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Setting Up New System: Decisions!

sonduciel

sonduciel

Member
Good day to all.
I joined this forum today, in the midst of a months long project of setting up a new music system. My 35 year old B&K ST-140 (100wpc version) power amp and Superphon CD-Maxx preamplifier were dying, and with the electronics I've been looking at, I realized it's time to trade in my TC-50 Spica speakers for full size speakers (but I'll probably keep the REL subwoofer).

Since I recently have found some really helpful and intelligent threads on these forums, to help my selection process, I decided to join AK so that I could participate.

The speaker decision has already been made, and I have two tall Tekton Electrons sitting in my living room (this is the junior brother of the Double Impact). I picked up a Bluesound Node 2i and a Cambridge Dac Magic Plus. Ripped all my CD's to a hard drive feeding the Node over an ethernet share, and happily streaming Qoboz and Idagio. (However I am already considering upgrading the DAC to Schiit Gungnir Multibit, Chord QuTest, or Denafrips Pontus).

My big decision now is the electronics. I've decided to convert from SS to tubes, and although I've always had separates, decided this time to go with an integrated amplifier. My research so far has narrowed the choice down to the new Rogue Cronus Magnum III (with triode mode), or the new PrimaLuna Evo 300. I have (almost reluctantly) begun to explore the world of tube rolling, after reading a long thread on tube rolling the Cronus Magnum. It seems like these tubes are "components" as much as every other part of the system.

So I'm here to learn. I'd especially love to hear from owners or auditioners of the Cronus and PrimaLuna products, and to comparisons between the two. I did an in-home audition of a Cronus Magnum II this past weekend, and though it's a great piece, seems not to marry well with the Tektons in the mid-range, especially with voices, at least with the stock tubes. Who knows what a Mullard 12AU7 would do?

If you've read this far I thank you, and hope to hear from you, because we must have some common interests!
 
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Welcome, right place.

I'm a huge fan of Quicksilver Audio- recently came up on 3 new pieces for my main, including the 12ax7 line stage, phono amp and V4 monoblocks. I got the preamp first and it absolutely crushed my old preamp, made it seem flat and stupid. Adding the high powered V4, up to 170wpc, monos means I can really run just about any speaker.

Tubes- the monos came with a matched octet of new issue Gold Lion KT-88 which, from what I understand, are supposed to be good..

I found an octet of Sylvania 6550 which should have cost me more than they did but good things happen to bad people and there's no explaining it.

I received the second quad in the mail today from the seller, also tightly matched..the Gold Lions are prettier, all fat bottled, sultry and they're pretty well broken in, minimum 500 hours..

Compared to the NOS Sylvanias>>

Night and day.. the bass w the NOS was tighter and just better, the mids and highs that used to blend, stood out. I really liked the V4s already, but they just got a metric eff-ton better..like most things in audio, just add dollars and sometimes it equals better sound, but sometimes, just different sound. The Gold Lions are going up for sale on BarterTown this week. Going to convert the funds into some EL34.

It sounds like you may have a decent budget.. here's my wishlist for preamps- McIntosh C22 (sacrilege i know but I'd prefer the new-reissue) or the new C-70... or the PS Audio BHK Preamp and BHK 300 monos..Audio Research also has some amazing gear.. and tons of followers/ fans on AK. Their preamps w and wout phono and tube amps, are supposed to be something special..
 
sonduciel said:
Good day to all.
I joined this forum today, in the midst of a months long project of setting up a new music system. My 35 year old B&K ST-140 (100wpc version) power amp and Superphon CD-Maxx preamplifier were dying, and with the electronics I've been looking at, I realized it's time to trade in my TC-50 Spica speakers for full size speakers (but I'll probably keep the REL subwoofer).

Since I recently have found some really helpful and intelligent threads on these forums, to help my selection process, I decided to join AK so that I could participate.

The speaker decision has already been made, and I have two tall Tekton Electrons sitting in my living room (this is the junior brother of the Double Impact). I picked up a Bluesound Node 2i and a Cambridge Dac Magic Plus. Ripped all my CD's to a hard drive feeding the Node over an ethernet share, and happily streaming Qoboz and Idagio. (However I am already considering upgrading the DAC to Schiit Gungnir Multibit, Chord QuTest, or Denafrips Pontus).

My big decision now is the electronics. I've decided to convert from SS to tubes, and although I've always had separates, decided this time to go with an integrated amplifier. My research so far has narrowed the choice down to the new Rogue Cronus Magnum III (with triode mode), or the new PrimaLuna Evo 300. I have (almost reluctantly) begun to explore the world of tube rolling, after reading a long thread on tube rolling the Cronus Magnum. It seems like these tubes are "components" as much as every other part of the system.

So I'm here to learn. I'd especially love to hear from owners or auditioners of the Cronus and PrimaLuna products, and to comparisons between the two. I did an in-home audition of a Cronus Magnum II this past weekend, and though it's a great piece, seems not to marry well with the Tektons in the mid-range, especially with voices, at least with the stock tubes. Who knows what a Mullard 12AU7 would do?

If you've read this far I thank you, and hope to hear from you, because we must have some common interests!
Click to expand...
Welcome!
What are you planning to do with your Maxx?
 
dfoulk said:
What are you planning to do with your Maxx?
Click to expand...
I haven't decided yet. It's a great little preamp, and the electronics themselves are still fine, it's all the switches that are dying. It has slider pots that (apparently) can't be replaces, and the right one, particularly, will suddenly pop louder in certain positions. I decided not to mess with it any longer, but I suppose somebody might wire in a replacement pot of some sort. The other thing is that a couple of the switches are really loose. They still work, but don't "snap" into position any more. So again, the core electronics work, it's the mechanical pieces that are tired of working after nearly 30 years. Perhaps PM me if you have any more questions, so we don't bore the others!
 
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