MultiplexMan Posted November 7, 2018 Posted November 7, 2018 I owned a very early Tempest (EL34/6CA7) which I sold in order to try a later Topaz (KT120). I really enjoyed the synergy of the Tempest with a range of ProAc speakers - TR8, TR8S, 1SC and Response 2.5. Sadly the valve amps went whilst renovations hit full swing. Time to enjoy music again. Pleasant chat with Earle yesterday and order placed for a Topaz KT120 biased for 6CA7. Now the wait begins...
blybo Posted November 8, 2018 Posted November 8, 2018 4 hours ago, MultiplexMan said: I owned a very early Tempest (EL34/6CA7) which I sold in order to try a later Topaz (KT120). I really enjoyed the synergy of the Tempest with a range of ProAc speakers - TR8, TR8S, 1SC and Response 2.5. Sadly the valve amps went whilst renovations hit full swing. Time to enjoy music again. Pleasant chat with Earle yesterday and order placed for a Topaz KT120 biased for 6CA7. Now the wait begins... Were you given a likely timeline?
MultiplexMan Posted November 8, 2018 Posted November 8, 2018 (edited) 6 hours ago, blybo said: Were you given a likely timeline? March 2019. Earle has a significant order book. Concentrating on working through it will consume most of his time, especially with new orders being steadily added to it. He's going to be very busy for the foreseeable future... Meanwhile a picture of the finish I've ordered. Some SNA members will recognise the design. Edited November 8, 2018 by MultiplexMan 5
TerryO Posted November 18, 2018 Posted November 18, 2018 (edited) Well the Time Machine is back in service and sounding bloody excellent in the lounge of our recently moved into home. Who would have thought 7watts of amplification could sound that good and reach the volumes and bass levels it does. Which possibly just goes to help prove how much the room impacts on how h-ifi sounds given this amp is once again mated to the same speakers and CD player that it previously sounded pretty good but not great when in other rooms. Previously the Time Machine lacked depth and bass and even volume in some smallish rooms I tried it in. Now we have a room that is reasonably large with high ceilings and only three walls opening onto a hall way which shouldn't work at all but sounds bloody excellent. After a couple of hours playing I also removed the Tungsol's and rolled in some 1944 US Army issue RCA Jan 6SL7 GT tubes that I purchased months ago from a SNAer and had never unpacked and while the overall volume at any setting felt like it retreated maybe 10% the quality of sound increased dramatically with even more bass and mid range and vocals sounded much more real and pleasant to listen too. While I was hopeful of some decent change rolling the tubes in the input stage I didn't expect quite such a large improvement. Possibly the Tungsol's had already seen their best days prior to me buying the amp. Anyway I'm happy I didn't give up in frustration and sell the Time Machine a few months ago when it was being played in rooms that did not suit it. In the next few days I will connect up the TT and see how that sounds in the new room and then I'll also again try out the Weston as a pre amp driving the PL power amp, mind you I'm not sure going from 7watts of tube amplification that works well will sound to much better with 96 watts of tube amplification in this room. cheers Terry Edited November 19, 2018 by TerryO 4
Darren69 Posted February 19, 2019 Posted February 19, 2019 Late March start on my Time Machine Pre amp I am told, it will be as follows- Polished copper transformer covers. Figured oak (if available) plinth. XLR inputs on input 1 XLR and RCA outputs RCA subwoofer outputs No headphone output No speaker outputs Brushed stainless base. Coupling caps upgraded to Mundorf silver oil Waiting is killing me, haha. I have the full suite of PS Vane glassware waiting as well, ready to go straight in. 8
Bags Posted February 19, 2019 Posted February 19, 2019 7 hours ago, Darren69 said: Waiting is killing me, haha. Get used to it, my amp is 7 months overdue 2
Darren69 Posted February 19, 2019 Posted February 19, 2019 3 minutes ago, Bags said: Get used to it, my amp is 7 months overdue
Guest deanB Posted February 19, 2019 Posted February 19, 2019 1 hour ago, Darren69 said: Sad face indeed Daz. And then there's the huge hours of running in the Psvane valves need before they're optimised.
