I Recently Became An Audiophile.

[Selmerdave]

The picture you posted seems to show the power supply model number, there might be more info for the actual unit, you say it's made by Ross? The front of the unit would probably have a model name or number on it.

Edit: I did find pictures of Ross 6500 8-track

 

[Selmerdave]

Does it work as is? Seems possible that is for an EZ81 rectifier tube. You said it was for connecting but it's not clear what the basis of that statement is. But if it was the socket for a rectifier it would not operate without it.

 

[62caddy]

Nothing says a tube socket can’t serve other electrical purposes. In this case it was most likely done for reasons of economy. Possibly it helped simplify production and/or repairs by way of a quick connector and the 9 pin socket fit the bill.

 

[Yeeterkeeter]

The picture you posted seems to show the power supply model number, there might be more info for the actual unit, you say it's made by Ross? The front of the unit would probably have a model name or number on it.

Edit: I did find pictures of Ross 6500 8-track

Nope. It just has the Ross logo on it, and what it does; *ROSS* AM/FM 8track Stereo or something like that. No model numbers, no date of manufacture

 

[Yeeterkeeter]

Nothing says a tube socket can’t serve other electrical purposes. In this case it was most likely done for reasons of economy.

That’s exactly what I’m thinking. Economy

 

[Yeeterkeeter]

Does it work as is? Seems possible that is for an EZ81 rectifier tube. You said it was for connecting but it's not clear what the basis of that statement is. But if it was the socket for a rectifier it would not operate without it.

It works fine, and sounds fine. It’s for connecting the independent 8track player to the stereo. If it’s not connected, the 8track player will turn on and play music, but it won’t work

 

[Bushikan]

I’ve used both and in combination. There are drawbacks and benefits to both. It really depends on your situation and needs and especially your speakers.

I lived with SS since the late 1960s, when I first got a stereo. Bought my first tube amp and then tube preamp beginning in 2016 (McIntosh tubes—going from McIntosh SS). SS and tubes are very different on my system. I was completely unprepared for and surprised by the sonic differences and benefits of going all tube. Flabbergasted!

I lost a bit of deep, chest-thumping bass thwack with a tube amp; but, with tubes, I got all kinds of magical sonic experiences I didn’t know were even possible on my Klipschorns. Voices flow like liquid. Midrange is hypnotic. Bass is more dimensional and natural and various.

Sure, tubes are space heaters in both summer and winter; more temperamental and require more upkeep; they sound their best after a long warmup period. But I’m completely sold on tubes. Don’t ever plan to go back to SS. Next will be a Lampizator tube DAC.

 

[Yeeterkeeter]

I’ve used both and in combination. There are drawbacks and benefits to both. It really depends on your situation and needs and especially your speakers.

I lived with SS since the late 1960s, when I first got a stereo. Bought my first tube amp and then tube preamp beginning in 2016 (McIntosh tubes—going from McIntosh SS). SS and tubes are very different on my system. I was completely unprepared for and surprised by the sonic differences and benefits of going all tube. Flabbergasted!

I lost a bit of deep, chest-thumping bass thwack with a tube amp; but, with tubes, I got all kinds of magical sonic experiences I didn’t know were even possible on my Klipschorns. Voices flow like liquid. Midrange is hypnotic. Bass is more dimensional and natural and various.

Sure, tubes are space heaters in both summer and winter; more temperamental and require more upkeep; they sound their best after a long warmup period. But I’m completely sold on tubes. Don’t ever plan to go back to SS. Next will be a Lampizator tube DAC.

I'm thinking about getting myself an ST-35 for Christmas, since its a tube amp, and its fairly cheap. I don't want anything that has bluetooth in it, since I don't like bluetooth. I'm looking forward to it, but I gotta save up first

 

[Selmerdave]

I'm thinking about getting myself an ST-35 for Christmas, since its a tube amp, and its fairly cheap. I don't want anything that has bluetooth in it, since I don't like bluetooth. I'm looking forward to it, but I gotta save up first

That would be a good choice.

 

[zackthedog]

That would be a good choice.

I agree. A nice starter PP integrated amp, and upgradeable too.

 

[Yeeterkeeter]

I agree. A nice starter PP integrated amp, and upgradeable too.

Yeah, and they’re on the cheaper side. I’m gonna have it preassembled because I do not want to **** it up.

