tube fanatic Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 I was sent a couple of funny threads from other sites. One is about "magic" crystals improving the sound of tube amps, and the other (discussed by some European audiophiles) about whether "audiophile grade" resistors and caps are worth the money:http://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/vt.mpl?f=tweaks&m=198727 http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/tubes-valves/276978-douk-5670-6aq5-6e2-push-pull-merge-class-ab-tube-amp-hifi-amplifier-diy-kit.htmlIf any of the other tube guys on here want to pursue some discussion about these subjects, I'm in!!!Maynard 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wvu80 Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 (edited) Maynard, I'm not a tube guy but I would enjoy reading over your shoulder as you smart guys discuss the Mystery of the Magic Crystals (wasn't Harrison Ford in that movie?) and the ALL CAPS topic. I'd like you to tackle those one at a time, starting with Magic Crystals. I'll admit I don't understand it, I'm skeptical of it, but I'm open minded enough to consider they may help the sound, but I'll need to be shown at least a little science on the subject before I can accept that the idea has some merit. I can actually think of a way they may help, but it's probably a rationalization on my part. Please remember I don't use tube gear, so if Magic Crystals is just a blatantly stupid idea, let me know that so I don't waste any of my time thinking about it and we can move on. Edited July 14, 2015 by wvu80 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Blacksmith Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 OK, not sure why this is for tube guys any more than for everyone but I bow to your preference. Magic pebbles, resistors and caps that cost more than my car, GREAT stuff. Lets not forget I have some very special oil that I sell, made from the oil that lubs the scales on snakes. It is very rare and hard to get so I am selling it for a mere $500 a drop. That one drop though will last a life time on the bearings of your TT so it is a good value! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarheel Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Cal does you oil work on bearings in direct drive tables as well as belt drive? I may be interested in a small bottle. Do you take PayPal? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjimbo Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 I usually put individual pieces of popcorn on top of my 6550's, it's quite entertaining.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrickdj1 Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 I think the real magic is using Duracell batteries with tube gear, he, he. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest thesloth Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 I want to buy copious amounts of pot from these audiophools. ROFL Personal opinion, it's a joke. People especially audiophools are easily manipulated. As far as quality caps and resistors. They are important but not that expensive. Just got to know the right type of capacitor and where to use it. I don't mean type in regard to who made it, I mean by composition. Datasheets will tell the rest of the story. If you want real science with proven results in tube audio gear it's the magnetics. Transformers are the heart of a tube build. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wvu80 Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 (edited) Ok, look you guys, I've never given this any thought at all before, so I am approaching this naively and openly. I am interested in hearing ALL sides before I make a judgement. I openly admit my ignorance on the subject, so speaking to folks on both sides, convince me! +++ I'll start. Magic Rocks: I know amps and especially tube amps put out a lot of heat. Anyone who has has run their car radio when they turned off the key at night know the next morning when it is cold the radio is blasting as if turned up too loud. That's because the radio loses power as it gains heat, and a cooler car radio has more power, usually briefly. Therefore, if a rock of some kind had the properties of a heat sink, I can see where a well placed rock on the hot spot of an amp could possibly help the amp to not lose power as it warmed up, as opposed to an amp with no heat sink. My argument is logical, but as we all know, logic has nothing to do with reality. Edited July 14, 2015 by wvu80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest thesloth Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Tubes need to be hot to work. They really just want people playing with rocks around expensive glass objects (tubes) in hopes you will drop one and break the tube. The joke is on anyone who tries this, especially if they drop a rock on a WE300B and break it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tube fanatic Posted July 14, 2015 Author Share Posted July 14, 2015 (edited) Cal, the reason I addressed this to the tube guys is that it isn't easy to get a chip of rock to stay put on top of a transistor!Sloth addressed the issue as I see it- just exotica similar to cryogenically treated tubes. I've never found any science to support the assertions any more than I have for the magic cable trestles. It's really very sad!However, I showed the thread from the other site to my wife. And, her thinking is that it's the transformer magnetic fields which mess things up (see, hanging around with me for decades has rubbed off!). So, she devised an experiment to test this. By using ferrous cans on top of the transformers it should be possible to eliminate any negative effects of magnetic fields. And since I strive for a "rich and creamy" sound from my amps, the cans should contain something "rich and creamy!" Great logic, eh? So, I've attached a picture of our results for everyone's review. An additional side benefit is that the contents of the cans can be eaten after a couple of hours of exposure to the heat from the tubes and power xfmrs. I encourage others to conduct their own experiments to find the best way to "spice up the sound" of amps which seem lacking.Maynard Edited July 14, 2015 by tube fanatic 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest thesloth Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Great work Maynard's Wife!!! All you have to do is put your own exotic label on the cans and sell them for $295 a pop in the "budget tweaks" department. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornman Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 "For The Tube Guys" ,, Yes I heard some one call my name... Got ta love the snake oil but I do think many of us agree different caps can change the sound, they just dont have to be triple price to produce what we want to hear. Some of out favorite forum builders recommend the very inexpensive caps. Sorry for the highlighted text-I cant get it off , I am such a clutz with the puters,,lol. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Blacksmith Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 (edited) Tarheal, UH, SURE it will! About paypal though, I am afraid that the only payments I can make arrangements for is an in person pick up, cash, down a dark alley at night in a rain storm with thunder and wearing full head to toe rain suits with only eye slits Edited July 15, 2015 by Cal Blacksmith 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Blacksmith Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 Tube, OK got it. Though if one is really sure about the value, a drop of super glue will hold the rocks in place on the smallest of transistors, just saying! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captmobley Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 I have it on good authority the crystals only work when you play New Age Music! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minermark Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 Yet another audio related rant: http://goodmath.scientopia.org/2011/12/30/audiophiles-and-the-need-to-be-special/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZEUS121996 Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 Maynard, I'm not a tube guy but I would enjoy reading over your shoulder as you smart guys discuss the Mystery of the Magic Crystals (wasn't Harrison Ford in that movie?) and the ALL CAPS topic. I'd like you to tackle those one at a time, starting with Magic Crystals. I'll admit I don't understand it, I'm skeptical of it, but I'm open minded enough to consider they may help the sound, but I'll need to be shown at least a little science on the subject before I can accept that the idea has some merit. I can actually think of a way they may help, but it's probably a rationalization on my part. Please remember I don't use tube gear, so if Magic Crystals is just a blatantly stupid idea, let me know that so I don't waste any of my time thinking about it and we can move on. Doc The magic crystals are commonly known as Meth Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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