Darren69 Posted February 19, 2019 Posted February 19, 2019 (edited) 10 hours ago, deanB said: Sad face indeed Daz. And then there's the huge hours of running in the Psvane valves need before they're optimised. You guys are making me really SAD! I may even throw myself from a precipice. Or perhaps just the front patio. @darth vader thank you for the positivity! Deano, the PS Vane go OK once cooked? Edited February 19, 2019 by Darren69
BighorseTP Posted February 19, 2019 Posted February 19, 2019 (edited) 10 hours ago, darth vader said: Its worth the wait As above, well worth it. Edited February 19, 2019 by BighorseTP 1
Guest deanB Posted February 20, 2019 Posted February 20, 2019 6 hours ago, Darren69 said: Deano, the PS Vane go OK once cooked? I reckon you'll be happy Daz. It may well be that the vintage stuff will always be the best but there are more and more valve lovers giving positive feedback as they try the premium Psvane and Shuguang products. But there's often mention of long burn in times, so patience may be required. When I bought the Doge 9's, Marc@Doge told me that the Hifi series 211 take a certain number of hours to settle down and hold a precise bias. I can't remember the exact number but it was maybe 170hrs, whatever it was he was spot on. The Treasure MkII took the same amount of time, all logged from turn on to turn off. However, the sound was good from the start and just got better. With all the nos valves I've used, burn in has been a five to ten hours to settle down with the exception of a pair of Tungsram 12au7 which were still settling down after 20 +hrs when I gave up on them. But who knows, maybe those valves were actually new in the box and all the other nos valves I've had were lightly used/pulls from military equipment etc.
darth vader Posted February 20, 2019 Author Posted February 20, 2019 I tried Shuguang Treasures in Topaz monos and didn't like them. They didn't do it for me but they may be sweet in yours Daz. Dont forget the rectifier tube/s too, they make a big difference.
Darren69 Posted February 20, 2019 Posted February 20, 2019 9 hours ago, darth vader said: I tried Shuguang Treasures in Topaz monos and didn't like them. They didn't do it for me but they may be sweet in yours Daz. Dont forget the rectifier tube/s too, they make a big difference. The whole set mate!!
darth vader Posted February 21, 2019 Author Posted February 21, 2019 Good stuff Daz. Your first roll in the tube hay will probably not be your last
Darren69 Posted February 21, 2019 Posted February 21, 2019 8 hours ago, darth vader said: Good stuff Daz. Your first roll in the tube hay will probably not be your last Good Moaning Mr V, have already introduced choobs to the front end of the system and that's about as far as I will go methinks, love the 400W's of amplification too much to go full tubes. First got the tube dac (Ayon Sigma) and it made a big difference, then changed the JC2 pre amp for the current Stereo Knight Magnetic Enigma and it made more improvement again. I think. for me and my music, the tube front end with SS power is an excellent compromise. So now we wait and then a comparo, Stereo Knight vs Weston.
darth vader Posted February 23, 2019 Author Posted February 23, 2019 Sorry mate, wasn't trying to imply anything. It just seems to happen when you bring choobs into your life.
