Topic: $1,000 tube system

[lds490]

What do y'all think of this?


http://www.audience-av.com/msn_home.htm#THE

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

Thats cool!

I like the Auricaps.  I used them as inline filters for matching my sub and they are silent.

[pfife]

that is pretty cool... the only beefs I'd have is that he's only left himself $23 for cables, and the DVD player doesn't do DVD-A... but I'd just cut out the FM tuner, use that toward a Pioneer Elite 45A or so... and have a little, tiny bit more for cables...

[JasonR]

Good caps can certainly make a real difference.  Is he recommending swapping out existing caps, or bypassing them with smaller values (generally around 10%)?  I've never used Auricaps, but had good experiences with AEON and MIT Multicaps.  I built a large 3-way crossover network in my old car that sounded just beautiful... but took up a good bit of room.

- Jason

[jpschust]

just because it has tubes in it doesnt make it better.  still an interesting system.

[Nick Culbreth]

just because it has tubes in it doesnt make it better.  still an interesting system.

I'm sure there are others that would beg to differ.   

I've never owned a mid-fi solid state setup but from listening to other peoples setups and hearing instore demos I can say I honestly prefer tubes to similarly priced solid state setups.  I can understand why some might prefer the solid state sound but to my ears the warmth and musicality of tubes can't be beat.

[jpschust]

just because it has tubes in it doesnt make it better.  still an interesting system.

I'm sure there are others that would beg to differ.   

I've never owned a mid-fi solid state setup but from listening to other peoples setups and hearing instore demos I can say I honestly prefer tubes to similarly priced solid state setups.  I can understand why some might prefer the solid state sound but to my ears the warmth and musicality of tubes can't be beat.

here's the problem- cheap tube systems sound like crap.  i find that you generally get more for your money from solid state. 

[Nick Culbreth]

here's the problem- cheap tube systems sound like crap.  i find that you generally get more for your money from solid state. 

What is the definition of cheap?  My previous setup used a YS-Audio Symphonies preamp which I paid $225 for and it definately didn't sound like crap.  Similarly a buddy of mine owned a Jolida 1501RC hybrid which costed $500 and I remember thinking it sounded pretty good as well.  Oh well different strokes for different folks.

[RebelRebel]

I was thinking about one of those YS symphonies for part of a system for my wifes listening/reading room.I dont want to spend any more than 1700 or so for the setup(she already has the player)....and in spite of the pricetag(400 new i think)..it gets great reviews everywhere ive looked.

So you reccomend it eh, Nick?

[Nick Culbreth]

Teddy I really liked the Symphonies preamp, I thought it sounded great for the money.  I won't get into sound description because I sold mine a year ago but I believe nickspicks has a review on his webpage and there are a number of other board members who have given it rave reviews as well.

If you do end up buying wanting to buy a Symphonies keep your eye on Audiogon they pop up there from time to time.  Also I'd highly recommend retubing the Symphonies, the stock Chinese tubes sound pretty crappy when compared to JJ and EI current production tubes.

[RebelRebel]

Thank you Mr. Culbreth. 

Teddy I really liked the Symphonies preamp, I thought it sounded great for the money.  I won't get into sound description because I sold mine a year ago but I believe nickspicks has a review on his webpage and there are a number of other board members who have given it rave reviews as well.

If you do end up buying wanting to buy a Symphonies keep your eye on Audiogon they pop up there from time to time.  Also I'd highly recommend retubing the Symphonies, the stock Chinese tubes sound pretty crappy when compared to JJ and EI current production tubes.