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OK tubies, need advice
#99728 06/22/05 06:18 PM
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Taking the dip, but only for <$500.

Thoughts on these?

1) Antique Sound Labs (ASL) Wave 20 monoblocks. I can get a pair for $175 new, w/ warranty.

2) ASL MG SPM25DT (monoblocks) for ~$475 but the tubes have about 1K hours.

3) Baby Sophia for $425 new w/ warranty.

I'm throwing caution to the wind, considering I
(a) No space to put them
(b) Have to find cages to protect my kid's fingers...
(c) Have to figure out a switch configuration or resort to moving cables manually...

Re: OK tubies, need advice
#99729 06/24/05 04:32 AM
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Good lord, do my posts have the plague?

No worries, I decided to go w/ a Baby. I figure that I can also use it as a 2nd standalone system later on down the line, provided I keep it.

Hope it's hear before the long weekend.

I honestly have no idea where in my rack I can put it either...

Re: OK tubies, need advice
#99730 06/24/05 05:14 AM
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axiomite
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>>Good lord, do my posts have the plague?

No, they are just targeted to a relatively small subset of the participants here. Any fool can respond to a thread about a new home theater or boomy bass or "what kind of receiver should I get ?"


M60ti, VP180, QS8, M2ti, EP500, PC-Plus 20-39
M5HP, M40ti, Sierra-1
LFR1100 active, ADA1500-4 and -8
Re: OK tubies, need advice
#99731 06/24/05 05:23 AM
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Hello OSB

I'd call Kevin at Upscale Audio (909-931-9686) and see if he has any used integrated tube amps for $500, maybe a nice ASL MG S1 15DT. Audio Advisor has the 15DT for $699 new. You can get a modified renovated heathkit from Mapleshade (my favorite cable manufacturer!) for $700. http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/tweaks/tubeamps.php

Good luck!!


Enjoy the Music. Trust your ears. Laugh at Folks Who Claim to Know it All.
Re: OK tubies, need advice
#99732 06/24/05 05:30 AM
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Cesar, as John Bridgman indicated, there're probably only 2-3 board members who post fairly regularly who could even be remotely described as "tubies" and unfortunately they apparently missed your post(until just now). Since it appears that tube technology isn't competitive with modern solid state equipment either on the basis of price or performance, most haven't considered particular units of that type.

Last edited by JohnK; 06/24/05 05:32 AM.

-----------------------------------

Enjoy the music, not the equipment.


Re: OK tubies, need advice
#99733 06/24/05 06:52 AM
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Yeah, no sweat, I'm not offended. I knew it was a longshot that more than 2 people would even be able to respond. Heck, one replied and the other PM'ed me.

I'm sure if I asked about the HK7300 or Outlaw 990, this'd be 30 pages already.

2x6, thanks for the recs. I was actually in contact w/ Kevin re: some ASL mono blocks. Decided against them, but I actually went to his site because of your Prima Luna rec. I'd LOVE to try that route but it's out of budget. Maybe if I go further w/ tubes, I'll try there Prologue 4 or 5. I like the idea of not have to deal w/ biasing, even though it's not that big of a deal. Although, I do keep stopping by his site to see that Sunfire amp still there...

This tube route is more to continue my analog route I started when getting back to some LPs. I was actually listening to a NOS LP by Dizzy Gillespie and Manchito, it's Afro Cuban Jazz, kind of eclectic sound. (As my wife calls it, crap. Different strokes...) Man, my M22's continue to impress w/ soundstage. W/ my FMS16's, I can reposition them better and it makes a big difference. Even w/ good CDs, I never really just sat and listened to music. But w/ LPs, I can appreciate just the music. Then again, it's a shorter listening session, since LPs only had 4 songs/side.

Bottleheads were a thought, but I work as an engineer and debug for customers. The last thing I want is to debug my own equipment. I'm all for instant gratification.
Hope to get the new Sophia by 4th of July. I'll post my thoughts, though I'm not the best audio reviewer.

Last edited by oldskoolboarder; 06/24/05 06:55 AM.
Re: OK tubies, need advice
#99734 06/24/05 08:11 AM
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axiomite
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You know, that ASL MG S1 15DT comes up often on Audio Advisor. Everytime it pops up I'm in no position to buy it. It's like its teasing me. I hope somebody buys it soon. . .


***********
"Nothin' up my sleeve. . ." --Bullwinkle J. Moose
Re: OK tubies, need advice
#99735 06/24/05 08:12 AM
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JohnK is a very nice fella, but I have to guess that JK never listened to a decent tube amp, not ever.

I have a bunch of amps so I can speak from experience.

Solid State Amps

Onkyo Integra M-504
Yamaha M-80 (3 of these)
Kenwood KA-9100
Anthem PVA 5
Onkyo M-282
Sonic Impact T-Amp

These amps range in price from $20 (T Amp) to well over $1200.

I also have one tube amp - an Antique Sound Labs MG S1 15DT.

Anyone who compares these decent solid state amps with a good tube amp and concludes "tube technology isn't competitive with modern solid state equipment either on the basis of price or performance" is really and profoundly misinformed.


Enjoy the Music. Trust your ears. Laugh at Folks Who Claim to Know it All.
Re: OK tubies, need advice
#99736 06/24/05 08:20 AM
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axiomite
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Is there any "new" tube technology? It seems tubes have been around for a long time, and should have reached some sort of plateau. Is it stagnant technology, or is there still growth? I'm honestly curious, not trying to start a war.


***********
"Nothin' up my sleeve. . ." --Bullwinkle J. Moose
Re: OK tubies, need advice
#99737 06/24/05 02:48 PM
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R
local
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"Since it appears that tube technology isn't competitive with modern solid state equipment either on the basis of price or performance, most haven't considered particular units of that type. "

Hahahahahhahahahahahaha! Once again, JohnK, he didn't ask which type of electronics you thought was better. Are you insecure about solid state or something?

Oldskoolboarder, I don't have much experience with set amps. If you could stretch your budget to $650-$700, a used Cayin TA30 would be absolutely brilliant. TNT has a review of your Sophia that I just read. Looks like you got a great deal!


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