Audio Asylum - Inmate Systems

thetubeguy1954's Thetubeguy's Audio System System
IP Address: 72.188.12.218	Last Update: February 06, 2012 at 01:06:24
Amplifier:	I use an Italian Mastersound Reference 845 SET amp. This amp produces the sweetest, most natural sounding music I've ever heard from an amp. It's a parallel, single-ended Class A design, with four 845B output tubes, two Bendix 6900 driver tubes & two Mazda 'silver-plate' 6189 preamp tubes. When I first purchased the Mastersound I decided to replace the stock 12AU7A tubes and after much trial & error I replaced the stock 12AU7A with NOS Mazda 6189 aka 12AU7WA "silver-plate" tubes. The Mazda "silver-plates" embarrassed the highly regarded Siemens "silver-plate" ECC82 tubes and made a very considerable sonic improvement in the Mastersound's sonic performance, especially in terms of transparency. However that sonic improvement was dwarfed by the level of improvement that occured when I replaced the stock Tung-Sol 5687 tubes with Bendix 6900 tubes, for now the dynamics, transient response & retrieval of inner-details were greatly enhanced as well. Yet despite the fact anyone could easily hear the increased transparency provided by the Mazda "silver-plate" 6189 tubes as-well-as the improved dynamics, greater transient response and enhanced ability to retrieve inner-details rendered by the 6900 tubes. There was yet still another, even greater sonic improvement imparted by the 6900 tubes that so overshadows all the other sonic improvements as to make them almost appear insignificant in comparison! For as good as those improvements were, they weren't the greatest sonic improvements by a longshot! No siree, what was absolutely amazing was the escalation and the magnitude of naturalness the harmonic content of the singers, musicians & their instruments now had imparted on their tone by the 6900 tube! For they were now "graced" for lack of a better word, with a level of sonic improvement I had never, ever heard a tube make anywhere else before. Timbre was so vastly improved, it was easy for all, but the person most unconcerned with musical integrity to differentiate easily between a clarinet and a soprano saxophone even when they played the same note at the same pitch and loudness I can honestly state had I not personally heard this improvement happen, I would not have believed it could happen ---no matter who told me it did! You had to hear this level of improvement made by a tube to believe it. There's just something spectacularly & exceptionally phenomenal, almost magical, that transpires sonically when a 6900 tube is used to drive an 845 tube. There's a gestalt affect as the two tubes work together seemingly to became one greater entity who's capabilities far exceed what one would expect either tube to be capable of when working together and which must repeat simply has to be heard to be believed! I believe this 6900/845 "gestalt-effect" is due to the fact that they both tubes use tungsten internally. I have no proof to back my belief, but it seems as good a theory as any other I've heard to explain what occurs. I can only say this combo has transformed what was already the best 845 amp I had ever heard, into what I believe is now a world-class amplifier. Once you hear this amp make music it will ensnare you with its musical "naturalness" and correctness of sound... Negative Feedback is 0dB, with a frequency bandwidth of 15 Hz – 40 kHz. It's dimensions are 15.7”W x 25.2”D x 10.2”H Weight: 135 lbs (mainly from 4 trannies the size of coffee cans)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	I have no preamp at this time, but the Mastersound is switchable from being used as an integrated to a power amp at the front of the amp.
Speakers:	My speakers are Sachiko double-back-loaded horns finished in Rosewood veneer and internally wired with special copper wire attained from NASA. The Sachikos have a pair 8", 99dB, Fostex FE208ES-R "wide-range" whizzerless drivers that are run full-range sans crossover and is allowed to roll off naturally. These cover from 80Hz to 8KHz. The range of 8Khz to 20KHz is covered by Fostex 106dB, T900a horn tweeters.
Sources:
CD Player/DAC:	The CDP is an Italian designed GoldeNote tubed Stibbert. It's without a doubt the most analogue sounding CD Player I've ever heard! It's been modded by replacing the original columns, feet & footers with Sound Fusion's anti-vibration columns feet & footers. In addition I've replaced the stock CVC 6922 tubes with the absolutely incredible sounding Voskhod "rocket-logo" 6H23n tubes.
