Too Many Tubes???

ferrox · Feb 7, 2017

With current systems, I am using 31 tubes in total. I am going to test a new Atma-sphere MA-1 by tomorrow evening. In that case, I will be using 67 tubes in total.

I have no idea how it will sound because right now, I am still conducting tube preconditioning.

Lampizator Golden Gate 5 tubes
Aesthetix Eclipse Preamp 24 tubes
Aesthetix Atlas Mono Sig 2 tubes
Atma-sphere MA-1 38 tubes

Anyone auditioned so many tubes in one system alone? Please share your experience.

spiritofmusic · Feb 7, 2017

Talk to Audiophile Bill, he's just bought the 3 box Io, and is tube rolling atm
A fine line btwn genius and madness, both you guys are treading

bonzo75 · Feb 7, 2017

ferrox said:
With current systems, I am using 31 tubes in total. I am going to test a new Atma-sphere MA-1 by tomorrow evening. In that case, I will be using 67 tubes in total. I have no idea how it will sound because right now, I am still conducting tube preconditioning.

Lampizator Golden Gate 5 tubes
Aesthetix Eclipse Preamp 24 tubes
Aesthetix Atlas Mono Sig 2 tubes
Atma-sphere MA-1 38 tubes

Anyone auditioned so many tubes in one system alone? Please share your experience.

TheKong, with his Apogee full ranges, had the IO Eclipse box, Conrad Johnson, biamped, adding to just over a 100 tubes. He now has the Pass 600. Another guy had an IO Eclipse + Aesthetix preamp + Aesthetix power amp, around 78 or so, which, when a channel fails, brings it down to a manageable 34 to investigate.

IMO you could try another preamp - with a remote - and reduce number of tubes too.

cjfrbw · Feb 7, 2017

You can never be too rich, too thin, or have too many tubes.

andromedaaudio · Feb 7, 2017

10 in the pre amp and 22 in the poweramp

jazdoc · Feb 7, 2017

Phono preamp signal box: 56 triodesx2; E810Fx2
Phono preamp power box: 374a Rectifiersx4
Line stage signal box: 71a triodesx2
Line stage signal box: 374a Rectifiersx2
2 Mono Amps: 1 OD3; 1 6SN7; KT77x2

Total:24 Tubes!

microstrip · Feb 7, 2017

ferrox said:
With current systems, I am using 31 tubes in total. I am going to test a new Atma-sphere MA-1 by tomorrow evening. (...)

Congratulations - are these the late mk3.3? I never listened to them, but the mk3.1 versions sounded great.

Steve Williams · Feb 7, 2017

ferrox said:
With current systems, I am using 31 tubes in total. I am going to test a new Atma-sphere MA-1 by tomorrow evening. In that case, I will be using 67 tubes in total. I have no idea how it will sound because right now, I am still conducting tube preconditioning.

Lampizator Golden Gate 5 tubes
Aesthetix Eclipse Preamp 24 tubes
Aesthetix Atlas Mono Sig 2 tubes
Atma-sphere MA-1 38 tubes

Anyone auditioned so many tubes in one system alone? Please share your experience.

at one time I had an ARC Ref 600Mk lll (31 tubes per side) amps and an ARC ref 3 preamp which had 8 tubes so 70 in all

Very very good sound but commensurate with the amount of heat produced. So much so that I put a 3rd HVAC in my house with this one dedicated to only the sound room to keep the temperature down

ferrox · Feb 7, 2017

spiritofmusic said:
Talk to Audiophile Bill, he's just bought the 3 box Io, and is tube rolling atm
A fine line btwn genius and madness, both you guys are treading

Yes, my Eclipse is also 3 box. Each box contains 8 tubes and it comes with a remote control as well. I haven't played the Atma because it's still under preconditioning.

ferrox · Feb 7, 2017

andromedaaudio said:
10 in the pre amp and 22 in the poweramp

How do you find the sound of tube preamp + tube amp so far? Aesthetix preamp + amp sound pretty nice, too. I am just trying different amp.

ferrox · Feb 7, 2017

Steve Williams said:
at one time I had an ARC Ref 600Mk lll (31 tubes per side) amps and an ARC ref 3 preamp which had 8 tubes so 70 in all

Very very good sound but commensurate with the amount of heat produced. So much so that I put a 3rd HVAC in my house with this one dedicated to only the sound room to keep the temperature down

Yes, heat is another issue especially for us who live in tropical country.

ferrox · Feb 7, 2017

microstrip said:
Congratulations - are these the late mk3.3? I never listened to them, but the mk3.1 versions sounded great.

This is an older version mk ii.3 and I have called Ralph Karsten to ask about update plan to mk 3.3. He suggested me to use a specific freight forwarder to handle the shipping of these pair. I am trying to get a quote now. Honestly, I prefer the look of this version than the mk3 ones. Mine is rectangular with 5 6sn7's. According to Ralph, the update would include taking out the class AB feature so I can only set class A amping.

ferrox · Feb 7, 2017

jazdoc said:
Phono preamp signal box: 56 triodesx2; E810Fx2
Phono preamp power box: 374a Rectifiersx4
Line stage signal box: 71a triodesx2
Line stage signal box: 374a Rectifiersx2
2 Mono Amps: 1 OD3; 1 6SN7; KT77x2

Total:24 Tubes!

How do you find the sound? Not too tubey nor fat right? My other audio friend said, it would be too fat with so many tubes installed.

ferrox · Feb 7, 2017

cjfrbw said:
You can never be too rich, too thin, or have too many tubes.

My thought as well..I just need to experience it soon.

ferrox · Feb 7, 2017

bonzo75 said:
TheKong, with his Apogee full ranges, had the IO Eclipse box, Conrad Johnson, biamped, adding to just over a 100 tubes. He now has the Pass 600. Another guy had an IO Eclipse + Aesthetix preamp + Aesthetix power amp, around 78 or so, which, when a channel fails, brings it down to a manageable 34 to investigate.

IMO you could try another preamp - with a remote - and reduce number of tubes too.

+1. It takes a lot of time to figure out what the problem is.

jazdoc · Feb 7, 2017

ferrox said:
How do you find the sound? Not too tubey nor fat right? My other audio friend said, it would be too fat with so many tubes installed.

I'm happy but 'biased' (sorry for the bad tube pun)...Actually tubes done well are not 'tubey' or 'fat'...they are fast and lithe.

ferrox · Feb 7, 2017

jazdoc said:
I'm happy but 'biased' (sorry for the bad tube pun)...Actually tubes done well are not 'tubey' or 'fat'...they are fast and lithe.

+1

So far with Aesthetix preamp and amp, I don't really feel the tubey sound at all. The Aesthetix Eclipse is dead silent.

BruceD · Feb 7, 2017

cjfrbw said:
You can never be too rich, too thin, or have too many tubes.

Yep!--- there's a fine line between pleasure and pain

!!

BruceD

ferrox · Feb 7, 2017

BruceD said:
Yep!--- there's a fine line between pleasure and pain!!

BruceD

Honestly, I've just learned the new term: tube preconditioning. LOL..that's painful to watch them glow for at least 48 hours without knowing how they sound.

andromedaaudio · Feb 7, 2017

Great I must say I virtually always have had a tube pre in the system , I could live without the tube power amp I like ss power amps too

QUOTE=ferrox;434650]How do you find the sound of tube preamp + tube amp so far? Aesthetix preamp + amp sound pretty nice, too. I am just trying different amp.[/QUOTE]

Too Many Tubes???

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