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I have to second Mobiles advice on late bidding. In fact, some of the frequent and smart ebayers will bid the last few seconds! Yes, that's correct, the last few seconds.... If you don't happen to be around at auction end, you might try www.esnipe.com. This web based service will bid for you and YOU set the amount and "buffer" in seconds before auciton end. I've used this method sucessfully to win auctions without driving up the price. Esnipe is free for the first 14 days of bidding, after that it costs a small percent of the bidding amount. You don't even need to give them a credit card because they use a token system for billing, which after the first 14 days you can fill via Paypal. - tb ------------------ Tim's Home Theater

mdeneen , Who said anything about selling my kg4s? No, I like my kg4s too much to sell. I think Ill just keep adding until I run out of room, or the wife leaves. Whichever comes first.... - tb ------------------ Tim's Home Theater

jazman - I forgot, the guy with the Eico responded to my wanted AD on Audiogon. I listed I would pay up to $350 for a primo HF-81. I'm still waiting for pics of the unit, but he tells me this is a very clean unit and been well refurbished. Since it has everything I need, I figured the time and money I would have to pay on tubes, caps, sodering equip (which I don't have BTW), the price is worth it to me. - tb ------------------ Tim's Home Theater

Thanks guys... your feedback is much appreciated! jazman - Initially I'll be hooking the EICO up to a pair of Kg4's. As budget allows I'm going to move up to a Chrous II, Heresy, or pehaps a Forte or Cornwell. BTW: I'm very much looking forward to reading Mobiles amp shootout. Should be very good info for the budget audiophile! I can forseee spending $$ this year on Klipsch stuff, but also on tube amps.... ------------------ Tim's Home Theater

Well, I found my HF-81. I won't get it for several weeks since the guy selling it won't part with it until he is done with new tube project. Anyway here is what he listed is in the unit. Tubes are: NOS EZ81(rectifier) EH12AX7 EI EL84 purchased from Ned at Triode Electronics. Coupling caps are Auricaps(superb) Electrolytics are Nichicon,and Sprague. I know little to nothing if this is typical or a good setup for the HF-81. I'd like to get some input here. Thanks in advance. - tb ------------------ Tim's Home Theater

Mobile, I've been looking for the HF-81 but have not yet found one for sale. I was wondering if any other of the HF series would be worth having? P.S. I did find a real nice HF-81 for sale but the guy backed out and decided he wasn't going to sell it. :-( ------------------ Tim's Home Theater

Tman, Do you still have the KSW? I'm interested and I live in Palatine. - Tim ------------------ Tim's Home Theater

Here are my impression of a weekend with both of these Integrated tubes amps. You can get the specs of each from Jolida.com and manleylabs.com. On to the meat.... Testing with Klipsch KG4's. I used some Jazz to test these amps including, Brubeck "Time-Out," Krall "Loves Scenes," and Patricia Barber "Nightclub.". The Manley Stingray exhibited a wider dynamic range and more detailed focus for vocals, but not so much to completely outclass the Jolida. Both had excellent bass on the kg4s, and both had clean and accurate highs. Previously I had tested a NAD 350, and I would say both Tubes were superior in sound quality. Considering there is about a $1400 retail price difference between them, the Jolida gets my nod for value, and the Manley for overall sound quality. Is the Manley $1400 better than the Jolida? I think that is a case of dimishing returns. - tb ------------------ Tim's Home Theater

Mobile - I am thinking about both actually. The EICO as a project for myself (and backup), and another newer tube (undecided) The Jolia is low cost, I like that, but there are no dealers around here. So If I was to go with that unit, it would be from advice of others here. I don't mind buying new as I already decided I need a decent AMP anyway. One thing about the Jolida is it does not have a phono section. I need advice on this area too. ;-) The local dealer carries Cary, Manely, and Antique Sound Labs tube amps. I own the Antique Sound Labs Headphone Amp (MG Head with OTL output) with stock tubes (Sovtek) and once it was broken in, it sounds very good to my ears. I'm uisng Sennheiser HD-600 phones. The Tube Headphone AMP is what got me interested in finding a Tube amp for my Klipsch. That, and the tube discussion here. Yea, I'll be trying the Manley out this weekend, and will give my feedback, however, Since I've nothing to compare it to, I don't know how valuable my opinion of it will be. I also don't have the excellent horns that some of you have, using just KG4's now, but looking to get into perhaps a Forte, Forte II, Chrous, or Chrous II in the near future. The Manely is really more than I wanted to spend on a tube setup (at this point anyway), because I really want to jump into vinyl and need to budget for that as well. What did you think about the used EICO I found? Is it worth it? I expect to get a photo of it emailed to me today. ------------------ Tim's Home Theater

Mobile, What about the Jolida 102B? It has a modest 25 watts, and uses the EL84 tubes? It's about $580. BTW: Found a guy who has two Eico HF-81's, One has had the transformers and tubes removed. But is in great cosmetic shape. The other is complete, but the previous owner installed a "push button" switch in the front panel. Between the two I should have a fine unit in good cosmetic condition. He want's $250 for both. You think I should take that deal? - tb ------------------ Tim's Home Theater

mobile, Thanks for the feedback on the Stingray. I might be bringing one of these home this weekend to try out. I'll try to give my impressions of it then. Info on the Eico-HF-81 is important, I certainly was not aware of that fact. Also regarding the EICO, are other models more or less desirable? I found a guy who has the ST-40 and the ST-70 for sale, he wants $250 for either, or $400 for both. He commented they have the 7591 output tubes. Any suggestions mobile? ------------------ Tim's Home Theater

Correction. I thought I read the Manely "Stingray" was based on the EICO DH-81, when in fact it was designed to use the same tubes as the EICO, the "EL-84" tubes. - tb ------------------ Tim's Home Theater

Thanks mobile for providing Insightful info on low cost tube amps! Very interesting, I'm just going to have to ge one of those. Any experience with Manley stuff? I was reading about the Stingray and as I understand it, they based the Stingray on the Eico HF-81? You input please.... -tb ------------------ Tim's Home Theater

FYI - I took a look at these Cornwells and they were in pretty good shape. Had a listen to them with the tube amp Saturday Audio Exchange was selling. Not bad. They are a little too large for my setup, but they looked clean and sounded fine. - tb ------------------ Tim's Home Theater

Thanks everyone. Hey QUiKSR20, I had to laugh about the "money tight" comment and only being 22 y.o. Heck, I'm 36 and money still seems tight to me. The price of the toys always seems to fill the allowable budget. Your smarter than I was at 22 because at that time I don't think you could buy online? ;-) I wish I knew then what I know now.... I would have saved a bundle... ah hindsight.... ------------------ Tim's Home Theater

Hey everyone. I've been lurking here for awhile now, and thought it was about time I introduced myself and shared some pics. about me - I've been a Klipsch fan since high-school when I splurged for a set of new heresys. Since then I've owned Chorus IIs, and K-Horns. Had to part with the K-Horns and Chorus IIs due to space constraints :-( . Man do I miss those Chorus II's! I've been out of serious audio and home theater for many years and just recently having the space, time and money to get back into it. My living room is fairly "live" because of the absence of carpet, so I find my kg2s, Academy center, and kg 1.2's seem to have plenty of sound for the room. I keep my HT and 2-channel audio setup separate. My audio room is in the finished basement and I'm currently using Kg4's connected to a Nakamichi AV-1. I've got a McIntosh 2205 on the way, which is what I intend to use for the time being. I'm in the Midwest, so if any of you Klipschheads want to get together, count me in. ------------------ Tim's Home Theater