Klipsch RF7 Posted December 23, 2003 Share Posted December 23, 2003 ---------------- On 12/23/2003 9:45:26 AM sheltie dave wrote: If you are really concerned about electrical safety and have a morbid fear of voltage after tying up this forum for the last week, you might consider a passive electrical amplifier stereo system, like a windup Victrola. It still has horn speakers ---------------- Ive got one, a big brass horned gramaphone. It sounds great if i may add Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garymd Posted December 23, 2003 Share Posted December 23, 2003 Craig walked me through biasing in about 10 minutes over the phone. I'm a tube idiot BTW. It's easy and it's the only thing I've had to do. It sounded great before and even better after. I waited about a month before biasing. I wouldn't recommend that however. If that's your only concern, don't let it stop you from buying tube equipment. Some tube amps are self biasing, like Macs. That's another but much more expensive option and chances are it won't even sound as good as the less expensive scotts or fishers. We will be very dissappointed in your decision making capabilities if you scrap tubes due to that small factor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubinhard Posted December 23, 2003 Share Posted December 23, 2003 Craig may have to add warning labels to his biasing instructions for liability reasons. "WARNING! Placing tongue between probes of the multimeter and biasing points will cause unusual brain activity. Also, under no circumstances work on your NOS Valves Scott amp while taking a bath." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klipsch RF7 Posted December 23, 2003 Share Posted December 23, 2003 Ok, ill take your guys word for it Im seriously considering buying Josh's Fisher 400 amp. Im going to attempt to Bias it, but if you guys dont hear from me for a few days dont worry, im with the all mighty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile homeless Posted December 23, 2003 Share Posted December 23, 2003 Georg, while I personally dont believe that there is anything to be worried about in biasing an amp, if it means the difference in your getting a tube amp or not, I would definitely consider the other option; get an amp that does not require biasing or an auto biasing amp. There are MANY MANY to choose from both vintage and modern. And while some may argue the sonic merit of fixed bias vs autio bias, there are quite a few excellent sounding autobias amps. The only thing you would have to be concerned with is changing tubes. I did teach my old girlfriend and a 58 yr old female English teacher (who admittedly had the mechanical inclination of a Rock Cornish Game Hen) to bias their amps (Jolida 302) and both actually enjoy the process now. So do a number of others I have helped in getting a system set up. On the other hand, you just might be one that doesnt feel like messing with anything, although your old record player surely doesnt count in this catergory. Dont write of tube amplification yet. There are a TON of options, many, many not even discussed that much within this forum. There are more tube amps to choose from now than in the last 30 years, actually. And the autobias feature is found all over - it just might be what you want. I am beginning to think you would best be suited with a modern amp judging by some of your comments. kh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubinhard Posted December 23, 2003 Share Posted December 23, 2003 No doubt. The choices seem almost endless. Hey, I like biasing my amp -- it makes me feel like I actually KNOW something about this stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klipsch RF7 Posted December 23, 2003 Share Posted December 23, 2003 Is that Cayin self Biasing? Also, on my new Rotel reciever it doesnt have anything labeled Phono input, can i still connect a turn table to it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny dB Posted December 23, 2003 Share Posted December 23, 2003 ---------------- On 12/23/2003 12:11:40 PM Georg Friedrich Handel wrote: Is that Cayin self Biasing? Also, on my new Rotel reciever it doesnt have anything labeled Phono input, can i still connect a turn table to it? ---------------- Nope and nope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klipsch RF7 Posted December 23, 2003 Share Posted December 23, 2003 ---------------- On 12/23/2003 12:22:27 PM Johnny dB wrote: Nope and nope. ---------------- Oh well, I wonder why they dont put phono inputs on these recievers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny dB Posted December 23, 2003 Share Posted December 23, 2003 It's not cost effective. They figure 95% of the people that buy HTR won't or don't own a TT. There are exceptions. My Yamaha has a nice sounding phono section. As far as the Cayin goes, for an extra $79, Paul will put a bias mod on so that makes it alot easier to bias and you can use a wider range of tubes such as the KT88. