New Improved TubeDac

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byteme

New Improved TubeDac
« Reply #20 on: 15 Mar 2004, 10:06 pm »
I don't have the new Plus, however, I've had the tubedac for a year now.  Right after getting it I picked up an NOS Siemens E88CC.  Actually I bought three of them and was able to sell the closest measuring two for almost the cost of the three so I got my single tube pert near free!  This tube is absolutely NOT microphonic and raised the tubedac's performance a bit.  A much bigger difference was noted when I got the 3XDC and plugged that into it's own Oneac Iso Transformer.  Power cord is a humble Zu Birth but things really kicked up with that combo in place.  I've since like MttBsh opened both the DAC and Power supply, liberally applied dynamat extreme and ERS cloth.  Improvement about on level with the tube change.  I found no effect from using a Herbies tube damper, however, I love them for my preamp!  Since the purchase of the tubedac literally EVERYTHING in my system has changed, amp, preamp, speakers, transport, cables.  I haven't even LOOKED at another DAC, save for the "new" Tubedac + which, when I talked to Scott about it he said, if you're happy with what you've got then don't worry about it, it's not so much an "upgrade" as it is simplification for him - one DAC instead of two and only a single board for all of his tubedacs.

About the system changes, everything was scheduled to change, but most things changed more than once in that time, specifically transports, cables and preamps.  There was never any desire to look at another DAC.  I love that little thing!

MikeCTM2

tube dac+ w/ 3XAC or 3XDC
« Reply #21 on: 15 Mar 2004, 11:49 pm »
does both the 3XAC and 3XDC work with the tube dac+ or are people screwin' this up?    for the tube dac+ the 3XAC is needed, right?

scottnixon

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New Improved TubeDac
« Reply #22 on: 16 Mar 2004, 12:20 am »
It's 3Xac for any of the TubeDacs or Saru which require 12 volts AC only.  The 3Xdc supply is for the DacKit which needs DC, only.

MttBsh

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NOS Siemens E88CC tubes
« Reply #23 on: 16 Mar 2004, 04:15 am »
Byteme -  I'm seeing these tubes going for about $80.00 a pair on Audiogon.

Do you feel the sound improvement warrants the investment?

I've had my Tubedac Plus for more than 6 months now and need to start thinking about a replacement tube anyway.

My experience is the same as yours with Herbie's dampers on the tube - no discernable effect. Unfortunately the dampers seemed to actually reduce the dynamics somewhat on my preamp's Sovtek tubes.  

Thanks

Matt

byteme

Re: NOS Siemens E88CC tubes
« Reply #24 on: 16 Mar 2004, 12:49 pm »
Quote from: MttBsh
Byteme -  I'm seeing these tubes going for about $80.00 a pair on Audiogon.

Do you feel the sound improvement warrants the investment?

I've had my Tubedac Plus for more than 6 months now and need to start thinking about a replacement tube anyway.

My experience is the same as yours with Herbie's dampers on the tube - no discernable effect. Unfortunately the dampers seemed to actually reduce the dynamics somewhat on my preamp's Sovtek tubes.  

Thanks

Matt
 That's where I sold my pair - on a-gon prices there for tubes are just silly.  I got the three of them off ebay from some guy in Germany.  I emailed him about getting three matched tubes.  Paid $84 - his email address is  peter@electrontubes.de - look him up!

He had/has excellent feedback and was great to deal with.