Darren69 Posted February 26, 2019 Posted February 26, 2019 On 24/02/2019 at 4:02 AM, darth vader said: Sorry mate, wasn't trying to imply anything. It just seems to happen when you bring choobs into your life. You don't have anything to apologise for mate, you are absolutely right! As soon as I got the Ayon Sigma dac, more tubes arrived for my system in the form of the tube pre so what you are saying is completely correct, well in my system with my musical tastes anyhow. If I could get a 400W-into-8 ohms tube mono block, I probably would but I don't know if such things exist, unfortunately. Anyone who has not tried some glassware somewhere in their system should try it at least once, IMO. 1
bzr Posted February 27, 2019 Posted February 27, 2019 9 hours ago, Darren69 said: You don't have anything to apologise for mate, you are absolutely right! As soon as I got the Ayon Sigma dac, more tubes arrived for my system in the form of the tube pre so what you are saying is completely correct, well in my system with my musical tastes anyhow. If I could get a 400W-into-8 ohms tube mono block, I probably would but I don't know if such things exist, unfortunately. Anyone who has not tried some glassware somewhere in their system should try it at least once, IMO. I owned the Epsilon, the mono model down from these. They were 180w of the most effortless & sweetest sound.... https://www.ayonaudio.com/products/amplifier/kt150-series/orthos-xs/ 1 1
Mushroom01 Posted February 27, 2019 Posted February 27, 2019 13 hours ago, Darren69 said: You don't have anything to apologise for mate, you are absolutely right! As soon as I got the Ayon Sigma dac, more tubes arrived for my system in the form of the tube pre so what you are saying is completely correct, well in my system with my musical tastes anyhow. If I could get a 400W-into-8 ohms tube mono block, I probably would but I don't know if such things exist, unfortunately. Anyone who has not tried some glassware somewhere in their system should try it at least once, IMO. Not cheap! but will do the job... https://highend-electronics.com/products/audio-valve-challanger-400-mono-block-amplifiers • tubes: 2*12AU7, 1*12AX7, 1*EM 80, 12*beam power pentode KT 120 • operate: Class-A • power output: 450 watt sinewave, 650 watt peak • power consumption: 800 VA (max. 2000 Watt, - Stand by mode - 200 Watt • max. short circuit current: 100 ampere between 2 ohms terminals • input sensitivity: 0 dBm • input impedance: 2 * 47K • output imp: 2-4-8 ohm • connectors: real balance XLR & RCA input - jacket • power bandwide with load: 3 - 45.000 hz , (8 ohm load) • distortion: 0,3% - 100 watt, 2% - 450 Watt • max. cap.- load: 15 uF • bias: automatic biasing by AudioValve`s "ABR" for all power tubes • size: 75*42*38 cm, D-H-W • weight: 65 kg ea. mono-block • Stand-by mode: switchable • music level control by magic eye, LED amplifier functional front monitoring. 2 1
darth vader Posted February 27, 2019 Author Posted February 27, 2019 (edited) 14 hours ago, Darren69 said: If I could get a 400W-into-8 ohms tube mono block, I probably would but I don't know if such things exist, unfortunately. 45 wpc Topaz mono's and TM pre do me just fine. I can damage my hearing enough with that. 45 class a push pull watts is nice.. Edited February 27, 2019 by darth vader 3
chimchimster Posted August 25, 2019 Posted August 25, 2019 Hi everyone, I am the new owner of a Weston Tempest. I am looking at upgrading the Tung-sol 6SN7GTB. Suggestions on what is out there that will make this great amp sound even better? Cheers, Ed
Guest deanB Posted August 25, 2019 Posted August 25, 2019 G'day Ed, are your Tung Sol new production or vintage? The rule of thumb with vintage (or nos) 6SN7 valves is the earlier the better, 1940-50's examples are more sought after and correspondingly pricier.
chimchimster Posted August 25, 2019 Posted August 25, 2019 Hi Dean, Thanks for message. They are the newer ones. There are many, many vintage valves. I am wandering if people have found any specific ones that sounded great. I know there is a lot to that question, but if someone has options on a certain vintage RCA or Mullard that they can point me to to try, that would be a great start. Cheers, Ed 1
Lloyd Posted August 25, 2019 Posted August 25, 2019 (edited) Mullard did not make a drop-in 6SN7. There are some reliable goodies. Below are generally GT (compared with GTB, which are OK of course, but...) Mostly from the 40s or early 50s. VT 231 is the same in every respect. RCA in general (including their GTBs), but with the grey glass is best. Sylvania. Also 6SN7W, is premium.. Ken Rad (usually black) with diagonal grid plates (you can tell from the top). Tung Sol round plates - great, but over rated and expensive. Their others are still pretty good. National Union and Raytheon. Then there are are a bunch of others like CBS/Hytron, GE, Brimar, a few others. All worth a look. Only get NOS - new old stock, possibly (hopefully) tested. You may be disappointed with used - they are false economy, in general. Absolutely nothing "wrong" with your supplied valves, naturally. I always mix n match. Two RCA grey may be too lush, for example. Need really decent speakers, of course, to appreciate the nuances. Edit - from a pic of the Tempest, I see that they run 3 6SN7s. I use a 6SL7 in front. Edited August 25, 2019 by Lloyd 1
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