My Ever-Changing System...
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cube-tube
Super Member
Decided to go ahead and throw the Raytheon/Baldwin tubes on the "output" side of the preamp, so now NOS tubes coming and going... One word...
WOW!!!
Talk about a holographic sound! It's so three dimensional, so sultry, so emotional. It even seems to be more dynamic. It's certainly even quieter at the tweeter with nothing playing and just the ever so slightest "hiss" barely coming through at full volume. It's quite incredible what adding these tubes to the mix did.
WOW!!!
Talk about a holographic sound! It's so three dimensional, so sultry, so emotional. It even seems to be more dynamic. It's certainly even quieter at the tweeter with nothing playing and just the ever so slightest "hiss" barely coming through at full volume. It's quite incredible what adding these tubes to the mix did.
cube-tube
Super Member
Currently listening to Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation album. I was 14 when this album came out.
I remember my brother blasting this album on his system consisting of a Pioneer's VSX-4400 receiver back from 1988 (which I still have and use) along with a Realistic 10-band LED EQ with "IMX" Expander and a pair of Realistic Mach II's. It sounded really good considering. Very loud (for a tiny 10x12 bedroom) with loads of thumping bass with those Mach II's crammed into the corners on top of a couple of dressers.
Then one time when no one was home... That's a lie. It was actually several times. LOL! I snuck this CD into the living room where my father's system was, consisting of the TOTL Technics SU-8099 integrated amp (which I still have and need to recap), Azden GX-50 10-band EQ, and Klipsch Cornwall's. I blasted the heck out of that system and it sounded extremely good! Loud, crisp, clear and powerful. The bass was a little leaner but was more impactful. It had more of that tight "thwack" kind of bass and of course, mountains of dynamics.
Both systems clearly blew away my little 25 watt Technics SA-5170 receiver (which I still have), Kenwood GE-770 EQ (also have) and Realistic Nova 16 speakers. My system was better than anything my friends had, mainly because they didn't have systems. LOL
Now, 30 years later and listening to this album on my system... It brings back great memories of my childhood, those systems and the differences between them and how they stack up against current gear like what I have now. Those were the good ole days. No worries, no real responsibilities other than the typical chores around the house, no bills, no job (for another 3 years anyway), and dabbling in my new found love of audio gear, building horrible speakers and music.
Obviously attempting to do any kind of sound comparisons on 30 year old memories from a 14 year old, easily impressed boy isn't going to hold any merit, so I won't bother. All I can say is that my system surely trumps those systems by a long shot. Never fatiguing, never tiring, never boring, never turned off.
I remember my brother blasting this album on his system consisting of a Pioneer's VSX-4400 receiver back from 1988 (which I still have and use) along with a Realistic 10-band LED EQ with "IMX" Expander and a pair of Realistic Mach II's. It sounded really good considering. Very loud (for a tiny 10x12 bedroom) with loads of thumping bass with those Mach II's crammed into the corners on top of a couple of dressers.
Then one time when no one was home... That's a lie. It was actually several times. LOL! I snuck this CD into the living room where my father's system was, consisting of the TOTL Technics SU-8099 integrated amp (which I still have and need to recap), Azden GX-50 10-band EQ, and Klipsch Cornwall's. I blasted the heck out of that system and it sounded extremely good! Loud, crisp, clear and powerful. The bass was a little leaner but was more impactful. It had more of that tight "thwack" kind of bass and of course, mountains of dynamics.
Both systems clearly blew away my little 25 watt Technics SA-5170 receiver (which I still have), Kenwood GE-770 EQ (also have) and Realistic Nova 16 speakers. My system was better than anything my friends had, mainly because they didn't have systems. LOL
Now, 30 years later and listening to this album on my system... It brings back great memories of my childhood, those systems and the differences between them and how they stack up against current gear like what I have now. Those were the good ole days. No worries, no real responsibilities other than the typical chores around the house, no bills, no job (for another 3 years anyway), and dabbling in my new found love of audio gear, building horrible speakers and music.
Obviously attempting to do any kind of sound comparisons on 30 year old memories from a 14 year old, easily impressed boy isn't going to hold any merit, so I won't bother. All I can say is that my system surely trumps those systems by a long shot. Never fatiguing, never tiring, never boring, never turned off.
imral3
Enjoy the musics!!
Cap1
Super Member
Last edited:
cube-tube
Super Member
Well, as much as I hated to, I had to put my NOS RCA 6C8G's into early retirement...
About a week ago when I fired them up, the one in the right channel was emitting random static that lasted 5 to 6 minutes, then went away. It operated fine the rest of the day without issue. The next day however, when I fired up the tubes, that same tube immediately started that static again, with the occasional crackle or pop. This time though, it just kept going and going. After about 30 minutes of this, I just said the heck with it, powered down the tubes, let them cool for about 15 minutes, yanked them out and reinstated the Sylvania JAN tubes. This time though, I put the Sylvania's on the output stage and moved the sweet Baldwin/Raytheon tubes over to the input stage.
Those 6C8G's are money down the drain. Oh well. One of the quirks of buying 80+ year old tubes. That doesn't mean I won't try some more though.
About a week ago when I fired them up, the one in the right channel was emitting random static that lasted 5 to 6 minutes, then went away. It operated fine the rest of the day without issue. The next day however, when I fired up the tubes, that same tube immediately started that static again, with the occasional crackle or pop. This time though, it just kept going and going. After about 30 minutes of this, I just said the heck with it, powered down the tubes, let them cool for about 15 minutes, yanked them out and reinstated the Sylvania JAN tubes. This time though, I put the Sylvania's on the output stage and moved the sweet Baldwin/Raytheon tubes over to the input stage.
Those 6C8G's are money down the drain. Oh well. One of the quirks of buying 80+ year old tubes. That doesn't mean I won't try some more though.
cube-tube
Super Member
Thanks. Don't let tube rolling keep you from getting a Freya+. It sounds perfectly fine with the stock JJ tubes, but it DOES respond very well to different tubes (mainly the ones on the right - input stage). Just do your research first and make wise choices on the tubes you think you'll like the sound of. A couple hundred bucks in or less may be all you need as far as tubes go. I would advise getting a set of tube socket savers/risers though. Not only does it look better, but it also makes swapping tubes much easier.
Hey
I was eyeballing your socket savers. Is there a specific vendor you used for them? I've been interested in them for sometime.
Someone mentioned tube rolling earlier. These are what I upgraded to. I'm not sure if they are the best alternative to the factory tubes but they are head and shoulders better sounding to me. Ive not looked further.
Eric
I was eyeballing your socket savers. Is there a specific vendor you used for them? I've been interested in them for sometime.
Someone mentioned tube rolling earlier. These are what I upgraded to. I'm not sure if they are the best alternative to the factory tubes but they are head and shoulders better sounding to me. Ive not looked further.
Eric