 

[markmcmuz]

Alright, thanks, I think I understand more now; What you mean by the sound quality and why vacuum tubes fell out of fashion, because my god they're expensive

Back in the hey day of tube audio they were a lot cheaper cuz tubes were used in everything pretty much. So yes now they are not cheap! One thing I like about tube audio is you can build components yourself.

 

[Yeeterkeeter]

Back in the hey day of tube audio they were a lot cheaper cuz tubes were used in everything pretty much. So yes now they are not cheap! One thing I like about tube audio is you can build components yourself.

I’m guessing the reason why the Bluetooth ones you see on eBay/Amazon are so cheap is that there’s some factory in China that is producing low quality tube components to use in these new amps. Good tube audio is expensive, and takes a lot of effort to get right.

 

[Selmerdave]

It depends a little bit on what "expensive" is defined as... But generally speaking I wouldn't say tube audio is particularly expensive, in a lot of ways it's quite inexpensive, just not Amazon $150 inexpensive. What is expensive is high-power iron with good bandwidth, and labor. If you do the labor and stick with efficient enough speakers that you don't need a lot of power, you can do very well for not a lot of money.

 

[Gigantic]

Would you consider yourself handy? That can affect budget a fair bit, not because tube amps are unreliable (they shouldn't be) but because with some capability and knowledge you can get high quality at relatively low cost.

This is a pretty salient point. You don't necessarily have to be handy to own gear, you get by with loads of money... That said, there are many simple mods that can make a decent amp into an excellent one, refurbishing vintage gear is also a great bang for the buck and kits are a great value.

That said, in my opinion, a tube amp should be one of the last additions to your system, especially if you're just starting out and building from scratch. focus on your speakers, first: efficient, high sensitivity speakers are a great starting point, regardless if you're doing tubes or not. then, get your media components generally sorted, then experiment with tubes.

 

[Yeeterkeeter]

This is a pretty salient point. You don't necessarily have to be handy to own gear, you get by with loads of money... That said, there are many simple mods that can make a decent amp into an excellent one, refurbishing vintage gear is also a great bang for the buck and kits are a great value.

That said, in my opinion, a tube amp should be one of the last additions to your system, especially if you're just starting out and building from scratch. focus on your speakers, first: efficient, high sensitivity speakers are a great starting point, regardless if you're doing tubes or not. then, get your media components generally sorted, then experiment with tubes.

I would consider myself “decently handy” as I’ve repaired a set of JBL 4301’s. As for assembling something from scratch, I need to work on that, and thats why I want to have it assembled for me. I also want to learn more about electrical engineering, since my expertise in that area is lacking.

 

[Yeeterkeeter]

It depends a little bit on what "expensive" is defined as... But generally speaking I wouldn't say tube audio is particularly expensive, in a lot of ways it's quite inexpensive, just not Amazon $150 inexpensive. What is expensive is high-power iron with good bandwidth, and labor. If you do the labor and stick with efficient enough speakers that you don't need a lot of power, you can do very well for not a lot of money.

The ST35 I’m getting is going to be 700 dollars when all is said and done, which is decently expensive to me, but I don’t exactly have a reference point

 

[Selmerdave]

The ST35 I’m getting is going to be 700 dollars when all is said and done, which is decently expensive to me, but I don’t exactly have a reference point

Sure, and as I said that is an excellent choice. I also suggested in my first post in this thread that you rebuild a Magnavox console amp, which should be possible to find for $200 or less. With a rebuild and updates involving probably less than $75 in parts it could be an excellent amp, it won't quite have the performance of an ST-35 but between about 50Hz and 15kHz it would probably be extremely close. Between the two I think the ST-35 is the simpler option to start with and ultimately a better amp, but at more than double the price the performance advantage is not that huge.

The things that cost are transformers and labor. Once one starts wanting the capacitors that won the cap shootout YouTube video and buying five different sets of tubes to "find the flavor", costs go up quickly, but that stuff is more about fulfilling desires than anything else. Spend the money you can on excellent transformers and a fundamentally good amp, the ST-35 is that.

 

[Gigantic]

I would consider myself “decently handy” as I’ve repaired a set of JBL 4301’s. As for assembling something from scratch, I need to work on that, and thats why I want to have it assembled for me. I also want to learn more about electrical engineering, since my expertise in that area is lacking.

If you can make a clean solder joint and read a schematic, you can do simple mods to a tube amp or make repairs. Building a kit is not that much more complicated.

 

[adnick]

@Yeeterkeeter you’ll love the ST35 it’s an excellent amp with the right speakers….congrats & enjoy


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Andy