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klipsch RF7 Posted December 23, 2003 Share Posted December 23, 2003 ---------------- On 12/23/2003 12:42:59 PM Johnny dB wrote: It's not cost effective. They figure 95% of the people that buy HTR won't or don't own a TT. There are exceptions. My Yamaha has a nice sounding phono section. As far as the Cayin goes, for an extra $79, Paul will put a bias mod on so that makes it alot easier to bias and you can use a wider range of tubes such as the KT88. ---------------- Ok cool, so the KT88 is a real nice tube i presume? Does it bring forth the soundstage that i desire? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny dB Posted December 23, 2003 Share Posted December 23, 2003 I've never heard it, but I've read good things. Just having the option to roll different tubes would be nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted December 23, 2003 Share Posted December 23, 2003 As far as the Cayin goes, for an extra $79, Paul will put a bias mod on so that makes it alot easier to bias and you can use a wider range of tubes such as the KT88. I would be very careful with that if I was you it may work but......If the PS is not absolutely designed to handle the load of a KT88 ulgy things can happen. The amp comes with EL34's and most likely designed with them in mind. Its much safer to have a amp that is designed to run KT88's and try EL34's then the reverse. A KT88 needs much mopre current to sounds its best ! Not to mention the strin on the PS ! Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3dzapper Posted December 23, 2003 Share Posted December 23, 2003 Another good thing about individually adjustable bias: You don't have to be as fussy with having a pair of perfectly matched tubes. That makes it a lot easier and less expensive to roll tubes than having to purchase everything in matched quads and hoping that they stay matched over their lifetime. My $.02 Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garymd Posted December 23, 2003 Share Posted December 23, 2003 You can always buy a seperate phono-pre if the amp has no inputs. A decent one will cost you a couple hundred or more so take that into consideration when pricing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texas42 Posted December 23, 2003 Author Share Posted December 23, 2003 Well, I can add that the 5-10 minutes twice a year to bias my Cayin is a verrrrrrrry minor inconvenience relative to the sound it offers. Paul B. added the external biasing nodes on mine as well as a variable feedback control that allows you to tailor the sound to your tastes. Very nice indeed; listening to it now... Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny dB Posted December 23, 2003 Share Posted December 23, 2003 ---------------- On 12/23/2003 1:47:15 PM texas42 wrote: Well, I can add that the 5-10 minutes twice a year to bias my Cayin is a verrrrrrrry minor inconvenience relative to the sound it offers. Paul B. added the external biasing nodes on mine as well as a variable feedback control that allows you to tailor the sound to your tastes. Very nice indeed; listening to it now... Dave ---------------- So you did get the focus control. Does it seem to make a huge difference. Did you get the Auricaps, as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texas42 Posted December 23, 2003 Author Share Posted December 23, 2003 ---------------- On 12/23/2003 1:53:55 PM Johnny dB wrote: ---------------- On 12/23/2003 1:47:15 PM texas42 wrote: Well, I can add that the 5-10 minutes twice a year to bias my Cayin is a verrrrrrrry minor inconvenience relative to the sound it offers. Paul B. added the external biasing nodes on mine as well as a variable feedback control that allows you to tailor the sound to your tastes. Very nice indeed; listening to it now... Dave ---------------- So you did get the focus control. Does it seem to make a huge difference. Did you get the Auricaps, as well? ---------------- Not sure about 'huge' difference as I've never listened to it without it (bought it new with the option). I can say though you can get a dramatic effect depending on wher you have it set. The 'normal' setting would be 12 o'clock. I generally keep it set at about 1230 or 1 o'clock. Seems to work best in my listening room. Regards, Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klipsch RF7 Posted December 23, 2003 Share Posted December 23, 2003 Where can i buy a Cayin with the bias mod? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny dB Posted December 23, 2003 Share Posted December 23, 2003 Georg, have you not gone to the 2baudio website the very first one Craig suggested. I'm starting to get the feeling you're not really "trying" here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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