ModWright Modified Transporter - The Wave of the Future!

Double Ugly · « **Reply #300 on:** 9 May 2008, 06:20 pm »

Quote from: ted_b on 9 May 2008, 06:09 pm

Quote from: mcullinan on 9 May 2008, 06:01 pm
Double, you must have hit the Lottery! Modwright Transporter, Revelations, Minis... Lucky Bastard!
aa
Mike

DU,
Revelations? Minis? Is there something you're not telling us? You trying to outdo the Brady Cinema?

Not yet.

Actually, I sent my speakers off a few weeks ago for the 3.0 treatment. I'll be calling Bob momentarily to ensure they get shipped today.

As for the Revelation, Revelation Grand Master, or multiple-Mini + Infra-Waves system, it's either all or mostly paid for, I just have to decide which to get.

rpf · « **Reply #301 on:** 9 May 2008, 06:42 pm »

Quote from: ted_b on 9 May 2008, 03:12 am

My fave rectifiers are identical to Philistine:
Mullard (Sylvania) 5U4G (not B)
Philips GZ32
Mullard 5AR4 (distant third but nice midrange

Ted,
I've looked around at the usual tube dealer's sites and haven't seen any mention of a Mullard 5U4G (I have seen Sylvania). Are they only labelled Sylvania? Or are you using the early '50s Mullard "High Wycombe" GZ37/CV378 = 5U4G? A very nice tube btw.

Also, is the GZ32 you're using the brown base Mullard or the black base Philips or Dario? I've found the black base versions better fwiw.

Rob

rydenfan · « **Reply #302 on:** 9 May 2008, 07:03 pm »

Quote from: rpf on 9 May 2008, 06:42 pm

Also, is the GZ32 you're using the brown base Mullard or the black base Philips or Dario? I've found the black base versions better fwiw.

Rob

Why do you have to go and say something like that?

I have a brown base Mullard GZ32 (CV593), now I might have to try out the Phillips.

I dont think anyone here has tried a GZ37 yet, am I right?

rpf · « **Reply #303 on:** 9 May 2008, 07:22 pm »

Sorry.

WG · « **Reply #304 on:** 9 May 2008, 07:52 pm »

It appears that there are far more options/alternatives on the Music Vault than shown in the reviews and on their website. They are advertising on Audiogon in several areas like http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlconv&1214504118. The RAID 5 and Mirrored options make it more interesting, though still more expensive than DIY. Frankly though, I am not crazy about the configuration and time in DIY, so this does have appeal. I also have looked at some online info on the Ripserver, but this sounds like there are some things to be worked out yet on it.

Regards,
Will

mikel51 · « **Reply #305 on:** 10 May 2008, 12:20 am »

Quote from: rydenfan on 9 May 2008, 07:03 pm

I dont think anyone here has tried a GZ37 yet, am I right?

I had an old Mullard GZ37 that I rolled in (bottle shape from the 60's). I didn't like it. It rolled off the highs and lows and softened the sound too much for my tastes. I noted that in a post a few pages back.

rpf · « **Reply #306 on:** 10 May 2008, 02:32 am »

I've tried a couple of GZ 37s in the Modwright 36.5 and Platinum Truth Sony 9100.

The Mullard military brown base piece does roll of the highs and lows. However the early '50s big bottle Mullard "High Wycombe" GZ37 is better in those areas and throws a much bigger soundstage with great three dimensionality.

As I noted in an earlier post, I like a combination of the High Wycombe GZ37 and the GZ32 (the latter being less soft sounding with more precise imaging); ideally with the former in the Sony and the latter in the 36.5.

When I get a Transporter I'll retry various combinations but I have a feeling I'll end up with the above again.

rydenfan · « **Reply #307 on:** 10 May 2008, 12:06 pm »

rpf, how do you fit a GZ32 in the 36.5? Are you running it with the top off? (sorry for going a little off topic)

ted_b · « **Reply #308 on:** 10 May 2008, 02:01 pm »

Quote from: rpf on 9 May 2008, 06:42 pm

Quote from: ted_b on 9 May 2008, 03:12 am
My fave rectifiers are identical to Philistine:
Mullard (Sylvania) 5U4G (not B)
Philips GZ32
Mullard 5AR4 (distant third but nice midrange

Ted,
I've looked around at the usual tube dealer's sites and haven't seen any mention of a Mullard 5U4G (I have seen Sylvania). Are they only labelled Sylvania? Or are you using the early '50s Mullard "High Wycombe" GZ37/CV378 = 5U4G? A very nice tube btw.

Also, is the GZ32 you're using the brown base Mullard or the black base Philips or Dario? I've found the black base versions better fwiw.

