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OLDER DECWARE GEAR SUPPORT >> The ZEN TABOO >> Jonesin' for my Taboo
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Message started by Pale Rider on 02/25/11 at 16:17:44

Title: Jonesin' for my Taboo
Post by Pale Rider on 02/25/11 at 16:17:44

I know better than to rush custom builds, so am just posting here today to twiddle thumbs. Waiting for my Taboo. Waiting for my Audez'e LCD-2 cans.

Have been ripping a boatload of high-res audio (sorry, no offense meant to the vinyl folks), and it sounds grand on my RSA Apache and Sennheiser HD800s, but from everything posted over at Head-Fi, the new combo should be magic.

Title: Re: Jonesin' for my Taboo
Post by 4krow on 02/25/11 at 21:07:54

Ok, so tell me what is the 'custom' aspect of this taboo. (I am also waiting for a Decware product) :o

Title: Re: Jonesin' for my Taboo
Post by Pale Rider on 02/26/11 at 14:19:19

Sorry, didn't mean to make it sound like anything unusual. Just Vcaps and the headphone output.

My use of "custom" was in reference to the "build to order" nature of Decware gear. We're not ordering off the shelf, and in such circumstances, I have rarely found it productive to nag or rush the builder.

Title: Re: Jonesin' for my Taboo
Post by Pale Rider on 03/01/11 at 19:08:56

Of course, not yet having my amp has not stopped me from getting ready for some possible tube rolling.

I have gotten hold of a matched pair of Sylvania NOS 6BQ5/EL84 black plate tubes, and I have the Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 on order.

I was also considering the SED 5U4-G Black Plate for a rectifier swap: http://thetubestore.com/nos-5u3c.html

Any thoughts or suggestions? Cheers!

Title: Re: Jonesin' for my Taboo
Post by Pale Rider on 03/08/11 at 21:52:40

Well, the SED 5U4-G black plate tube arrived today. Sure is a purty big-bottle. And it's not hard to see why tube collecting—er, rolling—could get addictive. ;D

Title: Re: Jonesin' for my Taboo
Post by ZYGI on 03/09/11 at 01:41:20

Pale Rider,

My favorite input tube for the Taboo is a RCA 12AV7 They're still cheap and sound great.

ZYGI

Title: Re: Jonesin' for my Taboo
Post by Rivieraranch on 03/09/11 at 02:57:17

To show how subjective these input tube choices are, I tried the 12AV7 and found RCA to be allright, but a GE tube was unbearably bright; or was it the other way around.

Title: Re: Jonesin' for my Taboo
Post by ZYGI on 03/09/11 at 12:08:17

Rivieraranch,

You know, I couldn't agree more. Tubes are so subjective to the listeners ears. This is probably due to what is upstream or downstream with each system. Or the room acoustics, someone with dead room might want a tube with a little more top end while someone with a very live room would probably want a darker tube on the top end.

Every time I someone suggests a tube for the Decware gear that I have, if I can, I give it a go, until one finally finds a tube that they think is perfect.

This could also go back to the mood the day you try a tube, some days things just don't sound right, I switch tubes around a bit, and say thats it, just perfect.

That is the beauty of tube amps. You can't do that with solid state thats for sure!!!

ZYGI

Title: Re: Jonesin' for my Taboo
Post by Pale Rider on 03/09/11 at 14:44:34

ZYGI, you hit on the real unknown factor: the final downstream destination, inside the listener's head. It is the great, marvelous unknown. And to your point, it is something that tube rolling can speak to in a way that solid state cannot [except in those occasional instances where op amp rolling is an available option].

Title: Re: Jonesin' for my Taboo
Post by Pale Rider on 03/16/11 at 22:34:34

Dang, gnawing my leg off here. Can't wait to get the amp. My interconnects arrived. They look lonely.

Title: Re: Jonesin' for my Taboo
Post by ZYGI on 03/17/11 at 00:39:42

You have to have patience my friend....I've learned this in my old age. I think I'm getting better at it.....

It will all be good.

ZYGI

Title: Re: Jonesin' for my Taboo
Post by Donnie on 03/17/11 at 02:11:51

I'm gnawing my legs off also. I can't wait for my stuff either.
I've sanded a big chunk of red oak down to a tooth pick making a isolation rack for my Torii. It is on it's 8th coat of clear poly, put it on, sand it flat,put it on, sand it flat. I will see if I can add the 1/2" I need with clear.

Title: Re: Jonesin' for my Taboo
Post by Pale Rider on 03/17/11 at 13:54:11

LOL Donnie!

And yes ZYGI, I know, patience, it's all about the Zen....... No argument.

Title: Re: Jonesin' for my Taboo
Post by Pale Rider on 03/29/11 at 21:10:16

Just heard from Sarah that my Taboo hits the road tomorrow. Wahoo!

Title: Re: Jonesin' for my Taboo
Post by Pale Rider on 04/02/11 at 18:07:39

So, UPS just moved up the arrival date of my package. Instead of Tuesday, it will be here Monday. I plan to swap out the Apache for the Taboo with its stock tubes, and see how the Taboo does without either a gain stage or preamp. Straight signal from the DAC. I will be testing it only with my Audez'e LCD-2 headphones. Then, I will insert the Z-Stage in the chain.

Title: Re: Jonesin' for my Taboo
Post by Lon on 04/02/11 at 18:49:07

Lots of fun ahead of you next week!

Title: Re: Jonesin' for my Taboo
Post by Pale Rider on 04/03/11 at 17:31:06

I sure am looking forward to it Lon. I worked out a playlist to use for listening, and a rough tube swap schedule to try out the various tubes I picked up.

Title: Re: Jonesin' for my Taboo
Post by Pale Rider on 04/04/11 at 20:18:10

Okay, it is here. The combo of the retro simple styling and robust construction are very attractive. As for the sound, well, obviously, this has not broken in yet, but "wow." Really wow.