xlr8or Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 (edited) Bugger me - I forgot I had this hidden in the bottom shelf so the wife couldn't see it. Edited August 21, 2020 by xlr8or 11 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ENIGMA Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 Someone say Leak.... 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fell off the boat Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 10 hours ago, xlr8or said: Custom made job by the old man 12 years old and stained to match most cherry wood floorstanders. The Leaks are in boxes in storage. I tell ya I am addicted to anything valve amp/source related. I also have a sexy Trio W45A from the 1960's. More photos of the rack. Just valve amp/source? How about valve crossover? It's something that I'd love to try. Yeah this addiction...I can never get rid of my valve fetish Fantastic job on the rack by the way, would have cost a few grand in commercial. Pic of an old GTG at a friend's place, we're mostly valve tragic 11 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fell off the boat Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 7 hours ago, ENIGMA said: Someone say Leak.... Getting a bit leaky~ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xlr8or Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 44 minutes ago, fell off the boat said: Just valve amp/source? How about valve crossover? It's something that I'd love to try. Yeah this addiction...I can never get rid of my valve fetish Fantastic job on the rack by the way, would have cost a few grand in commercial. Pic of an old GTG at a friend's place, we're mostly valve tragic Are any of these for sale? Are you sure the GTG hasn't created a new Leak series called the Surround 5/20? Where the heck do you live because I'm on my way! Is there any more room for me to include my stash there? That poor speaker pair sitting there all on their very own facing the valve revolution - shame on you - I can also see a lot of 'irony' there!!! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xlr8or Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 (edited) Another hidden truth that is concealed from the wife - open up sesame. GTA 300B monos plus an AN 1.1x Mk2 DAC bottom right. Edited August 21, 2020 by xlr8or 6 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bisguittin Posted August 22, 2020 Share Posted August 22, 2020 (edited) 9 hours ago, xlr8or said: Another hidden truth that is concealed from the wife - open up sesame. GTA 300B monos plus an AN 1.1x Mk2 DAC bottom right. I thought I had my share of "hidden truths" from the wife, but clearly my concealments are a mere bagatelle in comparison to some of the hijinx on display here! Wow! What treasure troves Edited August 22, 2020 by Bisguittin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bisguittin Posted August 22, 2020 Share Posted August 22, 2020 Two of my little tubular friends. Ming Da MC7R & Aric Audio 3.7 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No Regrets Posted August 22, 2020 Share Posted August 22, 2020 Single ended 845's 9 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No Regrets Posted August 23, 2020 Share Posted August 23, 2020 Here is one of my amplifiers that I built with the help of my friend. It's inspired by the Pilot Corporation using their output transformers, vintage Allen Bradley carbon resistors, copper foil oil caps, with a pair of German EL84's per channel giving me a very dynamic, yet sweet 15 watts per channel. 12 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtexcnndrm99 Posted August 23, 2020 Share Posted August 23, 2020 (edited) Swapped a sole bugle boy E88CC into this little guy on Friday evening. Much preferred to dealing with matched quads and the like... Edited August 23, 2020 by crtexcnndrm99 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Prowse Hi-Fi Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ittaku Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 (edited) On 21/08/2020 at 3:21 PM, xlr8or said: Bugger me - I forgot I had this hidden in the bottom shelf so the wife couldn't see it. タムラ製作所 Says Tamura Manufacturing Edited August 30, 2020 by Ittaku 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xlr8or Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 (edited) @Ittaku It doesn't end there with the Japanese gear I own. 1. Sun Valley Romantic Glass Amplifier SV2 2002 EL34 UV-845 version 2002 with 12AX7 input 2. Luxkit A3300 preamp. 3. Custom DAC phono stage preamp with DAT DAC Edited August 30, 2020 by xlr8or 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mendes Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 Pre amp.... 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidSun Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 Audio Research Reference 150. 8 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lochawe Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 On 21/08/2020 at 11:31 PM, fell off the boat said: Just valve amp/source? How about valve crossover? It's something that I'd love to try. Yeah this addiction...I can never get rid of my valve fetish How about valve field coil power supplies? 10 x GZ34 per channel to energise my Voxativ AC-X2 field coil drivers... 14 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antipodean Brad Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 Crumbs!