Rob

Rob,
Mine is a Sylvania labeled ("Sylvania, Tested in USA, Made in England") black base. I was told it is from the Mullard Factory, so in essence, yes, they are not called Mullard per se. Looks like third from right (but mine is in better shape)

I also have my eyes on some 1950's Valvo GZ34's. I was told these are made in Holland and are sweet. Dunno. Oh, and Dan is now glowing about the Amperex Bugle Boy double d getter GZ34's.

rpf · « **Reply #309 on:** 10 May 2008, 04:18 pm »

Quote from: rydenfan on 10 May 2008, 12:06 pm

rpf, how do you fit a GZ32 in the 36.5? Are you running it with the top off? (sorry for going a little off topic)

I've been running it with the top off but Dan is looking into a top cut for it (perhaps the PS36.5 top?).

AB · « **Reply #310 on:** 10 May 2008, 04:41 pm »

I've been running both my outboard PSUs (SWLP and Sony 9100) with their tops off thanks to the tall rectifiers. One of these days I'll take the lids to a machinist friends place and have him cut holes.

rpf · « **Reply #311 on:** 10 May 2008, 05:09 pm »

Thanks Ted.

I have an early '60s Amperex Bugle Boy GZ34 with double D getter and it is quite good but I prefer the Philips GZ32 and High Wycombe GZ37.

NickS · « **Reply #312 on:** 11 May 2008, 10:11 pm »

Three days of shoving disks in and out of the computer drive ripping my CD collection to lossless FLAC files and I'm just now approaching the half way point.

One truly has to be motivated to see this through... clearly one of the most beer intensive projects that I've ever engaged in.

My big block quad core CPU, SATA DVD drive and 10K rpm hard drives seem to be having siesta through this process. They lazily glide through 3-4 minutes for each rip and that is before monkeying around with the album art and other meta data needed to set the permanent record straight.

Wonder what will come along to make this amenable for Joe Six Pack.

Hey, wait a minute, I seem to have become Joe Six Pack.

ted_b · « **Reply #313 on:** 12 May 2008, 01:04 am »

Nick,
Sounds like you're doing fine. Took me months...months i say!

i agree, though; a bit-perfect rip is not exactly intuitively obvious. Like any other pc project, i guess. I mean, I though i knew Word until i saw Word 2007! What a change. Wow.

cAsE sEnSiTiVe · « **Reply #314 on:** 14 May 2008, 10:16 pm »

Have any of you compared sonically the difference between the single ended & balanced outputs in the MW Transporter?

I have one on order from Dan, and am currently running SE.....but am flip-flopping right this moment about paying extra for a balanced option on an amp being built for me.

Any opinions would be welcome.

Thanks,
Bob

EDIT: needing a quickie opinion, I called and bugged Dan himself for his...and he set me straight. Nevertheless, I'll leave this up for general perusal, in case you guys have varying opinions on this.

ted_b · « **Reply #315 on:** 15 May 2008, 03:54 am »

IMHO, it's not worth the cable swap, assuming it will cost you $$ to do it. A coin flip, a tie, goes to the balanced connections.

NickS · « **Reply #316 on:** 15 May 2008, 09:45 pm »

I noticed what was described as an on-off switch for the tube stage on the backplane of the MW TP in the 6Moons review. Does this imply that the digital circuits are left active when the tubes are shut down? If so, this is extremely cool, especially for playing internet radio business for background music.

On another note, my ripping has, at long last, reached its end. Thanks for your consolation, Ted.

Whew, wouldnt want to have to repeat that exercise. So the first thing I did was to back up all the files to high capacity USB drive so I could rest a little more easily at night.

David, I saw on another thread that we share the same curiosity for what has become to be known as the "Squeezebox Controller". I almost pulled the trigger on one of these when I spied it on Amazon the other day for what looked like a pretty good price. Snooze, ya lose... checked today and the benevolent discount had disappeared.

Anyone here yet acquired a Controller. Interested in your opinions if you care to share...

rydenfan · « **Reply #317 on:** 15 May 2008, 09:50 pm »

Yes, i am very interested in the Controller. I currently use my ipod touch as a remote and I am wondering if the Controller would be any faster and smoother to use. Since they offer a 30 day trial I may just have to pick it up and see...

ted_b · « **Reply #318 on:** 15 May 2008, 10:57 pm »

There's a separate thread over in one of the pc circles about the remote controllers for the SB's and TP's. Personally, I use my newer Pronto 9400 (replaces my age-old 6000) for all things in my music room/HT. It includes a custom-written wi-fi app (ProntoScript) called Slimpronto that mimics the Duet controller (album art, search, etc.). It's great, and allows me to use one handheld for everything. I then will use the Nokia 770 for the deck in the summertime, controlling Squeeze Center for my family-room and deck-based SB3.

NickS · « **Reply #319 on:** 15 May 2008, 11:23 pm »

How about the on-off switch for the tube stage on the backplane of the MW TP???