• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Are tubes like drugs ?

if i spot anything that remotely resembles a tube, i get all excited, loose control and feel the blood rushing through my vein. if i don't see a glow of tubes atleast once a day, i get agitated and anxious.:sigh:
 
BoilermakerF said:
No! Stop the insanity! Don't use a Sawzall, just use a nut driver or screwdriver to remove the amps and PSU, then ship the consoles to me! I'm ok with receiving gutted consoles, just don't scrap the wood or workmanship!



markus

I have a Magnavox 268B mono console. I believe you posted a while back that you have one. Actually, my Google search on the 268B lead me to AK. To your knowledge, is the FM tuner already stereo? I can see the provisions for the stereo input from the turntable and the speaker output on the amp. The speaker output is blank, but there is an RCA jack for the second channel on the phono input.

The unit wasn't working when I got it (for free), but it had three blown tubes. Just happened to have them on one of the other consoles I salvaged. It still needs a new power cord, but I think it will glow after I swap that out. I was planning to gut it and convert it to a tube hybrid integrated console, but now I've reconsidered that choice if I can get it to work.

I'm building (3) Millett MAX headphone amps into preamps for my consoles that are trashed. They will be feeding hybrid tube-buffered inverted gainclone amps. So, I haven't listened to a tube amp in over 25 years, but I still remember how my first hand-me-down integrated tube stereo sounded and I can't wait to hear these again! So, am I new addict or a former addict coming back to the habit?
Click to expand...

Were you able to get it to work? Do you have pictures?
 
@Demolina

This thread is close to 12 years old, with no reply also close to 12 years old. The member who you quoted and asked a question of has not posted on AK since 10 years ago. I doubt you're going to get a reply.
 
I see in your profile page you asked the following

"Does anyone out there have pictures of a vintage (1950s) Magnavox 268B console? Mine was modified so I would like to see an original."

I would suggest creating your own new thread as no one is going to reply to the above question in your profile page.
 
Sandy G said:
Uh-huh. One Boatanchor leads to another, since you DON'T want the 1st one to get Lonely, then a 3rd one would be nice, too, but they're outta balance so's a 4th one is in order, it was too small so I gotta get #5...1st thing you know, you've devoted a ROOM in yr house to th' damthings... And of course, if you have Tooob stuff, you gotta get a Stash of Tooobs, then a Tooob tester, a Vacuum Tube Voltmeter, more Stash, a "Good" Tooob tester, 'cause you read yr 1st one wasn't any good, & some fool says TV-2s are the Bee's Knees...a Rack to store & catalog yr Stash in,.... No, no way, Tooob stuff ain't in any way like an addiction or obsession.. Addictions 'n' obsessions are MILD by comparison...
Click to expand...

This is definitely how it happened to me. Now I struggle to see carpet anywhere. LOL
 
My opinion differs.
Tubes are like good locally grown organic vegetables served with a wild caught salmon or venison, prepared with love and eaten with family. Tubes are real and they feed the soul and leave the user satisfied and satiated as they drift off to sleep.

Modern disposable "fad" hifi is a drug. Its often excessively cheap due to being cut (usually in the power supply). They sell you marketing garbage like "no feedback design" knowing its not likely to work well with anything... knowing you will keep coming back.

People do drugs because they arent getting their needs met. I tend to think people who acquire every amp they come across arent getting their needs met. The solution which set me straight was to build a good quality 50 watt tube power amp, and feel the real.

I roll doobies. Not tubes.

I still acquire good tubes and amps when i find them, but ive learned what to walk away from. These days i walk right by most of it...

I love cheeseburgers, i am familiar with what goes into a good one, which is why i drive right by every cheseburger stand in this one horse town and don't stop. I love cheseburgers enough to not settle for the low quality of the local restaurants. You definitely dont see me pulling into the Burger king, just because i like cheseburgers...
Im not starving, ill wait for an enjoyable burger. Perhaps ill just make my own...
 
Last edited:
Elfasto said:
Is the hobby addictive and obsessive? Yes.

Can you snort tubes? No.
Can you inject tubes? No.
Can you put tubes in a bong and smoke them? No.
Can you put tubes on your tongue and get a LSD-like reaction? No.
Can you Hotknife tubes? No.
Can you crackpipe tubes? No.

So.....no. :D
Click to expand...
It's not the delivery method that makes the drug. It's the addiction and I would say that tubes are on the level of nicotine. (Today is the day I'll quit.......insert drug of choice here) Could be the compulsive purchase of tube stuff in search of the next, better audio high) :)
 
I might be thinning out some of my gear soon, though it may be difficult to let some of it go. I don’t buy tubes often anymore either. I have plenty of most of what I need, though I will be getting a new set of EL34’s for one amp. I’ll install and won’t replace them again until they begin to degrade.


The last amp I bought is running on the stock tube set, going on one year. I bought a couple Sovtek 5AR4’s as spares. I have no desire to change any of the tubes as long as they are functioning properly.


The person who aligned my 340B told me a customer was getting funny with his Fisher 400 receiver, he was going to sell it to the shop but then changed his mind.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom