Finally: all tubes all the time (warning: long winded)

[Wes_in_VA]

I went all tubes in my mancave a while back but I was still running a ss amp in the main system. I finally decided that I was of the mind to switch that over to tubes too so I ordered a Yaqin MC10L integrated and I've been anxiously awaiting it.
After I ordered that I started thinking about the Sherwood S5500 that I bought as a part of a cool MCM console a while back, and the fact that I haven't really tried it out since I got it rehabbed.

Pulled it out over the weekend and I was immediately smitten. Very sweet sound. Seemed a little lacking versus my mancave setup but I was still really happy. I was using some old lampcord speaker wire so this morning I built some new speaker cables for it but didn't have time to try them out. I was pretty excited to come home and try things...

Then the Yaqin showed up at work today. Decisions decisions.
The first decision I made was to make up for my 7 day week last week and come home a bit early to play with some audio toys. :thmbsp:

I figured I needed to give the Sherwood some time. It's been pretty unloved.
As I went to plug the new cables up I realized, too, that I had plugged the Monitor Audios up to the 8ohm tap when I first tried the amp out. Oh boy. This could be a fun night if that makes things even better, too.

And whatever it was, it is indeed a fun evening!

I'm listening to Little Feat's "Waiting for Columbus" on the MOFI cd and I'm pretty sure Lowell George--or at least his ghost--is in my living room.

Tubes are where it's at. I may be preaching to the choir here, but HALLELUJAH, friends, tubes are IT.


Guess the Yaqin will sit in the box for the night. I'm a little embarrassed by my tube riches...but I'm sure as hell gonna roll with it.

 

[Kegger]

Sounds like a lotta fun, now and later.

 

[ferninando]

I have 2 tuber preamps to put to use. an eico hf85 and a dynaco pas2. they are "in the works" tho. currently using a SS pre with very good results.
My Dyna ST70 really sings.

 

[Wes_in_VA]

I got my Yaqin MC10L on Monday. It's really, really pretty and seems well built. The only issue I can see is that the volume knob shaft has the slightest bend.
My problem is that I recently pulled out my Sherwood S5500 that I had rehabbed a while ago, and I'm enjoying it so much that I haven't even plugged up the Yaqin!
The Sherwood is a GREAT unit. The sound is so rich it's oozing. Music just sounds sooooo good. Great punch, a superb soundstage and just musical as hell. It's somewhat lacking in the highest ranges, likely related to the old tubes??
I was running a pretty nice SS amp with the Legacy 432 driven by the tube AI Modulus IIb. But for my ears, this Sherwood is just much nicer.

Anyway, I'm trying to get some time with this Sherwood to be able to compare it to the Yaqin, and then the Yaqin to both the Sherwood and the Eico HF20's that I'm running in my dedicated listening room. So far the Sherwood has been put through the paces with some Little Feat, Shelby Lynne, Osamu Kitajima and there's some Pink Floyd forthcoming if I can get my 10 yr old through his homework!

I just might make it to plugging in the Yaqin tonight. I sure hope so...
If so, pics will be forthcoming.

 

[Wes_in_VA]

Yaqin is powering up!

Well, the 10 yr old is till lagging behind on the homework...but I plugged up the new amp regardless.
It's warming up as I type so here's a few pics for now:

The pic below is kinda messy. I just pulled the Sherwood out and stuck it on the middle shelf while the new amp warms up. After I harass the kid about his homework a bit, I'll go clean that up.

 

[aedaza]

Care to compare?

 

[Wes_in_VA]

Oh, compare I will.
I'm only 3 songs into the Yaqin but I'm very impressed. There's certainly better separation with this. Maybe that's just new tubes versus old tired ones, but still...
I think the soundstage is a bit deeper, too.
I'll reserve any more until it's warmed up more and maybe even broken in a bit.
My immediate reaction, though, is very, very positive.

 

[aedaza]

Oh, compare I will.
I'm only 3 songs into the Yaqin but I'm very impressed. There's certainly better separation with this. Maybe that's just new tubes versus old tired ones, but still...
I think the soundstage is a bit deeper, too.
I'll reserve any more until it's warmed up more and maybe even broken in a bit.
My immediate reaction, though, is very, very positive.

Thanks!! I have not had the opportunity to listen to modern tube gear,, I have read it is somewhat different,, dont know

 

[audiobiker]

you are making me want to buy a nice tube amp :drool:

 

[Wes_in_VA]

you are making me want to buy a nice tube amp :drool:

:thmbsp: Tubes R Good

I've really fallen in love with the tube sound. This Yaqin is (likely) replacing a very nice Legacy (Coda) 432 amp driven by an Audible Illusions Modulus preamp, a combo that's no slouch.
I just LOVE the soundstage and the midrange richness that the tubes provide. Plus, if I keep this setup, I can move the AI preamp into the mancave and make even more goodness down there.
My goal is to use the Yaqin while I save up for something really sweet for this setup, but I'm also saving for a rehab of the Eicos down in the mancave. If only I could win the lottery.....

