Wes Montgomery and Milt Jackson "Bags Meets Wes" Keepnews Collection cd

Flora Purim "Carry On" Warner Bros. Japan lp facsimile cd

Flora Purim "Nothing Will Be as it was Tomorrow" Warner Bros. cd

SOLD

If you poke around different sellers have various changes. Some have no longer ship to your selected country ( USA ) , some items have gigantic price increases on shipping or item itself and some have only a small % increase.

Some things will still be a decent value even with small increase in price but others not so much. I think there will be changes and adjusting for sellers until they figure it all out. Like is it worth it to keep selling to USA or anywhere, how long can we absorb some loss before waiving white flag etc

Im worried more about stores that havent updated info yet and get caught with unexpected extra costs after item has already shipped.

The current fashion is to play Bruckner's monumental 8th symphony with the reverence and solemnity typically reserved for Bach's Passions. But that hasn't always been the case.



On CD.

A couple generations ago conductors like Eugen Jochum took a more lyrical approach to the 8th. While the big moments certainly get their due, the overall effect less prayerful, more picnic. And the early stereo sound on this CD is excellent.

Yup, that's what a 145% (+ a bit more) tariff on Chinese goods looks like to a U.S. consumer.

HK

This was great!  I loved the part where the guy was hosting an audio listening session, and he had everyone moving around to find the sweet spot

The line, "a dream... a dream of perfection", pretty much sums it up for all of us, doesn't it?

Thanks for posting, Kamran!

P.S.  I would love to have been in the audio store, shown at the end.  One of my all time favorite speakers is shown there - the Wharfedale SFB/3 open baffle!

Anyone try to buy from Aliexpress recently?  I went in to pick up some copper banana connectors, added them to my cart to find out what our new tariffs look like.  $13.00 set of 4 bananas, $1.14 tax, $1.20 shipping and $23.40 customs fee!  That for a $13.00 item.  Trade war has arrived at our door.  Grrrrrrr….

Please reframe from the political debates/opinions I just wanted to inform USA audio shoppers what our China tariff reality is now.

I've spilled a lot of virtual ink on Wilhelm Furtwangler lately, and now my other favorite conductor, Ferenc Fricsay. Unfortunately he died much too young and his recordings remain mostly on the fringe of the classical listening world, but many of them are remarkable.



On CD from the Ferenc Fricsay box.

Schubert's Unfinished Symphony is one of the most recorded works in the repertoire, and I have a bunch of them, but this is my favorite. Recorded in good mono sound it is a journey from darkness to light like no other.

Last night I rolled in a Tesla pinched waist 6CC42 that I acquired from CA James.  As anticipated….this tube was nice step up from the stock Schiit 6N3P. I’m hearing a more expansive soundstage when listening to music.  The tonal characteristics did improve as well…the bass region is more pronounced, and while the highs are still edgy….it’s softer than before.

Just received a third 9 pin SS for my UFO after 1.5 years. I dont roll very much but noticed one of my output bases feeling a bit less tight….seems best and dont notice a change in fidelity

Randall

Well, I've finally found voltage regulation tubes I like as much as the 75C1 in my SEWE300B: a differently structured 0B2, of which I now have three in use.

These have that interesting texture that the 75C1 have that I can't get enough of and also that "B" voltage gentler "attack." They are really hitting a sweet spot with my favored tube complements.

A 75C1 in the input tube voltage regulation spot also is a good combo, but in this amp I seem to always prefer three of the same voltage regulation as opposed to two and one, not sure why, just what seems most sympatico.

I'm glad I discovered these!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/176710366675

https://www.ebay.com/itm/256473939252

A favorite!

Flora Purim "Every Day, Every Night" Warner Bros. LP

A new reissue. . . sounds very good.

Charlie Rouse "Two is One" Strata East/Mack Avenue cd



Bass – Martin Rivera or Stanley Clark
Bass Clarinet – Charles Rouse
Cello – Calo Scott
Congas – Azzedin Weston
Drums – David Lee
Guitar – George Davis and Paul Metzke
Percussion – Airto Moreira
Tenor Saxophone – Charles Rouse

Recorded and mixed at The Warehouse, 320 W. 46th Street, N.Y.C.