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bisguittin Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 My Trevor Lees Preamplifier looking and sounding fantastic with its black acrylic etched faceplate and brand new clear acrylic cage. I took the liberty of modernising Trevor's logo and decided to title it "Old School Slimline Valve Pre amplifier". It now has the ability to light up the whole room unencumbered by steel mesh. I intend to soon recount the details of this little beast's tube rolling journey thus far, when the last inmate finally arrives from Ukraine. PS Many thanks for Kirk's sage counsel. 6 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fell off the boat Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 Not glowing per se...but I still remember the sound I heard after more than 6 years. Anyone selling? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willmax Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 I've bought a new set of tubes to refresh my amplifier. Now to adjust bias and DC balance on the ARC D115 'bites his nails nervously' - wish me luck! Ended up getting an early father's day present while at it 9 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwbasement Posted September 6, 2020 Share Posted September 6, 2020 Had some fun with the Chatham 2399, it is time to swap back to the Chatham JAN CAHG 6AS7G. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fidelity Sounds Posted September 7, 2020 Share Posted September 7, 2020 (edited) Delete Edited September 8, 2020 by demmauhong 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No Regrets Posted September 7, 2020 Share Posted September 7, 2020 Lovin the looks of that Air Tight 300B! I've never seen nor heard them in the flesh but it sure looks sexy! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bisguittin Posted September 8, 2020 Share Posted September 8, 2020 (edited) My "new" Trevor Lees Pre-amplifier Having known nothing of valves since my childhood family HMV stereogram, the past year or so has seen me develop a seemingly insatiable penchant for valve preamplifiers. Spousal fast talking is required to justify the ownership of 4 of these things given that they can only be used one at a time. @2Brix for one, thinks it's a great joke. Each preamp exhibits its own individual virtues and despite certain external pressures, I have no intention of disowning any of them. Most recently I acquired my Trevor Lees unit from fellow SNA member Hifi-Man who in turn secured it from an acquaintance in Melbourne. My purchase was heavily predicated on the enthusiastic endorsement of SNA luminary Kirk (xlr8or). He suggested that it was the ideal blank canvas candidate for some high order tube rolling. Taking delivery of my little utilitarian "Junkyard Dog", I tightened my seatbelt and settled in for the ride! A substantial cosmetic makeover later, the ugly duckling is now a beautiful swan, courtesy of laser-cut and etched black and clear 3mm acrylic. Originally known as the Trevor Lees Slimline Pre-amplifier, I have rebirthed it as the Trevor Lees Old School Slimline Valve Pre-amplifier, with appropriate switch and connection labelling. Acting on Kirk's advice, I have succeeded in assembling an amazing tube retinue via the USA, Germany and most recently the Ukraine. The results have been spectacular and arguably the best audio $500 I have ever spent! I have had the opportunity to listen critically to each tubular change, since the inmates arrived in dribs and drabs. The current assemblage is several orders of magnitude in sound quality over the original compliment which comprised a single Zaerix ECC88, 3 x Zaerix6DJ8, and a Sylvania 6SL7. The first substitutions to arrive from the USA were a quad set of NOS Amperex PQ ECC88 6DJ8 A-Frame Getter Tubes. Immediately there was an increased lusciousness in the sound that emerged from my speakers. Everything we remark upon as being "tube-like", was there in abundance. It was so involving and so listenable. Well-known old favourites were new again. From Germany, next appeared a Netherlands manufactured NOS Adzam ECC35. This thing is a master of soundstaging and instrumental separation. Words don't fully describe its ability to allow the listener to discern the architecture of the music. Multilayered, complex arrangements are peerlessly rendered. Michael Oldfield's QE2 album is a revelation. And finally from the Ukraine arrived the crowning glory for use in the phono line. At this stage I have an apology to make. Kirk was expounding the virtues of and advocating the purchase of this Ebay item to another SNA member. As a very inconsistent sleeper, I came upon his advice at 4.30am one morning and was amazed it still remained unsold some hours after the posting of the thread exchange, so I acted. Apologies to @wadiman for my jump. This item has proven to be exceptional! It is a rare NOS Siemens Gold PinE88CC / 6922 / ECC88 / 6DJ / CCa. Kirk's contention that this has an astonishingly low noise floor is 100% correct and it effectively lifts a veil you don't even realise is there. Sounds swell and bloom from a prisine silence. Historically I have used an excellent rebuilt Michell Iso phono preamp. That is certainly no longer required in this application. Via the TL's phono stage courtesy of the Siemens, vinyl reproduction has never ever sounded better! This pre-amp is a fantastic piece of technology and I suspect it is near the peak of its exceptional powers. I am entirely confident this Aussie classic is quite capable of extraordinary performance for another 40 years. Shout out to Kirk. Many thanks mate! Edited September 9, 2020 by Bisguittin 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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