Aesthetix IO Sig V 2nd power supply & Lamm LP2 del

Shane, when I purchased my Io Signature, I asked the designer, Jim White, about the second power supply and he replied with this advice about what he heard with the Signature upgrade from the standard MkII version and then with the second power supply:

The Signature provides the following benefits:

.. Greater resolution
.. More neutral presentation
.. Improved high frequency extension and detail
.. Greater top to bottom coherency
.. Better bass definition

Adding the second supply improves the sound in the following ways:

.. Added space
.. Improved macro dynamics
.. Improved micro dynamics
.. Blacker backround
.. Greater ease to the sound, less strained

What I can say is that my Io Signature with the dual power supply option is extremely satisfying in all the areas Jim mentioned.

As to the vintage tubes, I know that lots of people have really liked the results of their tube rolling experiments, particularly following Albert Porter's recommendations. I tried all the small tube substitutions and returned to using the stock tubes by preference. For my sonic priorites and for listening primarily to classical music, I found that the stock tubes gave me the best combination of resolution and timbral accuracy. Jim told me that his customer base splits about 50/50 on the vintage vs. stock tube issue, with many classical listners (like me) preferring to stay with the stock tubes. As always, YMMV... But in my opinion, you can't go wrong getting the second power supply if you like what you're hearing with the Io Signature with a single power supply.
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I've had great support with my Aesthetix gear, as have many others who post on Audiogon. Jim White has been a superb person to work with. I've used my Io Signature for five years and the original tubes have remained dead quiet.
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Downunder, I listen about 20 hours a week when the system's up. Over those five years I've had some relocation transitions and the system has been down probably 18 months out of those five years. Add to that non-play time when I'm out of town and I'm probably pushing 3,800 hours on these tubes. Sure, it's about time for a re-tube which will tell me how much the sound has degraded and I'm just not noticing it. But the tubes have not self-destructed as Jtinn suggests.
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Audioquest4life, I will sometime try the vintage tube route again. I've heard good outomes from too many people to not at least give this another try. I just have not had the time to do so. In my sitution, I started with Telefunken 12AX7s in the second and third gain stages, then moved to change out the other tubes in the audio section. At the end of the process, the sound lacked the resolution and image specificity that we prized, and we lost the ability to resolve complex instrumental lines in complex music. Simple music (e.g., singer/song writer) sounded lovely, but the system no longer resolved orchestral music with the ease to which we'd been accustomed. As I say, we need to try the experiment again and spend more time identifying which tubes are doing what to the sound.
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