This is a great album that I did not pay due attention to when first released. Really something!

Abdullah Ibrahim "The Balance" Gearbox cd





Alto Saxophone, Flute, Piccolo Flute – Cleave Guyton Jr.
Baritone Saxophone – Marshall McDonald
Double Bass – Alec Dankworth
Double Bass, Cello – Noah Jackson
Drums – Will Terrill
Engineer – Tony Platt
Harmonica – Adam Glasser
Piano – Abdullah Ibrahim
Sleeve Notes – Abdullah Ibrahim
Tenor Saxophone – Lance Bryant
Trombone – Andrae Murchison
Recorded at RAK Studio 1.

And I want to note that although I clearly heard sonic differences between tubes for all the twenty-seven plus years or so I've used Decware amps, this SEWE300B is showing these differences with even more clarity and certainty. (Other factors could be in play but man, this is one fine amp).

Dodged a big storm last night! Starting off this morning with a re-listen to the first disc in this new release.



Freddie Hubbard "On Fire" Resonance Records 2 cd set, disc 1



Freddie Hubbard – trumpet
Bennie Maupin – tenor saxophone
Kenny Barron – piano
Herbie Lewis – bass
Freddie Waits – drums

Recorded live at the Blue Morocco in the Bronx, New York, on April 10, 1967

Freddie Hubbard "On Fire" Resonance Records 2 cd set, disc 2

I have always used socket savers for both octal and 9 pin tubes.

I can't say they have no effect on sound, but whatever impact they have is tiny. I use them them mostly as protection, because in the (highly unlikely) event something weird happens it is much easier to replace a socket saver than the actual socket.

I also use a pin straightener pretty religiously when I change 9 pin tubes. I just feel like whatever the cost in time and materials is for socket savers and pin straightening it is cheap insurance so I don't have to deal with a messed up socket.

👍👍Fascinating piece of history…was that Steve’s first Decfest at 13:30? My how some things barely change 🤣.  Thanks for sharing!

I probably should use socket savers more often as often as I roll tubes. I did have to replace all sockets in a Decware component in the past. . . and I should have learned my lesson. Wear to the point of diminishing sound quality has happened over the years on both input and driver and rectifier tubes. I haven't learned a lesson and have continued on in my ways since.

Hello, I’m looking for some feedback regarding socket savers and tube rolling.

Socket savers seem to have been developed for tube testers. In this application they make sense as maybe hundreds of tubes were being plugged and unplugged into the same socket. Tube testers are concerned with if a tube works. Tube testers are not concerned with how a tube might sound.

Decware amps offer plenty of opportunities to roll tubes on both the inputs and outputs but only offers socket savers for the input tubes. I’ve seen the warning about bent pins on input tubes.  A pin straightener and a socket saver seem the best defense. Use the socket saver to make sure the pins go in straight and then take it out.

Should the same precautions be taken when rolling octal output tubes?  Octal tubes have heavier pins and the key system. Are these output sockets robust enough not to require socket savers?  Do socket savers on output tubes change bias points?

For those members with experience do you find socket savers to be neutral and leave them in the amp? Does anyone  find  either input or output tubes to have a different sound without the socket saver? Do you only use socket savers on both the input and output tubes? Have you extensively rolled tubes in your amp without socket savers and never had a problem?

Joshua Redman "Long Gone" Nonesuch cd

Steve, I called and left a voicemail. Shoot me a call or a PM. Thanks.

Kamran, thanks for the link.  Seeing familiar behaviors from such a different era was great fun. I may have been mistaken, but I thought for sure I saw an old-time Decware amp in one of those scenes.

Tony

Jovino Santo Neto "Rodo Carioca"

What an opportunity! Were my bank account larger . . . .

Wow.

I found this fascinating, and I’m hoping fellow members will too!

https://youtu.be/Us6hQLwG1S8?si=SdLZTpg6x0mthuqL

We have updated our CSP3 bench sample because this one has outdated RCA jacks and Capacitors compared to our current production and we like the bench samples to exactly match.

