 upgrades would cost about $330 or so. Does this sound like a solid plan? I know the ALK crossovers are out there as well, but I'm not sure if the Corn-Scala networks are worth it, and I don't want to spend the $$ on his other designs. Any other suggestions or recommendations?

    Congrats on your CW, nice pair...

    I got mine two years ago and love it especially after I upgraded the B2 crossover from Bob Crites.

    Cheers,

    Jimmy

    WTB Cornwalls

    in Garage Sale

    Posted

    I got my 1981 Cornwall exactly 2 years ago. The pair had travelled across more than 6000 miles from Philadelphia to Abu Dhabi.

    Love the sound out of it.

    Good luck on your pursue...

    Cheers,

    Tubes Rolling

    in Talkin' Tubes

    Posted

    Thanks Maynard for the info, I didn't know that rectifier doesn't have sonic signature.

    Re: the rectifier tubes, what about the voltage differences between 5U families and 5R/GZ families which when I swaped from the first to the latter, I had to bring down the voltage from .65 to .5 dcV?

    Cheers,

    Jimmy

    Tubes Rolling

    in Talkin' Tubes

    Posted · Edited by jimmytamp

    Hi Klipsch lovers,

    I'd like to share my experience on tubes rolling for my 1981 Cornwall I.

    After almost a year using NOS Mullard 5U4G rectifier, 2x French brand 12AU7's for L&R + EH's 12BH7 on the C for the drivers (with monthly bias adjusment), I decided to do some tubes rolling.

    Yesterday I put a NOS Mullard GZ34R for the rectifier, 2x matched NOS 1954 Raytheon 5814 for the L&R + Genalex ECC82 on C for drivers channels.

    After readjusted the bias setting, then I fired up the amps.

    My impression was:

    1. On CD.

    I played "Jazz at the pawnshop" & "Marantz's High End Audiophile Test" CDs.

    The result was: I heard a bigger sound stage compared to previous tubes setting, the stereo is wider with clearer details and easy to pint point the instruments with no hars on the highs. I could hear the fingering on the straight-up bass much clearer. One of the track on the Marantz cd (Harumi played by Circle Percussion), the low was sound nicely tight (not boomy) with alot of details on the highs. On of the track which had a trumpet lines, it was nicely presented with no harsh on my ears.

    2. On Turntable.

    I played some Ben Webster, it brings the saxophone sound much forward/bigger. I could hear Webster's breath clearly with details on others instrument. The only downside, the stereo image is not as wide as the CD, maybe it's the way they recorded.

    3. Digital music from my Itunes collection (in Apple Lossless format) using Schiit DAC.

    I played some "vocals" such as Jenna Mammina, Roberta Flack, Norah Jones, Nat King Cole, Diana Krall.

    Their vocals were so clear & details with forward soundstage which I love it.

    Overall, I love this tubes setting compare to my previous tube set up. I'm not sure which tubes from the mixed that brings up the big diferences and sorry I'm not a techy guy, this was just my observation.

    Here's my set up:

    A pair of 1981 Cornwall I with Crite's updated B2 XO, with all original drivers, tweeter, sqwuaker & woofer.

    Bob Latino's VTA120 in pentode mode (my preference).

    SP12R/PH12 pre-amp from tubes4hifi.

    The same 4xEH KT-90 for the output tubes (with bias set to around 0.500 dcV).

    Schiit Bifrost DAC.

    Marantz 7003 CD player.

    Project Debut Carbon with Red Ortofon cartridge.

    Any one has better experience on using Mullard GZ34R, Raytheon 5814 or Genalex ECC82 on their amps, are welcome to share their experiences & opinions on this thread.

    Cheers all,

    Jimmy

    *Edited: For the Turntable, I'm using Phoenix PSU as well.

    • Like 1
×
×
  • Create New...