Turntable/Phono Stage:	None
Other Source(s):	None, but would like a Marantz 2130 tuner.
Other Accessories/Room/Misc.:
Speaker Cables/Interconnects:	Speakerwire: Stealth Audio's Dream speaker wires. Interconnects: Atelier Rullit "Late Gothic". Power Cords: Stealth Audio's M-21 Super (2)
Other (Power Conditioner, Racks etc.):	None
Tweaks:	My tweaks have been in the way of using much better tubes & wires than my equipment originally came with. The Mastersound's stock 12AU7's were replaced with vintage NOS Mazda 'chrome-plate' 6189's or 12AU7WA's as they are also called. Next I replaced the Tung-Sol 5687's with Bendix 6900's. These tubes literally transformed my amplifiers sound. I have done a lot tube rolling and usually tubes sound subtly better or GOD-forbid worse. However replacing the 5687 with the 6900 was more like upgrading an audio component. Perhaps the best thing I can say to try and reveal the level of improvement is this. My roommate at that time thought anyone who spent more than $1000 on an entire audio system was nuts! Well after I changed from the 5687 to the 6900 tubes there was a knock on my bedroom door. When I opened the door my roomate came in, looked around and asked me "What did you just do?" When I told him I replaced a pair of $20 tubes with a pair of $300 tubes, he said you're crazy to pay $300 for tubes but I have to admit they sound a lot better, even through the door! Finally I replaced the Mastersound's cheap 845 tubes with the much better 845B tube. As for GoldeNote CDP I replaced the stock 6922 tubes with the wonderful sounding Russian 6H23. This change was actually a bit of a surprise because I had on longterm loan almost (with the exception of Cca) every NOS Siemans, Mullard and Amperex tube in the 6DJ8/6922/7308/Cca family you could imagine! I was also to be gifted with my choice of any one pair of tubes from the group! Yet lo & behold these cheap $20-$30/pr of Russian 6H23 bested them all. Don't misunderstand me For Example: the Siemans 7308 had a slightly better treble and the Siemans "gold-pin" 6922 had deeper bass but not one tube could best it top to bottom! I also replaced the stock GoldeNote columns, feet and footers with Sound Fusion's anti-vibration columns, feet and footers!
Room Size (LxWxH):	15' 8' x 12' 8' x 8' to 10' sloped ceiling.
Room Comments/Treatments:	People should spend a lot more money on room treatments (if possible) before upgrading. The room can actually have one of the greatest effects overall on what you actually hear, so why not address the issue? I recently purchased a new home so at this time I cannot spend any real money on room treatments. I do however now have a dedicated audio room that's 15'8' x 12'6' so in time the treatments will come!
Music Preferences and Comments:
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	My taste in music leans towards mellow, soft, relaxing music. My preferences in order are: 1)Smooth Jazz (Dan Siegal, Fourplay, Pat Coil, Pam Williams, Solar Wind, etc) 2)New Age (Third Force, Max Lasser, William Belote, Acoustic Alchemy etc) 3)Prog-Rock (Genesis, Starcastle, Marillion, Supertramp, Yes, Trillion etc)
System Goals/Comments:	My goal is what everyone who owns an audio system's goal should be. To have my system be able to reproduce the actual event that was recorded, in the space it was recorded in. I want to be 'transported' to the event, NOT have the event transported to me.
System Strengths:	Dynamics, transient response, transparency, retrieval of inner detail, harmonic & timbrel purity, along with a wide, deep, soundstage that doesn't blow-up the size of the singers, musicians or their instruments.
System Weaknesses:	The one main fault is definitely one of omission, not commission. There's just not enough bass below 80Hz and just when I believe this is something I can live without, I discover I miss not having the extra impact and weight, that's provided when you can reproduce lower bass with slam!
Video/HT System: None
URL Link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/singleendedtriodes/
Other Interests/Hobbies/Occupation:	Computers, Plants & Dogs