This unit has beeswax foil caps, dual headphone jacks (1/4 inch & 4-pin XLR), and a black contemporary hardwood base.  The base is used but in good condition.  If you want a different base you can purchase one from Sarah when you pay and we will install it for you.  

Comes with our lifetime warranty since you will be the original first owner.

Price is 1399.00 including premium tubes, and over $500 in free options. Shipping is extra.  Can ship within 7 days.

Quote:


If you are not the owner of the house I wouldn't touch the wiring.  If you do you're the one that will be liable. Usually, the owner is the one that is responsible to provide a safe environment and that electrical system appears to be anything but safe.

I just completed renovations on a 60 year old house.  We found electrical work that was conducted and that was unsafe, not done under permit.  Things like cables being extended using improper wire, joint with marrettes, no junction box and buried in the walls.  We ended up pretty much rewiring the house under permit, by an electrician.  I consider it an investment in safety and resale value.

It seems that the least of you're worries are the UFO.

Ok….cool.  Good to know. I have no experience with the 5670 or the 6CC42…so they will be the first I experiment with.  I’m hoping the harshness will go away as well.  With watching TV and movies….I’m ok with the presentation as it sits now.  With music…..not so much.  It’s too dry, edgy, and sterile at this point.  The only saving grace is that the Vali uses capacitors and no op-amps….so there is hope.  

I had never even heard of knob and tube circuits and had to look them up. Wow. That is truly a difficult situation to remedy. Personally I cannot see how good power and sound would even be possible on a circuit like that even if a power regenerator was available. It seems very likely that the dips in voltage would even cause strain on the power regenerator as those are also going to require sufficient voltage and current to operate optimally. I would be very concerned about a fire. I am not an electrician so perhaps I am being paranoid. The breaker box does have some empty slots, so perhaps it could be possible to have a dedicated line run with romex along the wall for minimal modification to the building. But since you don't own the home it would be up to the landlord to okay this.

As an alternative, you could figure out which outlets belong to which lines by turning off each breaker one at a time. Then you could try unplugging everything on your audio circuit and switching off all the other circuits when you go to do listening. A gas lamp plus a Decware amp could be pretty amazing.

Quote:


Do not confuse signal voltage with mains voltage.

I don't know all the details in your situation. If your electric bill is in your name call the utility to check out their service feed to the house. That is usally the responsibility of the utility. The blinking lights in wind tells me that there might be an issue with those connections.

Have you addressed the electric problems with the landlord? Excessive voltage drops of 10% or more is a problem. With prolonged excessive drops connectons are heating up and can eventually cause a fire. Drops are hard on appliances and can create premature failure.

I had an old house with knob and tube wiring. First thing was to change that wiring with romex. It is still sanding at 150 years of age. Unfortunately the house next to is not. The bored tunnels of carpenter ants helped vent the fire that took it down. Not sure what started it but suspect knob and tube wiring was never changed.

Use an RCA splitter to connect the subwoofers to the pre outs of the ZMF Decware OTL unit. However, using a splitter can degrade the signal and affect the sound quality.

You can also use a subwoofer amplifier with RCA inputs, allowing you to connect directly without losing sound quality. If you can, consider this solution to ensure optimal sound.

I also have two amplifiers (McIntosh MA5200 and Yamaha A-S1200) and two pairs of speakers.

Can I connect the Z Switch box between the amplifiers and speakers, with each amp going into the inputs and the outputs going to the speakers? This would let me switch between the amplifiers. Is that right?

I have the same question

What underlying psychological factors contribute to the phenomenon of "audio nervosa," and how might these factors influence a person's decision-making process when it comes to upgrading audio equipment, despite the potential financial repercussions?

The looming tube crisis could significantly impact both enthusiasts and manufacturers, as rising prices and limited availability may deter new buyers and reduce the market for tube rolling. For those without a substantial stash, options may include seeking out reputable dealers, exploring alternative tube types, or investing in quality NOS tubes cautiously while being wary of counterfeits.