 

[derekva]

Completely apropos to nothing in this thread, I just want to say that I dig your avatar, Wes. :thmbsp:

-D

 

[charles 1973]

That is cool gear (well hot actually), I alway's liked Tube's. The closest I've got is a Hybred FM Tuner.

I was curious why Tubed gear has that unique sound, FWIU much of it comes from the Output Transformers used on the Power Amps, not so much the Presence of Tubes. Something Similar is avaliable with SS Amps, while other SS Amps, like my old Audio Design PA 100 have a slightly rolled off HF to produce that fuller midrange.

Both Tube and SS Single Ended Amp's apparently produce Even order Harmonic Distortion, that in sufficient quanities is rather pleasent to listen to, It adds Presence to Music, and effects the soundstage in a 3-D sort of way. Think of Even Order HD like good collesterol. Most SS Amps, and many Tube Power Amps Do not use this Topology however.

This effect can be implemented Anywhere in the Chain, and with the Proper Associated Gear, Whether it be Tube's or SS sounds wonderfull IMO too. This is why I bought my Dynalab Hybred FM Tuner. It uses a pair of 6922 Triodes that give it a Presence, and Soundstage that expands Beyond the Speakers, and Forward into the room to Envelop me with the music, While the speakers Completly Disappear.

 

[Wes_in_VA]

Completely apropos to nothing in this thread, I just want to say that I dig your avatar, Wes. :thmbsp:

-D

Thanks!
That's one of our hens. I think she tried to eat the camera lens right as this pic was being snapped. Chickens are fun, but they sure are dumb.

 

[Wes_in_VA]

:thmbsp: Tubes R Good

Plus, if I keep this setup, I can move the AI preamp into the mancave and make even more goodness down there.

Ooops.
Tried the AI with the Eicos. I forgot that the AI has a higher output than many pres and I got a nasty buzzing with it. I hope I didn't damage the Eicos while I tired to troubleshoot before I realized the problem. :thumbsdn:
All seemed okay once I went back to the GF Tube DAC as a pre so I think I'm okay??

 

[scuba]

You'll love the Yaqin. As you can see in my signature, I have various tube set-ups, and the only one that makes in in my main setup are the Yaqins. I have rolled all the Stock tubes with vintage tubes with the exeption of the drivers (costs more than the amp to replace), and the sound is even better than I could ever have hoped for at this price point.
To make a short story long! Bang for the buck, you won't beat it at twice the price.

 

[derekva]

Thanks!
That's one of our hens. I think she tried to eat the camera lens right as this pic was being snapped. Chickens are fun, but they sure are dumb.

If you think chickens are dumb, you should try turkeys. Our turkey makes our chickens look like little Einsteins at times .

(OK, a couple of our hens are dumber than the turkey)

-D

 

[Wes_in_VA]

You'll love the Yaqin. As you can see in my signature, I have various tube set-ups, and the only one that makes in in my main setup are the Yaqins. I have rolled all the Stock tubes with vintage tubes with the exeption of the drivers (costs more than the amp to replace), and the sound is even better than I could ever have hoped for at this price point.
To make a short story long! Bang for the buck, you won't beat it at twice the price.

I imagine I'll be rolling in some new tubes once the break-in period is over with the stock ones. I'll at least give it some time to see how those change.
I'm really happy with it...though the imaging is definitely not what it was with the big ole Legacy in the system.
For future reference, what tubes did you roll in?

 

[scuba]

I swappped the stock tubes in the MC100B with a quad of matched vintage Sylvania 6SN7-GTB silver tops and a pair of Telefunken 12AX7's. I put a pair of WWII vintage RCA CRC 6SN7 GT's in my phono stage and another pair of Raytheon JAN-6SN7-WGT black plate tubes in the CD player. I have a few other tubes I may try at a later date.
If you are looking for tubes, There is someone called byoungman on barter town. He is the person who sold me all these tubes, and he is probably one of the best persons I have had the pleasure of doing business with. Verry knowledgeable and seems to have an unobtainium mine somewhere as he has amazing stuff available. I suggest you contact him with a list of what you need and he will get back to you with suggestions.

 

[datafone]

Hi Wes

If you like the Yaqin straight out of the box, you are in for a treat once you get a lot more hours up on it.
The transformers and some other stuff takes time to run-in also, It's not just the tubes :thmbsp:

The Chinese 6N1's are very average, when i had mine I replaced them with Russian 6N1P-EV's.....much better, and while the Chinese EL-34's are not bad sounding, I replaced those with Winged C's, and they provided a much more balanced sound from top to bottom as well as other pluses over the stock tubes.
I run Winged C's in my custom amp that was built around the transformers from the MC-10L I had.

There are mods that can take the MC-10L to a new level, so you can go a fair way with that amp, have fun mate

 

[Wes_in_VA]

I rearranged some stuff so here are some better pics of the setup and the Yaqin:

You can see here the Sherwood waiting in the batter's box in case it's called into duty again soon.

The Yaqin is a pretty little number for sure:

Having only used vintage tube amps til now, it sure is nice having modern connections on this one: