Forums - Any weaknesses in my system?

EdGuY

Senior Member

Fact is just a solid
opinion.

Posts: 59

Any weaknesses in my system?
11/19/12 at 07:25:26

Hi
Is there any weaknesses in my system I should fix? Arguments and suggestions please. Any better rectifiers on market I should know or OC2 tubes?

AMPs:
Amplifier: TORII MK3 (Black figured wood base, 21 position Stepped Attenuator, VCAP upgrade)
Pre amplifier: CSP2+ (Black figured wood base, Stepped attenuator, 2 pair of stereo outputs)

Tubes:
Power tubes: Fuller EL34G (gold plated) NEW / Psvane KT88-T (gold plated) NEW
Voltage regulation tubes: Russian CG16P (OC2) NOS
Voltage regulation tubes: Sylvania OB3 (Bottle shaped, black plated) NOS / Sylvania OD3 (Bottle shaped, black plated) NOS
Input tubes: MULLARD E188CC (6DJ8s/6922s, gold pins)NOS / Valvo ECC85 NOS
Rectifier tubes: Svetlana 5U3C (black plated) NOS / Svetlana 5U4G NOS
**all tubes with HAL-O III dampers

Cables:
INAKUSTIK Referenz NF-803 audio cables
YARBO SP-9020PW power cables

Speakers:
Advent A4 Loudspeakers (fully restored, crossover: VCAP's, silver wires, foil coils & etc.)

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YARBO power.c, BADA LB-5600, AUDIOCUBICS R-CUBE, TORII MK3(VCaps), CSP2+, DENON DP-A100 + DL-103R + GRADO PH-1, DOCK BOX VI, ADVENT A4 rebuilt(VCaps), Sunfire HRS-8, ULTRASONE EDITION 10 LUXURY headphones, Nuforce Icon uDAC2 Signature Gold Edition, Real Cable ICs.

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Lon Seasoned Member "Love without guts is worthless!" Philip K. D*ck Posts: 5232	Re: Any weaknesses in my system? Reply #1 - 11/19/12 at 11:50:04 Welcome Ed! Are there any shortcomngs you sense, or areas of improvement you are targetting? What source player (s) are you using? These might help with suggestions. Thanks!
Back to top	Decware:ERR,HR-1,Styx,ZP3,CSP2+(2),Torii Mk III PS Audio PWT and PWD Mk II,PowerBase (2), PPP,AC-12 pc Sony BPD-S5000ES Denon DCD-A100 Rega RP3+TTPSU,white belt and Exact2 Cryoset, VooDoo AudioICs Mapleshade Samson v2+v3 and 4"platforms Herbie's Audio Lab p IP Logged

Lon

Seasoned Member

"Love without
guts is
worthless!"
Philip K. D*ck

Posts: 5232

Re: Any weaknesses in my system?
Reply #2 - 11/19/12 at 13:28:03

Great! I'm sure we'd enjoy a photo of your front end component if possible.

It's hard for me to say where to go to get extra warmth if that is what you're looking for. In the Torii I might recommend trying older RCA 5U4G straight shouldered rectifiers for the Torii, as these are the warmest that I've found (and I like it warm). I also find RCA OA3 straight shouldered regulator tubes to add warmth. I haven't much experience with OC2 brands but a Raytheon pair that I have offers more "bloom" than an RCA pair, which is tighter and darker. In the CSP2+ I have found several 5Y3GT tubes to image more realistically than 5U4G types, and RCA and Tungsol (a new find thanks to Mike here on the board) to be warm and clear.

I'm using 6N1P input tubes though on Torii and CSP2+ so I'm not entirely sure that these tubes would offer the same characteristics with your input tubes, but I suspect they will act similarly.

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« Last Edit: 11/19/12 at 13:34:15 by Lon »

Decware:ERR,HR-1,Styx,ZP3,CSP2+(2),Torii Mk III
PS Audio PWT and PWD Mk II,PowerBase (2), PPP,AC-12 pc
Sony BPD-S5000ES
Denon DCD-A100
Rega RP3+TTPSU,white belt and Exact2
Cryoset, VooDoo AudioICs
Mapleshade Samson v2+v3 and 4"platforms
Herbie's Audio Lab p

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EdGuY

Senior Member

Fact is just a solid
opinion.