I metered the outlet I am planning to use and it runs at 112V then sags and dances around 106/107 when the washer is turned on. Is suppose my main question here is if this sag is going to harm the SE84UFO and equipment. It sags about the same on my UPC for my comp when I run the clothes iron so something at some point is going to sag the voltage when my system is running, probably the system itself. The SE84UFO has an input voltage of 1.5V, does that mean it can run on as little as 1.5V?

On the receptacle hot to ground is 25V and neutral to ground is 10V. Pretty sure that's not good.

The panel is relatively new for the age of the house (image attached) with a 200A breaker. The house is a hodgepodge of knob and tube circuits and upgraded circuits. Being that it's a rental, if I stay here long enough it could make sense to get a dedicated line to the listening room; and upgrade the receptacle. Interesting anecdote from Arpin about the smart meter. It makes sense that sitting a radio device like that on top of the panel could impact the AC signal. In that case I imagine a conditioner would be warranted if you were to leave the smart meter installed?

As far as a regenerator, even PS Audio Powerplant only accepts a voltage sag of 95. I found a Torus power unit that accepts down to 86 which would be more appropriate in my case but I have a suspicion I can run a dedicated line for less than $2k. *sag isn't dipping past 95V

One thing that peaked my interest was this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sEvxjdLW-owith Danny from GR Research showing how he bypassed the power supplies on his front end components and runs the equipment straight off a DC battery. He doesn't do it with amps, says the batteries can't handle the swings in voltage vs the constant V of the front end devices. I could see myself trying this with my DAC and pre-amp given a bit more research on the topic. Curious to know the difference doing that with 1 battery per component vs attaching multiple devices to 1 battery.


Anyway, thanks y'all for the time and effort.

I installed 2 DHC3 from My DAC and ZMA.

immediate improvement to my whole system was not what I was expecting.

I'm going to replace the remaining  XLRs with these really great cable's.

Thanks Steve.

My 1987 La Scala's have all new Crites cross overs and drivers sound wonderful with a Torii Jr v2 20 watts.

I felt adding a modest preamp  Schitt Frey S ( non tube ) added to the overall presentation.  Schedule a call with Steve and he can expand more on this topic for you

any Decware amp will make your La Scala's sing choose quickly the wait is tough but worth it

enjoy the music

I just wanted to share this story with the forum so that way others who are potential buyers can see how Decware treats their customers.  

Calvin Keys "Shawn Neeq" Black Jazz/Real Gone cd



Arranged By – Calvin Keys
Bass – Lawrence Evans
Drums – Bob Braye
Electric Piano – Larry Nash
Flute – Owen Marshall
Guitar – Calvin Keys

John Coltrane/Archie Shepp "New Thing at Newport" Impulse Japan cd

I was recently forced to choose to upgrade my smart meter to a newer smart meter or pay a monthly meter reader fee for a dumb meter. I decided to try a dumb meter for a $100 one time installation fee and a $40/month fee.

It is the best upgrade to my stereo I have ever had. Prior to this "upgrade," I had already done what Steve and my friends have recommended, which is to pay for an electrician to install a dedicated line. That was indeed a beautiful upgrade in the solidity of the music. However, the clarity that has been unlocked with the dumb meter is well beyond. My friend, who knows my system fairly well, was mind blown by the improvement in clarity. I consider the extra monthly charge as my "subscription" to the best hifi upgrade. I can report an overall quieter house, as well, but the hifi gain will not let me go back to a smart meter again.

I have lived in three locations with dirty power. The kind that makes stereos sound a little lifeless. One home was built before the ground wire was run to the sockets. I am fortunate to have quality electric service where I am, such that a dedicated line plus a dumb meter yields a beautiful experience.

Horace Silver Quintet and Trio "Blowin' the Blue Away" Blue Note Japan SHM-SACD

Not surprised – thanks for sharing Dom!

Yes. I just feel sorry for those who are stuck with one sonic signature which they cannot change nor they will not experiment with.

A great amplifier is in part one that you can't hear, which is why you can hear the differences in each tube so profoundly.