muel Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 "Loyalty"?? No. My ears are only loyal to what sounds good. That said, I bought and would buy again due to the trust Craig earned from me. "Very SS like"?? If you mean that it doesn't have the common weakness that tubes are often criticized for such as flabby bass I could agree with that. The Stereo VRD's have slightly less solid bass than the Mono Blocks but it's still pretty good in its own right. The voicing on both is wonderful! Balanced, clear, natural top to bottom! "Dynaco clone"?? Puhshaw. Not a lot of mention of what amps you are comparing. Also, what tubes did you try (on the front end)? After all, that is what VRD means. Are there better amps? Sure... but at prices WAYYYY beyond what you are talking about for VRD's! It is a great amp even if you leave $$ out of the equation. It is an AWESOME amp for the money. If you didn't enjoy it or thought it was just "ok" I am thinking there was something else going on or maybe your tastes are just really really different from mine. Assuming there is no other agenda at work here I'll just leave it with you that my experience with VRD's has been very good. I'm currently using -Gold Lion KT-88 have used Valve Art, and Penta KT88SC -Sovtek 5ar4 used various Mullards as well -CBS 7318 in the 12au7 slot (AWESOME tube!) used countless other 12au7, variants or 12bh7 tubes here. Top tubes were the Mullard 10M, Mullard M8136, Amperex (long plate). It is not a top tube but I also like the RCA clear tops. -Brimar CV4035 in the 12ax7 slot Lots of tubes ran through here... Mullard 10M, Mullard CV4004 were both good. Various 5751's were also good but not to my liking as much as the first 3 mentioned. If you are using JJ's as your driver or phase splitter you might want to give something else to try. Other equipment: Bel Canto Dac, NBS Pre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxJPMxx Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 Also, what tubes did you try (on the front end)? After all, that is what VRD means. Do you adjust the AC balance with an oscilloscope when you "roll tubes" in the "front end"? If not you are probably doing more harm than good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul79 Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 Also, what tubes did you try (on the front end)? After all, that is what VRD means. Do you adjust the AC balance with an oscilloscope when you "roll tubes" in the "front end"? If not you are probably doing more harm than good. How is that exactly? You plan on running your amps at full power output all the time?? Give me a break man.... You serious with that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul79 Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 (edited) What is all the fuss with the VRD's? IMO, they are the cure for all the typically described negatives of both solid state and tubes. That sums it up quite nicely I believe. They are truth machines. If the truth they provide sounds "just ok", get a better source. Edited December 30, 2015 by paul79 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxJPMxx Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 How is that exactly? You plan on running your amps at full power output all the time?? Give me a break man.... You serious with that? Yes I am. If I want to crank it up I want it to be running optimally, I am sure most people would. If there was no point to the balance control why would Craig put it in the amp? Personally if I was going to make a tube rollers dream amp I would stick a CCS at the tail to force AC balance. Would you buy a Porsche just to drive it 30mph? Are you serious? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A1UC Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A1UC Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 Next you'll be saying Hi-res digital audio is better than vinyl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrickdj1 Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 Next you'll be saying Hi-res digital audio is better than vinyl. Don't we all agree on this point already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Smith Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 Next you'll be saying Hi-res digital audio is better than vinyl. Don't we all agree on this point already. Yea.. just seeing which buttons can be pushed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssh Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 Jim, I think you hit someone's yellow button. SSH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 Jim, I think you hit someone's yellow button. SSH How'd I hit someone's yellow button? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richieb Posted December 30, 2015 Author Share Posted December 30, 2015 This place cracks me up. A simple question to the pros/cons of the Forum favorite VRD turns, as always, into a pissssin' contest. Like who's stream sounds most like a horse pisssin' a flat rock. I don't need be told about "truth" or '"a better source" is the answer. I've been in the game long enough to know from where I speak but thanks for the advice. Run amps at 100% - that's simple enough, Class A SS. Running full out the moment they turn on. Don't believe it - check your power bill. Got a pair of 'em, love 'em. So does Westar energy. Continue on -- 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul79 Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 How is that exactly? You plan on running your amps at full power output all the time?? Give me a break man.... You serious with that? Yes I am. If I want to crank it up I want it to be running optimally, I am sure most people would. If there was no point to the balance control why would Craig put it in the amp? Personally if I was going to make a tube rollers dream amp I would stick a CCS at the tail to force AC balance. Would you buy a Porsche just to drive it 30mph? Are you serious? You are giving this simple AC Balance too much credit dude. It is for symmetrical clipping at max power, to give the best distortion numbers at max power. It is a nice option to give better specs, but I seriously doubt you are really going to hear its benefits enough to give a damn, so long as you put decent tubes back in the amps. Just my opinion. Put matched replacement tubes in the front end if you are worried about it. Why would anybody put a tube in the amps with a wore out triode anyways?? Sell your VRD's because if you swap one tube, you cannot readjust the AC Balance. Just like so many other wonderful amplifiers that do not have AC Balance adjustment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul79 Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 (edited) This place cracks me up. A simple question to the pros/cons of the Forum favorite VRD turns, as always, into a pissssin' contest. Like who's stream sounds most like a horse pisssin' a flat rock. I don't need be told about "truth" or '"a better source" is the answer. I've been in the game long enough to know from where I speak but thanks for the advice. Run amps at 100% - that's simple enough, Class A SS. Running full out the moment they turn on. Don't believe it - check your power bill. Got a pair of 'em, love 'em. So does Westar energy. Continue on -- The whole point of you starting this thread has yet to be determined. Sounds like you have an ax to grind with Craig or something, otherwise, what could possibly be your motive here? Your response was predetermined. Pissing match? How? You started with saying something is ok, an opinion. You got other opinions. Did you expect the forum to jump on your bandwagon? Seems like you went through several amps until you found the one that colored the sound to your liking. Why go through this amp, that amp, another amp? This points to a source or speaker/room issue you are trying to correct, or we are dealing with someone that can't stand high frequencies and wants a rolled off amplifier. I have been in this game long enough my damn self. Edited December 30, 2015 by paul79 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A1UC Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 Yeah what said !!! Get em tiger Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerwoodKhorns Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 This place cracks me up. A simple question to the pros/cons of the Forum favorite VRD turns, as always, into a pissssin' contest. I still like the hobby, but don't get that involved anymore. Just don't care enough, or have the time, to argue over this stuff. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjimbo Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 A simple question to the pros/cons of the Forum favorite VRD Really? The Forum favorite? Perhaps one that has been complimented quite a bit for build quality, sound and customer service, but then, so have Justin Weber's ampsandsound products. And both deservedly so. Not to mention the fact that the percentage of VRD owners to owners of other amps, whether they be tube or SS, would be quite small. And, as with Paul I ask, what is your point anyway? A pissin' contest....you want a pissin' contest? Go to a crossover thread. That's where all the pissers hang out..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Smith Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 Maynard's amps are best. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wstrickland1 Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 my MC275 is the best. Why? Cuz I paid a lot of money for it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul79 Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 How is that exactly? You plan on running your amps at full power output all the time?? Give me a break man.... You serious with that? I would stick a CCS at the tail to force AC balance. Pretty sure he would have if it was "that" important..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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