Posts: 59

Re: Any weaknesses in my system?
Reply #3 - 11/19/12 at 15:13:27

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YARBO power.c, BADA LB-5600, AUDIOCUBICS R-CUBE, TORII MK3(VCaps), CSP2+, DENON DP-A100 + DL-103R + GRADO PH-1, DOCK BOX VI, ADVENT A4 rebuilt(VCaps), Sunfire HRS-8, ULTRASONE EDITION 10 LUXURY headphones, Nuforce Icon uDAC2 Signature Gold Edition, Real Cable ICs.

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deucekazoo Seasoned Member Posts: 106	Re: Any weaknesses in my system? Reply #4 - 11/19/12 at 15:32:03 Very cool! Nice setup.
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Doorman Seasoned Member "pouring from the empty into the void" Posts: 381	Re: Any weaknesses in my system? Reply #5 - 11/19/12 at 15:52:54 Synergy is such a factor. Only you will know if the music is lacking something or not. Don
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Lon Seasoned Member "Love without guts is worthless!" Philip K. D*ck Posts: 5232	Re: Any weaknesses in my system? Reply #6 - 11/19/12 at 15:53:02 Nice setup indeed. I like what you did with the source component. You might want to consider some Herbie's Audio Lab "Tenderfeet" under that. . . . www.herbiesaudiolab.net
Back to top	Decware:ERR,HR-1,Styx,ZP3,CSP2+(2),Torii Mk III PS Audio PWT and PWD Mk II,PowerBase (2), PPP,AC-12 pc Sony BPD-S5000ES Denon DCD-A100 Rega RP3+TTPSU,white belt and Exact2 Cryoset, VooDoo AudioICs Mapleshade Samson v2+v3 and 4"platforms Herbie's Audio Lab p IP Logged

EdGuY Senior Member Fact is just a solid opinion. Posts: 59	Re: Any weaknesses in my system? Reply #7 - 11/19/12 at 18:01:43 Thank you guys so far! Synergy is what I have now, but I wonder can it go better and warmer There is so much tubes I have no experience with. If anyone have more good suggestions I should try, please let me know.
Back to top	YARBO power.c, BADA LB-5600, AUDIOCUBICS R-CUBE, TORII MK3(VCaps), CSP2+, DENON DP-A100 + DL-103R + GRADO PH-1, DOCK BOX VI, ADVENT A4 rebuilt(VCaps), Sunfire HRS-8, ULTRASONE EDITION 10 LUXURY headphones, Nuforce Icon uDAC2 Signature Gold Edition, Real Cable ICs. IP Logged

busterfree Senior Member Posts: 66	Re: Any weaknesses in my system? Reply #8 - 11/19/12 at 19:39:56 Very nice. Thanks for sharing.
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EdGuY Senior Member Fact is just a solid opinion. Posts: 59	Re: Any weaknesses in my system? Reply #9 - 11/20/12 at 06:56:41 Hi again What you say if I replace 5U4 to 274B tubes? Any warm 274B suggestions?
Back to top	YARBO power.c, BADA LB-5600, AUDIOCUBICS R-CUBE, TORII MK3(VCaps), CSP2+, DENON DP-A100 + DL-103R + GRADO PH-1, DOCK BOX VI, ADVENT A4 rebuilt(VCaps), Sunfire HRS-8, ULTRASONE EDITION 10 LUXURY headphones, Nuforce Icon uDAC2 Signature Gold Edition, Real Cable ICs. IP Logged

