jcmusic Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 I need some info on tube cd's, which ones do you guy's recomend and which ones to stay away from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lindsey Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 What is your budget? Will you be using this with your Marantz gear? Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcmusic Posted February 23, 2006 Author Share Posted February 23, 2006 No, i will not be using this with the SS gear. My budget is in the $500-$1000 range. I am going to tubes for this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BS Button Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 If you go with a tube pre-amp, then you should have 80+% of the tube sound covered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcmusic Posted February 23, 2006 Author Share Posted February 23, 2006 Meaning what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Matthews Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 Meaning a tube-pre is considered by some to be the most important link in the "tube-sounding" chain. I heard the differences for myself doing an A/B comparison between my all-SS system and another all-tube system. We switched one component at a time. By far, the most remarkable was the tube pre. The tube CD vs. SS CD was unremarkable - really inaudible. Maybe I got a "lucky" CD player... IDK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcmusic Posted February 23, 2006 Author Share Posted February 23, 2006 Jeff, You are telling me that a tube pre-amp is going to give me of a tube sound than a tube amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Matthews Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 It was that way when we did the test. I still have all-SS, so I can assure you my opinion is unbiased. I own no tube equipment at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcmusic Posted February 23, 2006 Author Share Posted February 23, 2006 Jeff, Do you remember what kind of pre-amp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Matthews Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 It was a Scott (L-something?) that Craig LeMay (Born2RockU) owns (he had it updated/refreshed/whatever) by Craig Otsby (NosValves). You can do a member search, find them, and look at their profiles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcmusic Posted February 23, 2006 Author Share Posted February 23, 2006 thanks for the tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Matthews Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 No problem. Not to over-complicate your path, but I've heard tube-a-philes on this forum laud a brand of tube pres called "JuicyMusic." I've never heard them myself. Both the "Merlin" and "Peach" models seem to be highly regarded. I think it is MDeneen (another forum member) who sells these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Spinner Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 Jolida jd-100 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbflash Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 canyonman, just looking what you have right now this is what i'd do: Peach/Blueberry Pre (I have only tried 3 tube pre's and the Peach is my favorite. Never heard the Blueberry) Heart 6000 CDP (its a Marantz 6000 CDP with tube output) Use your Marantz amps. A tube pre and SS amp is a very nice combo. I have used it in the past. I have had a Heart CDP for about 3 years with no troubles, but I'm starting to get upgrade fever. I'm looking at either getting Audio Note xport/dac, Classe CDP or putting the tube amps up for awhile and get SS mono blocks. Then if i were you I'd sit back for 6-12 months and enjoy the music. When you are done you are going to have a killer system. Good Luck. I have enjoyed reading your journey so far. Danny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audible Nectar Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 The Ah! Njoe Tjoeb 4000 is a great CD deck, too. Get one of these with good tubes and it's an outstanding source addition to your system. The upsampler upgrade gets RAVES. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilbert Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 The Ah! Njoe Tjoeb 4000 is a great CD deck, too. Get one of these with good tubes and it's an outstanding source addition to your system. The upsampler upgrade gets RAVES. BIG DITTO THAT!! I did a fair bit of research (over 3 weeks worth of reading), and the Ah! is not only the best bang for the buck, but the best tube CD player. Joliad 2nd, Shandling a sloppy 3rd. The only draw back with the Ah! is no SACD playback. But what it does with RedBook is sensational. Incredible sound. The upsampler is an absolute must. And when you save up a little, drop in a pair of telefunken or siemens CCa tubes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrt Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 I have to agree with the above- the biggest "tube" impact as I changed from ss to tube was the preamp. If you like to solder, I cannot recommend the Bottlehead equipment highly enough. Really outstanding sound/cost value. I have never heard the Juicy music equipment, so I won't compare. The amps I built (300B SE amps) made a difference of course, and are beautiful sounding, but the preamp was more influential. I've been curious to try a tubed CD as well, so please follow up on your decision. Right now, I'm running a modified foreplay (Bottlehead preamp), 300B's for the mid/high and a "gainclone" for the woofers on a pair of Khorns. Outstanding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BS Button Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 Well, I haven't spent my kids education money, yet, but I've cycled several units through the system in the last year and a half. I've listened to two tube pre's, one tube integrated, 4 solid state pre's with SS amps, two: make that three, no four tube ampifiers and 5 solid state amps. The best for me is tube pre and solid state amp. Coming in dead last was SS pre and tube amp: that was horrid! and I mean really bad. BS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbsl Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 Gilbert are siemens CCa tubes the ones they offer on their website? I am thinking about buying a Ah! Njoe Tjoeb 4000 with upsampler in April/May to go with the Welborne Moondogs I bought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robster Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 Hello-I love my Ah' Njoe tube cdp,I bought mine off Audiogon MINT with upsampler and spare NOS tubes.When I checked a few days ago there's one on Audiogon now for $800. Cheers, Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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