lshannon

Thanks for the CD ! ! I really appreciate it. - Lee

Thanks everyone ! ! - Lee

Hello, My NAD cassette deck died. At a local shop, I picked up a Nakamichi BX-300 that had been serviced for $95.00 to transfer some tapes to CDR. I have been unable to locate a Users Manual on the web. By any chance, does anyone have a pdf of one that they could share? - Lee

I'm not sure of the etiquette here, but I want to thank everyone who commented when I purchased my first vintage tube amp and needed help checking it out. Craig at NOSValves was recommended and he restored the amp and it sounds great, he was great to deal with, very friendly and knowledgeable and professional. I want to publically thank him too and would recommend him in the future. - Lee

I have it set up and running and it is by far the best stereo sound I've ever had. Which is really kind of sad/irritating, as I'm 47 and just only now got great sound from stuff either made or designed in the late 50's or early 60's. How have we all been snookered into willingly buying stuff for decades that sounded worse than what our parents could listen to? - Lee

Guten Tag

Basically I got into tubes by reading this forum. I always heard that tubes were better, but no one I knew had them. I read a review of ASL Wave 8 mono blocks by Colin Flood and bought 4 of them and used two and kept 2 NIB (BTW they are all on sale at www.Echohifi.com). I liked them and soon wanted more/better. Someone (on this board) warned me that that would happen. I saw a Marantz 8 and bought it and am waiting for its arrival. I'm thinking that now I may need a better preamp than my Van Alstine modded Dynaco PAS, but don't know what is better (other than a Marantz 7 which is too costly when on Ebay). I basically read this forum, asked questions, and look at other people's systems and try to experiment in my budget. I figured a Marantz 8 would last me a really long time and would be hard to do substantially better without spending a huge amount of money. I guess that is my criteria, the intersection of cost and performance. Hopefully a Marantz 8 and Cornwalls combination would be hard to beat (in my office). At home I have a 5 year old, so I'm still a solid state guy there. -Lee

Thanks guys for the info on the inputs! I don't need the power and so I'll leave it in triode. - Lee

RE: Not that I need to know but why would you buy this unit without the tubes? JJK Because I didn't know how much they cost. LKS RE: Even from a reputable tube soure like a TubeDepot.com, you can get all these tubes for around $200. Then, while you're enjoying your wonderful 8B you can research other tubes. Before I started the email, I ordered a set of basic tubes from a place called "Vaccum Tubes Inc." with the idea of doing just what you suggested, get it up and going and then spend some time researching and asking others for recommendations. My previous foray into tube amps were little Antique Sound Lab Wave 8s and their tubes were inexpensive. I'm really looking forward to getting the amp and getting it checked out and set up. Thanks for the great information !! - Lee

Can anyone recommend a set of tubes for the Marantz 8? I bought one for about $1300, but the seller kept the tubes (now I know why). I called a tube store who described several options with a range of prices that ranged from reasonable to shocking. I definately want a set of tubes that do it justice, but am unsure as to which type/brand provides a really meaningful improvement. I listen to a wide range of music including jazz and gregorian chant (a hangover influence from the seminary). I'll be using it with a Van Alstine modded Dynakit PAS2. Thanks in advance for the recommendations. - Lee

Thanks for all the information re the amp and the name of Craig ! ! I'm really excited about getting the Amp. Looking to running it with a modded Dynaco PAS-2 and my Cornwalls. Right now I'm happy with my PAS-2, but am willing to look at others. - Lee

I just bought a Marantz 8 factory wired in triode mode (not sure of what that means). I understand that Marantz 8s were earlier versions of 8b's. The Seller indicated that it would need a bit of power supply work (new electrolytic capacitors) to be reliable (not sure of what that means either). I've always heard that Marantz 8b's were thought by many to be the "holy grail" of vintage tube amps. Does anyone know of some places to send it to to get checked out and set up right? My only prior tube amp experiance has been with some Antique Sound Lab Wave 8s that were plug-n-play. This will replace my ASL Wave 8's as my office stereo amplifier. Thanks, - Lee

I have a set in my office that I am listening to right now. I like them alot. I use a modded Dynakit PAS 2 preamp and a pair of cornwalls. I keep thinking about "upgrading" but I don't. - Lee

Don't - store them away till later. To protect mine from my 4 year old, I put my klipsch heresys on top of the stereo cabinet and my Cornwalls and LaScala in the basement. I figure that my kid will want some of them when he goes to college. I also put away a set of two Antique Sound Lab wave8 tube monoblocks away, unopened new-in-box, into my attic for my 4 year old son. - Lee

Thanks for the advice all. I am also thinking that more tube watts would be better. I think I would prefer a vintage tube amp. How is a HK Citation? - Lee