Guy Landau Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 " If it measures good and sounds bad, - it is bad. If it sounds good and measures bad, - you've measured the wrong thing." Daniel R. von Recklinghausen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile homeless Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 True comments on the measurement aspect, Al. Yet I was mainly talking about the GROSS misuse of distortion measurements throughout the 70s at the height of the distortion wars. Amps were coming out with lower and lower THD measurements, yet the sound was more and more horrid. I think measurements are important in development and troubleshooting as well, but they have been so abused in fortelling the actual sound of the gear or its value. Still, on the whole, I agree that they ARE important. It's just that most users end up buying by the figures and heading down the wrong path. Whether it's distortion, power ratings, or frequency respoonse, all have been abused to no end by manufacturers. kh ps - Guy, that is a great quote... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Songer Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 NO kidding--I really DON'T give a crap about THD measurements! If something sounds good to me I like it--if it doesn't I don't like it. End of story. If presented with a bunch of various and conflicting THD measurements would I change my mind? Nope. Therefore they do not matter to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 Holy fright Guy just quoted the chief engineer for HH Scott ! I have heard it all Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Klappenberger Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 Guy, " If it measures good and sounds bad, - it is bad. If it sounds good and measures bad, - you've measured the wrong thing." Daniel R. von Recklinghausen There's another possibility too. If it measures bad and sounds good, maybe you like this particular type of distortion! Two examples I have give before: 1-A musicians "fuzz box". 2-a "reverb". You just have to realize that, form a "hi fi" point of view, it's distortion! The fact that you like it doesn't alter that fact. It also don't have to interfere with your enjoyment of it if you DO like it. Just recognize it for what it is. Al K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garymd Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 ---------------- On 11/19/2003 5:54:54 PM mobile homeless wrote: True comments on the measurement aspect, Al. Yet I was mainly talking about the GROSS misuse of distortion measurements throughout the 70s at the height of the distortion wars. Amps were coming out with lower and lower THD measurements, yet the sound was more and more horrid. I think measurements are important in development and troubleshooting as well, but they have been so abused in fortelling the actual sound of the gear or its value. Still, on the whole, I agree that they ARE important. It's just that most users end up buying by the figures and heading down the wrong path. Whether it's distortion, power ratings, or frequency respoonse, all have been abused to no end by manufacturers. kh ps - Guy, that is a great quote... ---------------- When I was infatuated with all the latest SS mongo recievers in the mid-70s I found that the THD specs were very relevent within a certain group. Between tubes and SS, you can't compare. Apples to oranges. Between all the mid-fi SS gear, Pioneer, Sansui, Kenwood, Technics, etc., there seemed to be a fairly significant corelation between specs and performance. Those were my observations 25+ years ago as well I can remember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khorn58 Posted November 20, 2003 Author Share Posted November 20, 2003 oops! I forgot to put this link in the orig ? was having a lot of troulble with my net connection that day. This Is the New Vac moded 8b . what do you think? http://www.vac-amps.com/auriclepwr.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile homeless Posted November 20, 2003 Share Posted November 20, 2003 I was lucky to live mighty close to two tube amp manufacturers in VAC and Cary Audio. While I was around the Cary Audio home base all too often in the late 80s early 90s, I didnt get to visit Durham's VAC home, even though it was down the road. But I did get to meet Kevin Hayes, the man behind VAC and I would say he was pretty sharp and one of the more approachable; he's no slouch. I heard the big PA-90 of theirs years ago and it sounded quite nice (it was in a setup powering a pair of Martin-Logan Sequel II speakers run by Meitner digital). Some of their gear ie "Renaissance" have gotten very good comments but I know nothing of their 8B version. I wish they had a shot of the interior. Tony's comments seem plausible. I would go for a listen if possible. VAC is represented many places. I think they moved to Florida several years back. At $2000, that is a good price, although a REAL version might be feasible at this point and perhaps even more advisable depending on the condition. Also, try doing some searching in Tube Asylum. VAC seems to say the "Avatar" is the parent and there are PLENTY of comments on this amp in print and online. kh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khorn58 Posted November 20, 2003 Author Share Posted November 20, 2003 Mobil, thanks for posting the pic. I know you can get a real 8b for this price or less. I was just wondering if anyone here has had a listen through khorns with the real 8b and the vac 8b like amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul cbc Posted November 20, 2003 Share Posted November 20, 2003 While on the general Marantz subject- My local hifi shop has a Marantz 8-not 8b. He said the transformers on the 8 where outsourced, whereas in the 8b Marantz wound their own. Anyone compared the 8 vs 8b? paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkF Posted December 27, 2011 Share Posted December 27, 2011 The Marnatz model 8B reissue is the same as the 8B I had in my first system as a 15 year old in 1960's. At that time I used a Dyna PAS 3X for the preamp and a pair of JBL speakers and a Rek-o-Kut turntable. I in error sold the system in 1972, while in the Air Force. After my haiatus from audio and the return to it and to tubes in 1998, I longed for an 8B. I bought the 8B reissue commissioned by Marantz and made by Valve Amplification Company. I hooked it up, as it was in pentode mode and listened. Not bad, but then I hooked in in triode and it really started to sing. I used the 8B (triode mode)with a pair of LaScalla's (modified with ALK xover, JBL sqawker driver and EV T-350 tweeters), pasive preamp, AH Tjoeb tube CD player, LogicTech Squeeze Box Touch coupled to a Grant tube DAC. With this combination it sounds very smooth with enough power in reserve. The VAC 8B amp is really a nice amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest " " Posted December 27, 2011 Share Posted December 27, 2011 thanks for the update....to this old thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crooner Posted December 28, 2011 Share Posted December 28, 2011 I agree the reissue was very nicely built. However, I recently noticed the VAC units transformers were not potted. This is hard to detect since the two outputs and power trannies are inside a metal cover. Here's a picture of the 8B replica clearing showing the transformer end bells and they are definitely not potted. Why did VAC decided not to pot them? I have no clue. Cost? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunnysal Posted December 28, 2011 Share Posted December 28, 2011 as I mentioned a few years ago. the Marantz labled, VAC reproduced 8Bs had pretty much all the same contruction techniques and componentry as the original. while the VAC labeled 8Bs used newer and somewhat cheaper parts in some areas. is the photo above of the VAC labeled version? if so, the non-potted trannies would seem one way they deviated (and saved money) from the original Marantz units. regards, tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crooner Posted December 29, 2011 Share Posted December 29, 2011 This was a unit sold on eBay not so long ago, and it was clearly labeled as Marantz on the front including the meter bezel. However, looking at the back, I see no Marantz serial number label and the RCA input jacks are screwed on and not riveted. mmmmmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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