Been Busy Building Stuff...

[marantzfan]

Decided a few months ago to sell most everything audio I had across two very good systems and consolidate the funds into one system.  I used to be the very happy owner of a Stereomour, which was my first kit build, but in the spirit of this transition I've upped the ante across the board. 

In the last two months I've built the BeePre, Eros and just tonight I finished up the Paramounts (haven't done voltage checks yet though, too late to play with electricity ).  In between these builds, I built a pair of 15" powered subwoofers as well.  Soon, I'll be putting together a music player based on the Mac Mini and eventually getting a new DAC.  In the meantime, I'm going to address my room with some acoustic treatments and am considering implementing DRC below 200hz...

Whew...  Getting serious about this hobby is a lot of work.  Think I'll just enjoy a beer right now for a moment... 

[2wo]

Room treatment, very important 

[mkane]

  Pic's please.

[aragorn723]

Hi,

Is that a huge tweeter on top of the speaker?  What kind is it?  Funny how you have a cat too, I bet she will love laying next to your paramounts    Mine thinks the speakers are scratching posts :-o

Dave

[Grainger49]

It looks like John has a lot of Pink Panther wrap, a black cat slimmer than mine and a ribbon tweeter above an FE103En in the classic FE103 cabinet.

That is what it looks like to me.  I'm probably wrong, blame the drugs.

[marantzfan]

Looks like a Great Horned Heil to me....  I'll get some pics up soon.

[2wo]

Yes they are the Great Horned Heil's, Hornshopps with the ESS Heil on top.

Last falls project was to add another layer of insulation in the attic...John

[Grainger49]

I thought you were saying it was room treatment.  That just made me itch!

[aragorn723]

me too lol.  Seems like it takes boku bucks to go from a high-powered solid state system to go to a low powered tube setup..  For instance, 2 paramounts=$1700.  Change speakers to efficient ones- maybe Fostex?  prob $300 ish with cabinets..  If you add in something like the Great Horned Heil..  I'm already over $2k.  Seems like most people here are running low powered tube amps, are they that much better than solid state?

Dave

[marantzfan]

That's a loaded question on any forum, this forum even more so.  To me, it's like asking is vanilla that much better than chocolate?

[Grainger49]

Dave,

I started with some cheap kits back in '64 or '65.  I have had high end electronics and have moved to the SET, DHT Bottlehead kits.  They are awfully sweet sounding.  They can be customized if you want or stay stock.  It is a personal taste.

Your question is asked often.  The thing to do is post in the General folder asking if there is a Bottlehead near you who will invite you over to experience SET sound done well.  Take him, or her if Deb responds, a six pack and have a nice afternoon of it.  It is your ears you want to please.

[aragorn723]

Grainger,

Sounds like a good idea..  I was hoping to understand why so many people like tube and re-vamp their entire systems to go that route.  Of course, if my amp fried today, it would be an option.  Years ago I used to play Bass guitar at this church, and they had this really cool Ampeg amp driving a 12" speaker.  The tone coming out was probably the nicest i've ever heard.  Is that the experience people have with their stereos?  Instruments sounding like real instruments?  At least in my system, sometimes they don't.

Dave

[Paul Birkeland]

I don't think you need to buy Paramounts to hear why a lot of people like single ended tube amps over their prior solid state gear; a SEX amp will do the job nicely. 

Efficient speakers come in all shapes, sizes, and prices. 

[aragorn723]

Paul,

Ideally it would be a separate amp, I like the idea of having a preamp/amp setup.  The seductor  is in a little different league from what i've read-not quite the same in resolution as the sex.  Think that could give me a good taste of single ended tube sound?  Wish there was an amp between the seductor and the paramounts, any plans ?

Dave

[Paul Joppa]

Paul,

Ideally it would be a separate amp, I like the idea of having a preamp/amp setup.  The seductor  is in a little different league from what i've read-not quite the same in resolution as the sex.  Think that could give me a good taste of single ended tube sound?  Wish there was an amp between the seductor and the paramounts, any plans ?

Dave

I don't think the Seductor sounds quite like a "real" SET; it's more like halfway between SET and push-pull tubes.

Stereomour is easily used with a preamp; I think it is the "amp between the seductor and the paramounts". Really, the integrated aspect is just a volume control and source switch - there are no extra gain stages or other additions to the circuitry, and they are easily bypassed.