Daddy Dee

A.F. Quite Favorably Impressed... is how I'd have to describe my experience with the AH! Njoe Tjoebs CD upsampler. I was pretty skeptical that this would be like "lifting a veil" over the music as one reviewer described the contrast between the standard and upsampled output. This upsampler is dedicated to the unit, manufactured to sit right in the chassis. I'd listened to the standard Tjoebs for a few months before ordering the upsampler. Kevin Deal said it has a 500 hour break in period. It seemed to settle in before that, but was a signicant time. My understanding of the technology is poor and so I can't share much helpful here, but I found the reviews posted on upscaleaudio.com to explain some things that made sense. Mostly I have to depend on my hearing, which is not great. For example, listening to different 2A3 tubes for the differences reported by audiophiles, my experience is that the differences at least much more subtle than discussed. Lots of times, I'm not sure if I'm hearing something different because I do or because I'm supposed to. Now, that said, for something to pass my smell test that is suspicious of marketing hype and creative ways to take my money, when I hear a distinct and pleasant difference.... then I am impressed. My electrical engineer brother in law was explaining something technical about this several months ago. And in my very lay understanding and dim memory, it sounded to me, that he said the upsampler would improve the sound by moving some kind of distortion out of the range of human hearing. Kind of like an improvement of bandwidth. I didn't really expect the difference to be worth the cost upgrade, but I was pleasantly surprised. Regards, Dee

Erik. Cool! Go For It! I'd like to be the first to order and I can send you the $1K on PayPal today. Just let me know. Best Regards, Dee

Well, as a matter of fact, I did ride into town on the turnip truck... ...but not yesterday. How much do they cost?

Hi John, Welcome to the forum. Your question is interesting as to whether tubes make that much of a difference or is perceived. Now, my understanding is a layman's take on things, but it seems to me that the amount of difference would depend on the quality of your solid state. Looks like you've got some pretty good gear. If you like the way it sounds, on your La Scalas, then it's really good. I decided to check out tubes out of dissatisfaction with the sound of my setup after I got La Scalas. Tubes have made a world of difference to my ears. One thing about checking out tube gear, if you shop carefully and buy good used gear on Ebay or Audiogon, you can recover your investment if you decide you want to resell a particular item. There are other folks on this forum who could make some good suggestions for what kind of tube Preamp would complement to your system if that's the way you want to go. A tube integrated is a possibility for alot of bang for the buck, too. Most of all have fun. It's all about enjoying the music. Regards, Dee p.s. since you've been reading posts here for a while, then you already know that your Rega CD is highly regarded with tubes.

WWIILLMMAAAAAA!

WWIILLMMAAAAAA!

---------------- On 8/4/2003 10:02:00 PM mark1101 wrote: OK, the jig's up. It was me. I'm Mark and I'm a stereoholic. HI MARK, WELCOME! Guy, I'd just want to say that I agree that the forum should not be used for self promotion, but if it was in this thread, I missed it. Best regards, Dee

Tamara, Welcome to the forum. WAF... in my understanding is Wife Approval Factor. WAF is best understood as a continuum from low to high WAF values. An often used example on this forum, is a piece of equipment with high WAF would usually mean likely to be well considered by the wife as an addition to the husband's toy collection. Very often the husband may list two or three extra amplifiers for sale on the forum or on Ebay for auction in an effort to decrease the burden they have placed on the general WAF. There is a T-Shirt that says, "If Momma Ain't Happy.... Nobody's Happy." The "rolling of eyes" that you mention is generally a sure sign of low WAF. However, (and this can be subtle) that wouldn't necessarily apply if the rolling eyes belong to a woman who (is married to a REALLY lucky guy) and she thinks that his audio hobby, while sometimes irritating is also somehow (on balance) charming. Regards, Dee

My wife loves Klipsch! Just as one would expect from a woman with such obviously good taste (as to want to marry me!)

