What audio system do you have, or plan on getting?

[71 dB]

Heaven forbid. I have no need for external confirmation to be sure of what I know.

Are you some kind of super-genius/prodigy who figured out how human hearing works at age 12? Stuff that took science hundreds of years to find out with extensive research and listening tests?

An important part of learning is learning how little you actually know, but the experience is certainly humbling...

My knowing is, to me, beyond doubt. Books have no bearing on the matter. No education makes an individual free; quite the contrary.

With that kind of attitude you can't learn much. All you are good at is reasoning backwards from your ("beyond doubt") conclusions. I want to know the truth about things whatever they are. It makes me free or it doesn't but that's my goal and the way to get there is to learn and figure out stuff every day. Books are not the only sources of knowledge. We can learn things from each other, online (Wikipedia, Youtube etc.) as long as you are able to think critically and filter nonsense out. Education helps in improving critical thinking. In that sense an educated mind is free, more immune to miss-information.

Moreover, we appear to have rather different notions of what reality is. That is precisely why I do not seek agreement.

I have my own thoughts about the reality, but my mental capacity limits what I can come up with. The reality seems to be some kind of quaternion computation with data nodes and connections between them (related to spin). Out of this mathematical structure emerges the illusion of spacetime we are experiencing in our way (not seeing the fundamental connection of space and time due to computational limitations).

[AnotherSpin]

Are you some kind of super-genius/prodigy who figured out how human hearing works at age 12? Stuff that took science hundreds of years to find out with extensive research and listening tests?

An important part of learning is learning how little you actually know, but the experience is certainly humbling...

With that kind of attitude you can't learn much. All you are good at is reasoning backwards from your ("beyond doubt") conclusions. I want to know the truth about things whatever they are. It makes me free or it doesn't but that's my goal and the way to get there is to learn and figure out stuff every day. Books are not the only sources of knowledge. We can learn things from each other, online (Wikipedia, Youtube etc.) as long as you are able to think critically and filter nonsense out. Education helps in improving critical thinking. In that sense an educated mind is free, more immune to miss-information.

I have my own thoughts about the reality, but my mental capacity limits what I can come up with. The reality seems to be some kind of quaternion computation with data nodes and connections between them (related to spin). Out of this mathematical structure emerges the illusion of spacetime we are experiencing in our way (not seeing the fundamental connection of space and time due to computational limitations).

My condolences. But this is fixable, use resources beyond your mental capacity. Do you know you are? Do you need your mind to know this? Start from here.

[ritter]

This topic will remain locked until further notice, to give all participants the chance to calm down.

I find it striking that a thread dedicated to a topic most participants here seem to profess a real interest for, degenerates so easily into a full-blown confrontation, littered with ad hominem attacks. Curious...

EDIT: The thread is now unlocked. Let's hope things remain civil...

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Sylvania 6ca7 has arrived and it sounds good with my amp. So far I have three Sylvania 6ca7 and two GE 6ca7. Sylvania has clear, extending treble while GE provides with strong bass. I love the both and I'm not sure if I will ever use EL34 again. Sometimes I use Sylvania for the right channel and GE for the left channel, and the combination sounds interesting for both mono and stereo recordings. The pic is a stock picture.

[Daverz]

Sylvania 6ca7 has arrived and it sounds good with my amp. So far I have three Sylvania 6ca7 and two GE 6ca7. Sylvania has clear, extending treble while GE provides with strong bass. I love the both and I'm not sure if I will ever use EL34 again. Sometimes I use Sylvania for the right channel and GE for the left channel, and the combination sounds interesting for both mono and stereo recordings. The pic is a stock picture.

I'd like, but I'm not sure I should encourage this sort of thing.     I spent quite a bit of time going down the tube-rolling rabbit hole myself.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

I'd like, but I'm not sure I should encourage this sort of thing.     I spent quite a bit of time going down the tube-rolling rabbit hole myself.

Are you using a solid state amp now? Are you happy with it?

[Daverz]

Are you using a solid state amp now? Are you happy with it?

Yes and yes, I'm using a Bryston 3B-SST (250 Watts into 4 Ohms, class A/B) to drive my mains, and am very happy with it.



(not my photo)

I paid $1500 for it on Audiogon in about 2008.   Current Bryston gear is too pricey for me.

The tube amps are a pair of Rogue M-180 monoblocks. 



(Not my photo)

I've swapped back and forth between the Bryston and the Rogues many dozens of times over a period of years, and never could arrive at a preference.  I could also never hear a difference between the "triode" and "ultra linear" modes. 

The Rogues have a higher output impedance which results in a slight 0.5 dB hump at around 100 Hz with my speakers.  That slight hump does add a touch of warmth, but I can always dial that in with EQ if I wanted to.

The signal tubes are 12ax7s and 12au7s.  Power tubes can be KT-88/90/120/150.  I have KT-88s in them now. 

The cost of a new octet of power tubes did make the choice of sticking with the Bryston easier.  Also, two tube amps generate significant unwanted heat in the summer.

I also have a BAT 3iX tube pre-amp (this was BAT's "entry level" pre-amp years ago, but they seem to have abandoned that segment of the market.)  These days I'm all digital and my DAC is connected directly to the amp.



(Another audiomart photo).

The signal tubes are 6922s or 6DJ8s.  I can't remember what the bigger tubes are. I'm using used Amperex orange globe 6DJ8s since new production 6922 tubes always got hissy after 6 months or so of use.

[Fëanor]

I also have a BAT 3iX tube pre-amp (this was BAT's "entry level" pre-amp years ago, but they seem to have abandoned that segment of the market.)  These days I'm all digital and my DAC is connected directly to the amp.



(Another audiomart photo).

