Most beneficial change .

Jj2468;
Ok , dumb question of the day...can you explain "veiled harmonics" to me please ? Specifically what that would sound like .

Thank you.

Hi Jim ;
I tried EH's on the recommendation from Upscale Audio for the most dynamic EL-34 tube .
Once I get used to them I will then try some JJ's . I have been told that they may be better . Any thoughts ?

Thank you .

First off , I want to thank everyone that has taken the time to offer up their suggestions , please keep them coming .

It seems pretty even between new speakers , new amplification and more room treatments .

I have looked at Coincident Partial Eclipse speakers with the side firing woofers and the Quad 57 rebuilds . I don't want to try , again , to integrate a subwoofer though .

I have also looked at a Cary Cad 300 SE LX20 , Jadis DA's , VAC Renaissance and KR Audio VA-340 integrateds .

I have spoken to other members using my CDP and they don't suffer my problem . I have changed the IC's to au/au 24's with good results . My present room treatments are from Eighth Nerve placed as per their recommendation in the wall corners , wall ceiling junctures and wall ceiling corners . I don't know anything about bass traps though .
Any good primers on the use and placement of bass traps ?

I am no longer able to get out and audition equipment as I used to . I have heard my speakers with four different amplification setups . CJ PV-10 pre with a CJ SS amp containing a tubed buffer , bright and ipodish . Then with a Cayin A88-T , I bought this int. with the speakers . I also heard them with a Cary sli-80 which was very close to the Cayin . All of these auditions were done with the exact same setup , only the amplification was changed . I was unable to bias the Cayin and sold it in favor of the PL as it is self biasing , as are the others that I am looking at . By rolling the input tubes I was able to get the warmth of the Cayin while retaining the greater extension of the PL .

I am still using the stock KT-88 tubes that came with the PL2 . The input tubes were changed to Mullard CV4004 P for the 12AX7's and Radiotechnique vintage 1956's for the 12AU7 driver tubes , these all were per Upscale Audio's recommendation for a warmer sound .

I have dedicated 20A lines with isolated grounds , seperate circuits for analog and digital equipment .

Interesting that Sbank associates PRaT with the toe tapping . I always assumed it related to the tempo of the music reproduction . I have had a CDP that played the music at a different speed than what I was accustomed to hearing and that is what I was refering to as good PRaT . Maybe I am using the term incorrectly .

Blindjim ; can you elaborate on the tube rolling selection for dynamics please ?

Thank you .

Trelja ; as an owner of the Granite 657 , do you think that it could be the cause of any my maladies ? Feel free to pm me with your answer if you wish .
I will try the EL 34's .

Thank you .

Interesting two different camps talking about , I assume , the same results . One of tubes and no or very low feedback and the other SS with much more feedback .

I don't believe that any circuitry can opperate without a signature , whether it is added harmonics , tone differences etc. So I am thinking that , as stated , it is what one perceives as a desirable addition .

So harmonic overtones are beneficial and add to the realism of the reproduction . But 2nd and 3rd harmonics are artificially introduced by the amplifier and may or may not be beneficial . Might there be other terms used to describe 2nd & 3rd harmonics , such as warmth ?

Are there ways to determine the existance and amount of these different types of harmonics through printed specifications and/or types of circuitry , or is it a matter of user perception ?

Thank you .

Wanted to give an update here.

I took the advise of tube suggestions . I had forgotten that this was one of reasons for the Primaluna choice !

I have tried some EL34's . Very nice , I see what you meant Trelja . They do make the mids more pronounced and interesting . I can see the fascination with these tubes !
These will do me for now .

Thanks to all .

Cerrot ;
I sit 6ft. from the speaker face and the speakers are 6ft. apart . The distance from the wall behind them is angled but @2ft. One would have the rear port firing at the angled wall and the other fires into a closet containing my equipment . The speakers are firing straight ahead as per manufacturers instructions . I sit @ 2ft. out from the wall behind me .
I have a Wolffe Source cord on the CDP and stock chord on the amp as I was told it doesn't respond much to change .
I listen to classic rock , contemporary blues , singers and standards and some contemporary jazz . Polarity is correct . I have some nicely done CD's that are sounding even better with the EL-34's now .

If I could increase the dynamics and extension of these EH's , that would be another step in the right direction !
But they sure are sounding purty !

Jim;
Thanks for the info , I will check it out .

No , but I'll give it a shot .

Tholt;
I have tried to build a system that will sound good at lower volumes . Most of my listening is done at speaking volume or a little higher . Remeber that I am sitting 6ft. from the speaker face . My speakers are 91db. at 8 ohms and 6 ohms nominal . How loud I listen depends on the type of music . I prefer classic rock to be louder than say jazz and singers and standards .

I have found , that if it needs to be turned up to sound good , I am not getting much use out of that all important first watt . My tinnitus will kick in louder and , for some music , the seductivness will not be as evident . For me , this is where some of the synergy aspect comes into play when matching an amp to speakers .

As an aside , I have tried removing the grills when running the KT-88's and did not notice any difference . May be different with the EL-34's .

Thank you .

Dpac996;
I hear you on padding the walls !!!

Happy Tunes .

Tholt;
Don't get me wrong , I am not really trying to improve on those attributes , per say . I have them now , probably could be better , but I'm happy with what I have .
What I was refering to above , wanting an increase in extension , was about what I had given up for the increased midrange when I switched to the El-34 tube .

What I am really trying to do , for lack of the proper audiophile term , is make the music more exciting . Like what Dpac996 gets in his car ! And again , the EL-34 tube has helped .

Thank you .