Lon Seasoned Member "Love without guts is worthless!" Philip K. D*ck Posts: 5232	Re: Any weaknesses in my system? Reply #10 - 11/20/12 at 12:52:20 I only have experience with one 274B, the Valve Art/Shuguang, and if you're looking for warmth, I don't suggest that one, my RCA 5U4G rectifiers offer more warmth.
Back to top	Decware:ERR,HR-1,Styx,ZP3,CSP2+(2),Torii Mk III PS Audio PWT and PWD Mk II,PowerBase (2), PPP,AC-12 pc Sony BPD-S5000ES Denon DCD-A100 Rega RP3+TTPSU,white belt and Exact2 Cryoset, VooDoo AudioICs Mapleshade Samson v2+v3 and 4"platforms Herbie's Audio Lab p IP Logged

marky

Seasoned Member

Posts: 130

Re: Any weaknesses in my system?
Reply #11 - 11/20/12 at 13:52:30

Thats a nice looking system.
I`ve used 5AR4`s and 5R4GY`s (old mullard and b.plate RCA) for a GE 5u4 and prefer both and I suppose are warmer, or more full bodied. But then you have to balance out makes and models. There are some pretty expensive 5u4`s out there. And we have had good reviews here of the shuguang 274B ($15), which I have seen listed as a proper replacement.
Is the rectifier the best place to start and then signal/power tubes.
I guess it is.
edit..Sorry the 5AR4 goes in my minimax, dont think it`ll work in CSP2+
I`m actually looking for 2 matched rectifiers for when my new Decware gear arrives. There was a nice pair went for £200 recently. ouch ! :)

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« Last Edit: 11/20/12 at 14:19:39 by marky »

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EdGuY

Senior Member

Fact is just a solid
opinion.

Posts: 59

Re: Any weaknesses in my system?
Reply #12 - 11/20/12 at 14:49:15

:)
My recent purchase, just want to find good tube combination to Torii and CSP2+, now I will have RCA tubes:
PCC88/7DJ8 PHILIPS NOS
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1x-PCC88-7DJ8-PHILIPS-NOS-Tube-Valvula-Valvola-Rohre-Lam...

RCA Electron 0A3 NOS
http://www.ebay.com/itm/6-Vintage-RCA-Electron-Tubes-NOS-OC3-4-OA3-2-449-/330805...

Shuguang Psvane 274B Rectifier white plated New
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shuguang-Psvane-274B-Rectifier-Vacuum-Tubes-Pair-Brand-N...

RCA 5U4G NOS
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-NEW-tall-RCA-JAN-5U4G-black-plate-military-issue-match...

Now there is plenty of tubes I have to test. Soon will see the result

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« Last Edit: 11/20/12 at 15:33:31 by EdGuY »

YARBO power.c, BADA LB-5600, AUDIOCUBICS R-CUBE, TORII MK3(VCaps), CSP2+, DENON DP-A100 + DL-103R + GRADO PH-1, DOCK BOX VI, ADVENT A4 rebuilt(VCaps), Sunfire HRS-8, ULTRASONE EDITION 10 LUXURY headphones, Nuforce Icon uDAC2 Signature Gold Edition, Real Cable ICs.

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Lon Seasoned Member "Love without guts is worthless!" Philip K. D*ck Posts: 5232	Re: Any weaknesses in my system? Reply #13 - 11/20/12 at 18:01:19 As you say plenty of tubes to play with, and you spent some coin! I know you'll have fun checking out all the combinations.
Back to top	Decware:ERR,HR-1,Styx,ZP3,CSP2+(2),Torii Mk III PS Audio PWT and PWD Mk II,PowerBase (2), PPP,AC-12 pc Sony BPD-S5000ES Denon DCD-A100 Rega RP3+TTPSU,white belt and Exact2 Cryoset, VooDoo AudioICs Mapleshade Samson v2+v3 and 4"platforms Herbie's Audio Lab p IP Logged

EdGuY Senior Member Fact is just a solid opinion. Posts: 59	Re: Any weaknesses in my system? Reply #14 - 11/20/12 at 18:18:09 I let you know when I'm done (if ever). This hobby really is expensive, but I'm ready to do anything for perfect sound.
Back to top	YARBO power.c, BADA LB-5600, AUDIOCUBICS R-CUBE, TORII MK3(VCaps), CSP2+, DENON DP-A100 + DL-103R + GRADO PH-1, DOCK BOX VI, ADVENT A4 rebuilt(VCaps), Sunfire HRS-8, ULTRASONE EDITION 10 LUXURY headphones, Nuforce Icon uDAC2 Signature Gold Edition, Real Cable ICs. IP Logged