The signal tubes are 6922s or 6DJ8s.  I can't remember what the bigger tubes are. I'm using used Amperex orange globe 6DJ8s since new production 6922 tubes always got hissy after 6 months or so of use.

I have a romantic fondness for my tube preamp, a Sonic Frontiers Line 1 with "SE+" upgrade from Parts ConneXion (which is in the Toronto area).

Here it is pictured with my annotations of the upgrade that was done.  Did the upgrade improve the sound?  I honestly don't know since it is impossible to do before/after AB comparison.



However my strong impression is that different tubes do sound a bit different. After trying at least half a dozen different tubes I determined (subjectively, of course) that I prefer Genalex 'Gold Lion' E88CC/6922's in the gain position.

The Gold Lion's deliver a bit of tubey goodness while preserving most of the detail and transparency of good S/S.  By contrast I have a pair of vintage Amperex American 'PQ' white label 6922 tubes that sound (to my ears) distinctly fuller, warmer, and less detailed.

[ritter]

A post that was clearly looking for confrontation, and a subsequent post that quoted it, have been removed. If nastiness erupts again in the thread, it will be immediately locked. No ifs, ands or buts. Understood? Good!

[Daverz]

Tube amps do objectively have less fidelity to the input signal: they add more noise and distortion.  However, good designs can keep noise and distortion below audible levels.  But even the good amps tend to have relatively high output impedance, which results in greater speaker load dependence, which can be audible and is a really undesirable "feature" that changes with each speaker.  There's not really much point to them from the standpoint of fidelity, but they can perform competently.

[Spotted Horses]

Tube amps do objectively have less fidelity to the input signal: they add more noise and distortion.  However, good designs can keep noise and distortion below audible levels.  But even the good amps tend to have relatively high output impedance, which results in greater speaker load dependence, which can be audible and is a really undesirable "feature" that changes with each speaker.  There's not really much point to them from the standpoint of fidelity, but they can perform competently.

Let's not beat around the bush. People who like tube amps like the distortion. Unlike solid state amps, there is a gradual onset of distortion as they are driven harder. It's the same reason Jimmy Page used a Marshall stack.

[AnotherSpin]

A post that was clearly looking for confrontation, and a subsequent post that quoted it, have been removed. If nastiness erupts again in the thread, it will be immediately locked. No ifs, ands or buts. Understood? Good!

It would be good if moderation were just as swift and decisive in other cases, for example, when someone was being attacked a bit earlier in the thread.

[AnotherSpin]

Let's not beat around the bush. People who like tube amps like the distortion. Unlike solid state amps, there is a gradual onset of distortion as they are driven harder. It's the same reason Jimmy Page used a Marshall stack.

Not just Page, virtually all the key players did: Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jerry Garcia, Pete Townshend, Jeff Beck, Rory Gallagher, Brian May, Tony Iommi, David Gilmour, Eddie Van Halen, and so on.

[AnotherSpin]

Grateful Dead primarily used tube amplification for their entire sound system, including Jerry Garcia's guitar rig and their PA setup, and in terms of sound quality and system complexity, they were unmatched, pioneering one of the most advanced and sophisticated tube-based live sound systems in music history.

[Harry]

It would be good if moderation were just as swift and decisive in other cases, for example, when someone was being attacked a bit earlier in the thread.

This moderator acts like a dictator on this site, clearly to read in this thread, and handles us like little children.
No "if or buts 'Understood' that may be the attitude in Spain but not in the rest of Europe. And true enough where was he when I was attacked, nowhere to be seen, he is very partial thats clear.

[AnotherSpin]

This moderator acts like dictator on this site, clearly to read in this thread, and handles us like little children.
No "if or buts 'Understood' that may be the attitude in Spain but not in the rest of Europe. And true enough where was he when I was attacked, nowhere to be seen, he is very partial thats clear.

Funny, isn't it? We're all supposedly equal here, yet some are always more equal than others, just like in Animal Farm.

[Harry]

Funny, isn't it? We're all supposedly equal here, yet some are always more equal than others, just like in Animal Farm.

Yes I was wondering about that too! But then he is ruling supreme on GMG, and thinks he can do all he likes say all he likes, and look away when convenient. He did just that when the scientific bullies attacked me, and left me exposed.

[71 dB]

when the scientific bullies attacked me,...

Scientific bullies? Come on Harry. 

I don't know where I belong. Life is like this for people like me. The feel of being misunderstood.

My intent is never to bully anyone. My intent is to help people to free their mind of audio BS marketing with the help of scientific facts. Some people are open to this and apparently some people not so much.

[AnotherSpin]

Scientific bullies? Come on Harry. 

I don't know where I belong. Life is like this for people like me. The feel of being misunderstood.

My intent is never to bully anyone. My intent is to help people to free their mind of audio BS marketing with the help of scientific facts. Some people are open to this and apparently some people not so much.

But that is precisely the point: the mind must be freed from the dictatorship of so-called scientific facts. Life is much greater than its description in a textbook. Still, I can only repeat it: if someone is afraid to break out of the prison cell of a conditioned mind, then let it be. People cannot be forced, and there is no need to.

[71 dB]

But that is precisely the point: the mind must be freed from the dictatorship of so-called scientific facts. Life is much greater than its description in a textbook. Still, I can only repeat it: if someone is afraid to break out of the prison cell of a conditioned mind, then let it be. People cannot be forced, and there is no need to.

Science provides the tools to be immune to misinformation. A scientific mind is able to be critical and detect contradictions in what is being said. For me this is very clear because I happen to be an intuitive introvert (only about 1 % of people are like that). For extroverted sensors this doesn't seem to be clear at all and I don't know what to do about it...