[dvb]

I have been enjoying the various threads on this board about Tube-O-Lator, especially as applied to ART DI/Os.

Seems the last post was  few weeks ago, and at that point, several people had tried it, but were waiting "a few weeks" before posting impressions.

Would any of those folks like to post some impressions?  Any other folks with different impressions now that it has had more time to "cure"?

Thanks.

[mgalusha]

dvb,

I have applied it to the chips in the DI/O and the dacs & op amps in my HT pre/pro (Denon AVP-8000) and to my ears it makes them somewhat smoother and seems to drop the noise floor a bit. Inner detail is better as well.

The changes are subtle and not something that can be A/B'd very easily. Interestingly I had several friends comment on how smooth the systems sounded recently. The only changes I have made were the Tube-O-Lator and both folks were unaware of the changes.

IMO it made a difference and I am satisfied with the value for the money spent. Will it work for your system? Perhaps yes, perhaps no. I suspect the difference in sound is very dependent on how the chip stores and releases energy and how well isolated the component is from vibration.

I know there are plenty of naysayers who will point out that it can't possibly work. That's OK with me. It works in my system and the older I get the more often I find that reality does not always follow theory.

Mike

[Tyson]

I dunno there mike, my theory is that you're crazy, and reality seems to follow that theory pretty closely

Seriously, when we did the A-B comparison w/the Mensa, it was a more relaxed sound.  That's what I've noticed in my system.  In fact, w/the Mensa, the bybee jumpers on my RM40's, and the Mullard tubes in my preamp, the sound recently became "too" relaxed, and I've had to change back to some more "upfront" sounding tubes.  But it's still very smooth, even with the new tubes, just more energetic.

[mgalusha]

I dunno there mike, my theory is that you're crazy, and reality seems to follow that theory pretty closely

I canna' deny I resemble that remark. At least my wife thinks so. Every time I get a new piece of gear she automatically thinks it's an amp. "Just how many amps do you need?"  

[Ernest]

I canna' deny I resemble that remark. At least my wife thinks so. Every time I get a new piece of gear she automatically thinks it's an amp. "Just how many amps do you need?"  

   Boy can I relate!  I once had 3 different pairs of monoblock amps and an integrated amp at the same time!

[mgalusha]

 Boy can I relate!  I once had 3 different pairs of monoblock amps and an integrated amp at the same time!

That's the scary part. That's about my current collection. 3 pairs of monoblocks, an integrated and the Outlaw HT amp. Hmm... maybe she's not just imagining it.  

[Jay S]

Last night I was asked when the upgrading would end?  Of course, I replied, never!!     That said, I honestly think I am getting pretty close.