kuisis, Welcome to the forum and congrats on your La Scalas. I got La Scalas for the first time around the first of the year. Go ahead and play them with your Sherwood and enjoy. If you find, like I did, that my ears were tired before long, then you likely enjoy tubes. I found out that with a tube amplifier and a clean CD source, the sound was much improved with much much much less harshness. That's one thing about La Scalas, they will reveal everything that is in the source... such that flaws you wouldn't hear with other speakers, you will hear with La Scalas. You'll hear more music and more of everything. One suggestion, if you decide to check out tubes: go used. You can recover most or all of your money on Ebay or other online vehicle if you decide to sell. Another suggestion: do a search and read the posts on this forum. There is a huge base of knowledge here, and one can learn alot just by reading through some of the threads. I have received, with appreciation, alot of advice on what to look for and what to watch out for in particular equipment. I started out with a vintage Scott 299B, one of several good candidates in the way of a tube integrated amplifier. My unit was rebuilt by someone on the forum. These classics sound good and are great in the bang for buck value. In terms of bang for the buck and "safe" way to check out tubes, I don't know of a way to go that's better. Best regards. Dee

Dave, Glad you got the 299c in good order. Yep, those tubes do look good don't they. I have to say I was so curious about the EH7591A'a I almost ordered a quad just to check them out before passing on the amp. I've found Craig's one of a kind illustrated biasing instructions (for dummies) and have put them in an envelope to mail. Now if I can just find that envelope. On a preamp. I was just looking at www.avahifi.com and their used page has just been updated. He's got a Super Pas 3i Vacuum Tube Preamp ($495) which is a Dynaco PAS3 rebuilt with Van Alstine's design and new faceplate etc. His stuff, of course, has an excellent rep, but don't know if it would be a good complement to the Quicksilvers. I haven't heard the unmodified PAS3 or PAS4, but one guy I was talking to thought they were o.k. but unremarkable. Probably not a good choice except as a platform a rebuild. Someone on the forum has talked about being very pleased with a Van Alstine Transcendence 7 preamp. It would be worth checking out the web site to see if the Super Pas3i is close enough kin to the Transcendence as to be attractive. Dave, what are you doing in your spare time? Moving, being Dad, getting your sister in law settled, and a day job too? Not to mention being married. You have got a some pretty big rocks there and they are all things that require significant and enduring energy to do well. Best wishes as you get those things lined out in good order. Glad you have some audio adventures to have fun with when you have a chance to come up for air. Regards, Dee

Thanks for the post glimmertwin. I will be interested to see a post when you get the Paraglows running. On the Heresy being underrated. That is definitely true. I got Scalas before Heresy's. Got the Heresy's for a fixer upper project and have been amazed at how good they sound. When listening to them, I sometimes wonder, they sound so good, why do I think I need La Scalas. Well, then I listen to the La Scala again and find the sound bigger, more live presence, just somewhat more majestic. In a way it's a relief, because I know if I move into smaller quarters and need a smaller footprint, I won't feel too bad about having Heresy's. I don't know what a fair comparison would be to express what a Heresy actually delivers... 80-85% of what I get from La Scala? Maybe more. That is hard to assign a number there, I just have to say that the Heresy is substantially satisfactory. And in addition to that, listening to music for enjoyment instead of listening too much with a critical ear... I'm often needing just to relax and enjoy and give up the continual desire to tweak and improve. It's all to easy to take the joy our of enjoyment. Regards, Dee

Looking around on the net, I notice there there are quite a few different types and styles of NTC thermistors. What particular part have you found you liked? Also, a likely vendor for purchase. Thanks, Dee

Would it just be soldered across the ac poles? I'm assuming it would be just as effective if it installed somewhere in the line source, as in an outlet box... right? Dee

Noticed a guy on Ebay selling "soft start" equipped AC outlet. He states that the initial inrush of power is particularly hard on vintage equipment and this is a solution that is kind for one's equipment. Well, that sounds good to a novice, like me. However, I don't really know if inrush is really hard on equipment or if this would be helpful in the real world. The fellow sells on Ebay and also has a website. www.sigtomics.com Current Ebay item: 3037307282 One other question, If this is a good thing, is this priced about right or is there a DIY solution? I'd appreciate your take on this. Best regards, Dee

