In Audio Hell, looking for the exit...

jon_010101 · « **on:** 1 Sep 2005, 03:30 am »

Okay... this might sound like whining...

My Craftsmen 500's are unmatched by about 1dB and I can't find the problem (and have no balance control).
My Consonance Ella is for sale.
My Dynaco SCA35 doesn't like my Diluceos.
My monster organ tube amps take up WAY too much space.
My solid state amps sound like poo.
And my Basie preamp only sounds good with one pair of tubes out of dozens... and I don't have extras.

I am ready for a new system, honestly. And ready to dump all of my old gear, minus the Craftsmens. I am contemplating an Almarro A318B but I can't find one to audition yet and I have reservations about paying so much for a "new" amplifier. I am also hoping to enjoy the Zu Tones at the Easton PA demo, on the possibility that I could go low-power triode. I rather wish there was some magical (and cheap) system that could sound better than what my current gear is capable of ... when not flaking out, eating tubes, eating resistors, sounding bad on bad power (which I have plenty of!), or overheating my 12x12 listening room.

If anybody knows the way out of Audio Hell, please let me know.

ScottMayo · « **Reply #1 on:** 1 Sep 2005, 03:35 am »

Son... it sounds to me like you are ready for the gospel of high quality solid state.

Which amps do you have that sound like poo?

kbuzz3 · « **Reply #2 on:** 1 Sep 2005, 03:46 am »

i have a pair...yes a bit of a pain but great and underrated amps. My advice would be to find a good tech in your hood and have them specd and checked.

I would then look into a tube integrated so you can alternate with simplicty.

somehting like the

vtl stingray
vtl
modded jolida

there are many more....

jon_010101 · « **Reply #3 on:** 1 Sep 2005, 03:50 am »

Quote from: ScottMayo

Son... it sounds to me like you are ready for the gospel of high quality solid state. Which amps do you have that sound like poo?

I've had only mid-fi solid state amps (Audiosource, Denon, Onkyo), never high end. But at the same time, I really like what I hear with tubes... the gigantic soundstage, great sense of speed, transparency, and monster midrange...

jon_010101 · « **Reply #4 on:** 1 Sep 2005, 04:06 am »

Quote from: kbuzz3

i have a pair...yes a bit of a pain but great and underrated amps. My advice would be to find a good tech in your hood and have them specd and checked.

The embarassing part is, I am a fairly good tech (MS EE). I've made numerous repairs to these over the time I've owned them. I am just lazy and the thought of having to hunt down yet-another-bad-component is really wearing on me. Today I replaced an out-of-spec resistor only to have a tube filament fail for no obvious reason. Tomorrow I am going to replace another resistor which may be going out of spec when warm. What's even more frustrating is, I don't know if one amp is 1 dB too loud or the other 1dB too quiet! I almost want to buy all new components and redo the amps completely, but I'd rather preserve them close to original.

Bloody fantastic amps, when they aren't ruining themselves!

But they are definitely keepers. Maybe I just need a good small SS or digital amp for backup.

kbuzz3 · « **Reply #5 on:** 1 Sep 2005, 04:31 am »

well if that is the case you may want to check out how the calri t, or flying mole digital amps sound.....channel islands too

im am an tube guy all the way but definatley like the digital amps sound over traditional solid state designs....admitting i have not heard the latest pass or rowland type models.....

maxwalrath · « **Reply #6 on:** 1 Sep 2005, 04:35 am »

ditto for clari-T (which I own) or new digital switching stuff (haven't heard it but seems promising)

Gordy · « **Reply #7 on:** 1 Sep 2005, 04:40 am »

This might be just the thing for the Zu's, I'm tolded they're about $115 built and delivered, just add a ps! http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=21082&highlight=

jon_010101 · « **Reply #8 on:** 1 Sep 2005, 04:50 am »

Quote from: Gordy

This might be just the thing for the Zu's, I'm tolded they're about $115 built and delivered, just add a ps! http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=21082&highlight=

OOoohh... That does look like fun! Unfortunately I don't have Zu Tones (yet), just the drool and curiosity. I might have to pick that thing up for fun though.

Thanks for the replies; you guys are giving great suggestions here, and sorta motivating me to up'n fix my C500a's...

...in the meantime, I am adjusting my ears to having the soundstage shifted 1.5' to the right of center until I can find my offending resistor

kbuzz3 · « **Reply #9 on:** 1 Sep 2005, 04:59 am »

i keep the 30 buck sonic impact as a back up to the craftsmann....a total goof but is int he high end ball park.

you might also want to find an vintage eico hf81 and have it modded or restored....a great little amp that is quite reliable once overhaulded...

JLM · « **Reply #10 on:** 1 Sep 2005, 10:00 am »

The Teac AL700P is $115 delivered from Needle Doctor and Vinnie from Red Wine Audio can mod for another $450 to deliver 30 wpc of DC powered digital bliss (10 hours of run time per charge). As you like the tube sound so much I'd add a tube pre-amp, like the Eastern Electric Mini-Max for $800. I own the Clari-T from Red Wine Audio and love it (but with my amp friendly 90 dB/w/m single driver speakers need more juice).

The battery driven amp will be totally silent, highly dynamic, have an incredible grip on bass notes, and has very good resolution.

jon_010101 · « **Reply #11 on:** 3 Sep 2005, 08:51 pm »

I got off my lazy, whining arse, and I fixed my amp! Drifting resistor was throwing bias off after the amps started to heat up. A few more may need replacing, but the problem was that I always checked them when cold. Readings were a mess as soon as the one amp was warm. I think it's mostly fixed, and if not, it's well within the margin of error!

With any luck, they will continue to behave, and I'll be able to enjoy the music for a while.

Thinking I might track down an Eico HF81 ... they sound comparable to a Dynaco SCA35 typically? At the least, the retro-styled HF81 would totally match my pad.

Best regards, and thanks for the fantastic suggestions!