The Really Tasty Gear Thread - With Pictures!

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Until the turntable upgrade, I still have my SME 3009 Type III since I bought it new back in the early 80's, maybe late 70's? Of course the cartridge has been changed many times, Shure, Stanton 681-EEE, Supex, Shure V15 III, and now a Benz Micro M2. Upgraditis is a knocking though...

sweet vintage Technics! One question: is that cartridge good for scratching??? I was just wondering
 
For those of you with both a really, really large room, and very, very deep pockets:

090730-taultimate-layout.jpg


How about a line-array speaker system that spans 34' wide, has dozens of components, and costs a cool $1 million per channel (yes, per channel)!

When the folks at Transmission Audio named this system 'Ultimate", they mean it.

Got to love it just for the eye and mind candy, and the sheer scale of it.

Here's a write up at UltimateAV.

And a close up of some of the panels in their 'mini' configuration:
 

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sweet vintage Technics! One question: is that cartridge good for scratching??? I was just wondering

The (long term) plan is to keep the Benz for now and use it in an upgrade to a VPI Aries III or Super Scoutmaster with the JMW 10.5i Arm. I will be keeping the Technics/SME 3009 Type III as it will play in a secondary system with a different cartridge.

The Benz only has about 60 hours on it.
 
For those of you with both a really, really large room, and very, very deep pockets:

090730-taultimate-layout.jpg


How about a line-array speaker system that spans 34' wide, has dozens of components, and costs a cool $1 million per channel (yes, per channel)!

When the folks at Transmission Audio named this system 'Ultimate", they mean it.

Got to love it just for the eye and mind candy, and the sheer scale of it.

Here's a write up at UltimateAV.

And a close up of some of the panels in their 'mini' configuration:


Had a very nice chat with these folks last night and will be making the trip there, possibly next month. Going to get to hear what 2 million dollars worth of speakers sounds like!

We'll keep you posted...
 
Had a very nice chat with these folks last night and will be making the trip there, possibly next month. Going to get to hear what 2 million dollars worth of speakers sounds like!

We'll keep you posted...

Jeff, that is awesome! Can't wait to read your description.
 
Definitely going there on my next trip to the UK, which should be end of Feb. It's a pretty quick flight up to Sweden...
 
I'm really liking the looks of this tube beastie. I wonder how it shapes up sonically?

Cool selection of output tube - the QB5/1750. And a whole heap of nice aspects about the design that usually end up sounding great, if lacking in the tech. dept.

NAT Audio Transmitter info.

No idea of the asking price, though the SE2 is around £10,000 list here. I guess this is just going to cost more.

I've just entered QB5/1750 into Google Images and I'm tube rolling already:D. Well, in the virtual sense, if you get my meaning.;)
 

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The output tube, which is a new design, appears similar to the HE833. They have not indicated estimated tube life, and it would be necessary to know replacement costs and availability. The 6H30 (aka 6N30 since the Cyrillic character H is pronounced as an N) tube has been a topic of debate among audiophiles.

The specs do not indicate output power across the audio band, simply 120W at 1 kHz and do not indicate at what impedance. Nor are distortion figures given.

Other important considerations are how long the company has been in business, what their products' reliability has been, service availability and availability of replacement parts, and representation.
 
The output tube, which is a new design, appears similar to the HE833. They have not indicated estimated tube life, and it would be necessary to know replacement costs and availability. The 6H30 (aka 6N30 since the Cyrillic character H is pronounced as an N) tube has been a topic of debate among audiophiles.

The specs do not indicate output power across the audio band, simply 120W at 1 kHz and do not indicate at what impedance. Nor are distortion figures given.

Other important considerations are how long the company has been in business, what their products' reliability has been, service availability and availability of replacement parts, and representation.

Hi Brian - what makes you think the output tube is a new design? Here's the spec: QB5-1750.pdf. Another website seemed to have info for an Amperex version dating from 1963.

Agreed spec for the amp is a little lacking - but then it is for a whole host of amps. It won't measure well, I'm sure, but that's not the point with this kind of design.

Most SE tube amps are fairly easily maintained, because they're pretty simple circuits. However, the trannies may be quite specialised and difficult to reproduce, especially without the original spec. The company has been around for a few years.

I won't be buying one. I just thought it was cool.;)
 
Justin,

There is an EAR amplifier (designed by Tim de Paravicini, on your side of the pond) up for sale on Audiogon;supposedly very rare. Have you listened to any of his stuff?
 
Hi Brian - what makes you think the output tube is a new design? Here's the spec: QB5-1750.pdf. Another website seemed to have info for an Amperex version dating from 1963.
My remark was based on the statement on the product page: "Industrial type QB5/1750 – output tube - represents relatively new technology in vacuum tube manufacturing." I stand corrected, although I wonder why they said that.

Agreed spec for the amp is a little lacking - but then it is for a whole host of amps. It won't measure well, I'm sure, but that's not the point with this kind of design.
The specs given are for that particular amplifier. A little lacking? :confused:
 
Justin,

There is an EAR amplifier (designed by Tim de Paravicini, on your side of the pond) up for sale on Audiogon;supposedly very rare. Have you listened to any of his stuff?

All the EAR stuff I've heard so far has sounded very good. Currently reviewing the 834P phono and very impressed for the $$.
 
Justin,

There is an EAR amplifier (designed by Tim de Paravicini, on your side of the pond) up for sale on Audiogon;supposedly very rare. Have you listened to any of his stuff?

Yup - I have spoken to the man and reported on his gear halfway down the page: EAR stuff at Silverstone

Interestingly, I have just had a chap with some big Denon monos around which we used to drive the Apogee bass panels, with the 211s on the MRTWs. He owned the EAR 834P. He thinks the Whest he now has blows it away. However, many reviewers have liked the 834P.
 
My remark was based on the statement on the product page: "Industrial type QB5/1750 – output tube - represents relatively new technology in vacuum tube manufacturing." I stand corrected, although I wonder why they said that.


The specs given are for that particular amplifier. A little lacking? :confused:

Yeah - I think they were saying that this is essentially a new tube for audio applications. Who knows, though.

I meant the specs are brief and ambiguous. As a lot of amps specs are.
 
Is there no respect left in the world? Why precisely is the Woo WA2 not pictured on this thread? Well, it's time to put that little anomaly right.

This is actually my fave looking Woo. And only $1050 too. Amazing value. But you can't allow yourself to buy one for that. You have to add black gates, teflon tube sockets and sexier tubes. Then you reason you really need two sets of line outs to feed your sub and your power amps, and you simply must have r/c volume control. I know they'll do this, and anything else you ask for within reason. Oh dear we're gettng on for $3000 if not a little more for a few other tweaks.

Then we factor in duff dollar exchange rates, 17.5% VAT and 4.5% import duty plus silly handling charges, and you just have to say "hm" if you live in the UK. Oh well.:(

Anyway, here she is:
 

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I don't think it's required, Bernard. The green etching on the stock tubes is probably more than enough.

Was just thinking, though. Some specs that made the world look black & white a la old telly would be cool. Where can I get my hands on a pair?:)
 
Absolutely. I heard the top-of the line Woo WES headphone pre and amp combined with the Stax electrostatic headphones at RMAF last year and it was some of the best sound I have ever heard, short of a well-setup ML system. And a good looker too.



wes-amp-psu-front-m.jpg
 

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