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Paramours w/ RCA blackplates

M

millerdog

The Mod Squad
These are stock 'mours with no C4S upgrade. The RCA blackplates came via SK (mahalo). I can't belive the low end these tubes have. It's almost as if I pushed the loudness button or cranked the bass all the way up.
Oh, Tele 12AT7s are the drivers. After listening to the Sovteks this past month, on some tracks the RCAs make the bass sound bloated. I can't believe how much I was missing.
I am not a critical listener, but I percieve a loss of speed on top.
It does seem like the mids to lows have opened up though. The RCAs have made my little LothXs sound like larger speakers:)
Any Paramour owners out there still listening to the Sovteks, plunge on some RCA blackplates. As I move through my listening rotation, they just keep sounding better. I guess now I gotta get that C4S in there.
 
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Here in lies one of the woes of tube audio and tweaking. Right now you're loving things.........pop in those C4S and maybe just maybe the RCA's won't sound so great.

Then you'll pop in a new set of tubes and find bliss. Then you'll change a cap and then the whole tube rotation biz starts again.

God it's all fun though.

Glad you like the black plates. I've got a pair of Sylvania 2A3's that have a sweet sound. Right now I'm running a pair of Meshplates driven by Mullard Box plates. Nice sound!!

John
 
Just the Opposite

I found the Sovtek 2a3's to be more extended than my RCA gray-plate 2a3's. While they were harmonically leaner I can't say I observed the results you found IYS. The Sovteks presented images from a more opaque background, while the RCAs fleshed-out a more organic sound as the entire presentation became less mechanical. After burnin the Sovteks became less processed and as reported it did have more punch, headroom than the RCAs. The Sovtek's are more Hi-Fi (digital) and the RCA's more like music (analog).

MikE
 
MikE,
I think I was trying to say the same thing, except with different words.;) The Sovteks are cold compared to the RCAs; they do a very efficient job. The RCAs just add something that make the music much more listenable.

John, your post really made think. I like this sound so much, I may not do anymore work on the 'mours. It's been less than a week with the RCAs, but I keep thinking: Do I really want to mess with what I'm hearing? I know I won't know until I try, but part of me is just happy with what I got.:)

I didn't expect the change to be so dramatic. I thought it would be a little thing like just dialing the sound in. Needless to say, I'm pretty stoked right now.
 
Mike,

Wasn't trying to talk you out of the C4S just being facitious about tweaking the DIY gear.

Actually I think you'll love the C4S......but.........once you put it in you'll almost certainly keep playing around.

After my Meshplate purchase I stopped the tweaking on my Paramours. Haven't touched them and don't plan on it either. It's been nice just listening. They are some great little amps.

John
 
I put the C4s upgrade into the 'mours. I did it after feeling how much vibration from the hum was getting to my speakers.
I like what they do. The top end opened up a little more and the hum is almost all gone. One caveat: The 'mours now will reveal any defects in recordings or your system. Driver tube choice is more critical, as is output tube. Me likes.
If you haven't put yours in, try it, I think you'll like what they do.
John EH, you got a PM.
 
I'll be traveling down to Ciny to visit TIC an we'll get a chance to compare his current production 2a3's to my RCA gray-plate's in his Paramours. While I reconize some things missing with My RCAs I much prefer them for Musical enjoyment, and those issues subside once the music swirls around the room. I'm sure we'll report on any differences noted.

MikE
 
Thanks MikE,
I hope both you and TIC report on your findings. I gotta say it really sucks being here (HI) and not having the oppurtunity to listen to other systems. SK's system is so far ahead of mine, it's difficult to distinguish differences:(
John EH, you got a PM!!!!!
Sorry, I got voltage problems:(
 
md

SK's system is so far ahead of mine
Click to expand...
Have you heard his system? If so, how about some impressions.

I gotta say it really sucks being here (HI) and not having the opportunity to listen to other systems
Click to expand...
I have a difficult time thinking HI. "sucks" but that is one regret I have; not sharing my system with others and they in turn returning the favor. sigh.

MikE
 
There are so many differences between SK's system and my own they are hard to list.
How bout I say this: While my system struggles to present some music as "live," SK's system does it effortlessly. There is another level of detail there. Some of the things I hear are surely due to physical differences in where our systems are set up.
One glaring difference was the amount of bass present in his system. I noticed how much stronger and tighter it was right away. I think that had something to do with presenting a more "acoustic" soundstage.
SK used the word "airy" when I visited. I do hear something there that is not quite present in my set up. While the RCAs did bring it closer, I think there are a couple of leaps I still need to make.
Cables may very well be a bottleneck.

Oh and why HI sucks? I just logged on and got Oscar results:mad: Just like when I log on and get Monday Night Football scores before it is replayed via satellite delay here:mad:
Then again, I just came back from Lanikai :D That's a beach in Kailua that was rated high on beaches in the USA:D :D
 
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A 45 is a 45...

..and a 2A3 is a 2A3. My limited experience is that 45 has tighter, stronger, and deeper bass response. The speakers must be a big factor as well
 
Sasaki...you certainly do look to have a system that would sound quite good. Millerdog...what is your current system? and how close is it to Sasaki?

if in fact they are very similar (not sure if they are) There are a few things that may contribute to the differences...at the top of the list I would suggest looking into tweaking speaker placement and looking at what differences the room may play. Again...there are other areas to find differences at...but with any system...these are the two places I would start.


later>>>>>
 
Gotcha Gonefishing...
I was thinking about uprooting everything and trying it out in a different room. I am confined to certain speaker placements in my present room. My ceiling is also covered with acoustic material.
By the way, my mention of SK's system was made for his is the only other SET tube system I've heard. Hopefully MikE can make a similar comparison when he listens to TIC's 'mours and his Moth. I would be interested in how different they sound.
 
I'm sure there are others who have heard a large number of SETs more than me...But I've listened to a good number of them...and I have found that not only are all the different output tubes different from 2A3 to 45 to 300b to 845. but the output tubes within on type are also different within that one specific amp...then...the amps vary from amp to amp...even when using the same output tube...the same exact output tube that is. That's not even considering the driver tube/output tube combo.


course...others may have different experiences...who knows
:dunno:

;)
 
Cinci. Audio Shindig.........

MD, SK, GF,

Well, this weekend will be fun as MikE is coming to Cincinnati with the Mighty Moth (and a killer tube stash!). We are going to a friend's house (RandyR from Decware forum and AA). Randy has the brand new Jeff Korneff 45 (with some cool upgrades-MikE, you are in for a treat). I'll take my P-mours, but I think they are WAY outclassed here!

So, we will have the Moth45, JK45, P-mours and Dave Dutill's (of Parker Audio Speaker fame) highly modified Zen Select for amplification. We will have Randy's Parker Audio Behemoth (Heil/Peerless) speakers and my Reference 3A MM De Capos.

This should be BIG FUN!!! I have been hearing GREAT things about Randy's JK45 (through the grapevine!). My system is sounding very good (considering the "room from hell") and I hope to hear MikE's Moth in my room too.

Big weekend, big fun and the MAF in Lima is still 2 weeks away!!! It doesn't get much better!!!

Enjoy,

TIC
 
Only 5 of Us

... will be attending. And we've got the better part of the afternoon / evening, so I'm thinking we should have an easier time arriving at stronger impressions than last Fall when there were many more people and components in the room. I'm going for the good company [and beer] and to hear Randy's speakers [again] and to compare his new amp with mine. I'm also interested in hearing TIC's new amp and speakers but l can focus on those at his house.

MikE
 
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