Some months ago I started a thread on the music channels available on DirecTV. It was just an aside on having fun discovering tubes and the unexpected enthusiasm from my wife. One day as she was leaving the house for work, she had turned on the system and was playing one of the music channels through the La Scalas. I came through another part of the house and hearing some unfamiliar tunes asked what she was playing. She just smiled and said goodbye, you'll need to see for yourself, and headed out the door. I went into the LR to find the source was the satellite. This morning I made another discovery that is worthy of celebration! A kind of long and somewhat irritating story with a very happy ending. I live in the country, sort of. Used to really be in the country, but happens to be only 8 minutes away from the airport in Little Rock. My house is in a small bermuda triangle of cable service. There are about five homes that are not served by any cable TV service and it's too small a potential revenue source for any of the cable companies to put anything into infrastructure. So O.K. I get DirecTV two years ago at the same time I have to go back to dial up internet service which is a real bummer. (I know DTV offers satellite internet, but I still think it's too pricey for what one gets). The story continues... Dish Network now offers local channels (previously unavailable in my location) by satellite and DirecTV, which now also has the legal priviledge of moving into offering local channels here can't get it's act together. O.K. switch. DN offers free hardware, two receivers and installation for the same price as continuing one receiver and no local channels on DTV. Further DTV wants $200 just to put up the dish which will be capable of receiving (multi satellite sources) for local channel service at some undetermined time in the future, supposedly before the end of 2003.) Nothing personal, I simply found the promise of "Soon" and extra bucks unsatisfactory. O.K. Now the really really cool stuff. Taking a cursory look around on DN. Notice more variety of music channels. Nice.... Notice channel called "Jazz Traditions"... tune in... playing is Karrin Allyson... next cut... Miles Davis.... next Stan Getz.... Well, it's too early for happy hour, so I thought I'd share this good news with the forum. YYYYIIIIIPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! Is this cool or what? In addition to just having some WORLD CLASS MUZAK floating through the air, what a great way to ID composers and artists I'd like to add to my CD collection. That is the very next best thing as reading the recommended Jazz favorites thread on this forum! more later and best regards, Dee

Thanks Al. Didn't realize there were so few in circulation. Just missed a pair on AudiogonN this weekend. And they were among the pairs built by you, too! best regards, Dee build them myself.... hmmm.... now that is a scary thought

Justin, if you had to pay for your posts, you couldn't afford it! What one would pay for the forum is an interesting question. I know that for the few months I've been hanging around here I've learned a heck of a lot. I might be in the running for "the most improved award" but that's always the connotation that the award goes to a loser what has tried REAL hard. Regards, Dee

Anyone have any ALK networks for Cornwall/Heresy? Working on a Heresy rebuild and would like to find a pair in good shape. If you'd have a pair you might be willing to part with, would appreciate an e-mail. Regards, Dee allsouls@arkansas.net

Dean, What I hear Erik saying is something more like "When I listened to the Horus, it was like a veil was lifted" (to use a visual metaphor). I think that what you express as "evil" is certainly part of the danger of audiophilia and going off the deep end. But, the syndrome of which you speak is not at all what I hear Erik talking about. You might want to use a smiley face when talking about evil. Best Regards, Dee

Erik, This thread has been fun to follow. Alot of info to add to one's base of knowledge. errr... or well should add to one's base of knowledge. One thought for the name of this thread might be: "Baby Horus SINGS For the First Time!" Well, that could be saved for a thread after break-in. It is one amazing thought to think that these amps have changed the way you listen to music. Cool. Thanks for sharing this with the forum. Regards, Dee

---------------- On 7/26/2003 9:02:38 AM rf3iicrazy wrote: Dee, Just upgrade the Paramours with better iron and choke, don't forget the cap. If that experience suits you, build the Foreplay with all the modds, it's a sweet little line stage coupled with the Paramours. Tom ---------------- Tom, Yep, have already ordered the iron and cap upgrade from Bottlehead. Being a tech newbie AND weinie, Craig is going to back me up if I decide to punt. Dee

Dave, Sorry I didn't read your post BEFORE your road trip. Used to live in Atlanta and could have offered a variety of suggestions to pick from to perfectly suit your mood at the time. Putting the Khorns and Belle in storage is a good idea if not convenient to pick up as soon as available. I'll have to remember that sometime when it might be just the thing to facilitate Khorn acquisition. Regards, Dee p.s. UPS has temporary custody of the 299c

Erik, Good morning, indeed! Congrats on your Horus project going so well. And thanks for the detail on the post. Looking forward to the pics, too, when you have a chance to come up for air. One thing I'd be interested to hear about: What in the way of testing equipment does it take to check out your work on a project such as this? I'm doing some reading on basic electronics, tubes, and soldering and just may get bold enough to order a Paramour kit to start out with a reasonable beginner's project. Regards, Dee

Gary, My take on La Scala live sound is similar. One thing, I was amazed at how much difference speaker placement made in the room. Huge change in how much bass is heard. Dee