Grayf
Glad you liked them. Both of those cds are good beginning to end which is rare...at least for me! |
Reynolds
Thanks for the input brother. I just bought the Thor and it came with the stock Golden Dragon tubes. I am very much looking forward to experimenting with tube rolling. From what I have read, the Modwighted Sony warms up a click or two also. |
Grayf
Yeah I think this Thor was a steal. Had cap upgrades,etc. Today I was cracking up listening to the Commodores. I went from a Marantz receiver as a pre to the Thor, so my cd collection seems brand new.
Are the GE tubes that you ordered (d getter) similar to the triple mica black plates? I am so new to this..it isnt even funny.
How about Phillips Miniwatt 12at7? any experience with those? |
VERY interesting thread. I recently bought a Thor ta1000 and am very impressed with it but would like more of the sound you are describing.(3d and depth) This is my first tube component of any sort and I was told to go with GE 5751 triple mica blacks. If the potential for improvement is anything close to what you have experienced...then I have a lot to look forward to! I am anxious to hear your update when the 5751s come in. |
Tpreaves
What is Paul lindermanns user name? Thanks |
Grayf
The upgrades included replacement of all signal caps with V-Cap CUTF/OIMP
MUNDORF silver/gold hook up wire
WBT Nextgen RCAs for 2 inputs and output
DACT 24 STEP Attenuator
I would contact Ted at highendaudio.com for any upgrades.
He is part of the new owners of Thor Audio and you couldnt ask for a more available and polite person to deal with. I plan on sending my unit to him to do some housecleaning.
They work on all units though.
The particular unit I bought had a bit of history b/c the upgrades they offer/suggested were done by another outfit. Long story short I think I came out ahead due to the fact that Thor didnt do the upgrades...otherwise a 5 year warranty and stamp of approval would have driven the price up.
This is really an incredible preamp. My sound floor is at 1 on the volume. ALL the sound is there as soon as the volume is engaged. I was a volume hogg because I had to turn it up so loud to hear detail before. Cheap imitation.haha
I think this is a glimple of how a 30 or 60 watt amp can produce quality sound. Just for the record the new Thor will retail at around 17K and the old unit upgraded is supposed to be in the same ballpark. I feel like I got a sports car for a work truck price!
WHERE IS THAT STINKING POST MAN??????? |
Reynolds
When you say "the leading and trailing edges of transients were slightly smeared"...
Does that mean the high frequency is smoothed out? Sorry if the ? seems silly but I have Focals and they seem to be a bit on the bright side, just wondering if tube change has the potential to balance that out a bit. Of course much of the sound depends on the recording. |
Grayf
It is good to hear someone enjoying the process instead of simply obsessing...
Are the Telefunken12ax7s just a standard issue or do they have different ones? |
Reynolds
My system is:
Sony es5400 cdp
Thor ta-1000
H/K Citation 16a (rebuilt to the max) @150wpc
Focal 918s (Not beryllium tweeter)
Transparent IC (entry level I think Link)
Audioquest IC (maybe second step up in their line)
Monster Cable Z series speaker cables
Hopefully some tweaks here and there will warm things up a bit. I really cant complain, I got everything except the Focals within the last 6 months. So I basicly just got started.:)
Thanks guys for answering my previous questions. |
|
Mechans
Thanks for the information. I am assuming you had a similar impression of the Focal sound as you started tinkering around with tubes and cables? |
Mechans
What type amp/preamp are you using? I will probably trying to get the Thor amps to compliment the pre once the smoke clears from the preamp purchase. My wife is tolerant but not quite as excited about audio as I am!
I am gonna order a replacement tweeter and then start trying some different tubes and see what happens.
Thanks jayson |
Sounds like you are set on the tubes.
If you get rid of the 5751 I may be interested.
I looked up kt tunstall, pretty good. Is the recording quality? Dido kinda fits in that same sound.
My favorite cd since getting the Thor is Commodores anthology even though Im not really a Cs fan. Just sounds great! |
Frogman
Is it safe to say that a certain tube maintains characteristics regardless of component?(warm,detailed,etc)
I am trying to follow what you are stating...as I am looking for tubes for a preamp I just bought. |
Man I cant wait to get some different tubes!!
I am still getting used to the sound of this Thor, but is is very good.
Does anyone have experience with Phillips Miniwatt 12at7 from Holland factory?
Another Thor owner suggested the Miniwatt/GE 5751 3 mica black plates combo. |
Grayf
Sell some tubes and move!!!!haha
I know this is a bit off topic but they had a Dave Gilmour concert on last night on HD Net. I wouldnt have known who it was except for this thread.
I am trying to pull some strings myself right now to get some tubes...without my wife having a heart attack.
I dont know how you feel about Christian music but there are two female vocal cds I recently got that are very good
-Francesca Battistelli "my paper heart"
-Kari Jobe "kari jobe"
You may checkem out if you get bored |
I have the golden dragon 12at7's as the stock Thor tubes.
What is the difference between 12at7 and 12ax7 ? |
X
Does that mean they are interchangable? If so I wonder which is preferred...less gain/more volume OR more gain/less volume.
It was suggested to me that the 12at7 Golden Dragon tubes may be my weak link. |
Anyone bought tubes from sam1104? |
I guess it is no big deal...but the posting I responded to had the 12at7's listed as made in France. Then they are labeled GR BRITAIN. I really dont know enough about tubes to know the tricks of the trade...Are all bugle boys labeled GB? |
I started listening to the Bugle Boys today. Right out of the box the overall presentation is smooth compared to the Golden Dragon. Any ideas on a decent break in period?
Im gonna wait a bit and do A/B comparison. |
Grayf
Thanks for really messing me up!! The Golden Dragons are what came in my pre. The strengths you describe do sound spot on to what I hear. If you were to move just a click to the warm side with the strengths of the G/Ds...what tube comes to mind?? |
I am gonna try the Amperex bugle boy 12at7 in place of the Golden Dragon 12at7's that came in my pre.
Any thoughts or experience with these? |
Mikirob
Sounds good. Hope I have similar results with the 12at7's. After that I am gonna replace the tung-sol 12ax7 with the GE triple mica black plates. |
The Amperex Bugle Boy 12AT7s arrived yesterday. Does anyone know if there is a significant difference in tubes labeled/marketed France, Holland,....mine are labeled GR BRITAIN ??
I have not had a chance to listen to them yet. Thanks |
Mechans
Rich and mellow compared to the Golden Dragons is a good description. For my set up rich and mellow is a good thing. Once I compare side by side, I will share my thoughts.
Thanks |
The Amperex are working out very well for me. They have taken the edge off of the cd's I really had trouble tolerating before.
This is the first set of tubes I have bought so I dont know what to expect with break in etc. They seem to have opened up a bit in the right places and stayed smooth on the top end which is exactly what I needed.
Lets just say they restored some order in my set up. Looking forward to adding the GE 5751 next. |
