My account has been hacked 3 times. |
Hi Rebbi,
Congratulations on your choice. A few months ago, I took delivery of a 10th Anniversary Kit One which I elected to have assembled by Digital Pete, who is officially sanctioned by ANK.
I think that you will be very happy. I have followed this thread off and on, but have been busy the last few days and missed some details. I see that you said upgraded capacitors...what brand would that be? I know Brian suggested Vcaps to me, but I went with recommendations from Charles and others here, and sent him 4 Jupiter Copper caps. Four of them cost about $260.
I also suggest that if it fits into your budget, you might upgrade the passive volume attenuator from the Alps model to the Khozmo, which they have available. It makes a difference.
I do not pretend to know much of anything about tubes, so I take advice from these forums and experts like Andy from Vintage Tube Services, and he advised me that the 300b tubes that come with it (Electro Harmonix) don't really sound bad at all, but that the 2 5687 tubes are important sonically. He suggested as the best replacement of the supplied GE NOS tubes (one of which already went microphonic on me and had to be replaced) would be Tung Sol 5687 skinny plates.
Eventually, I want to upgrade every tube, but it's not possible right now.
Anyway, coming from solid state McIntosh, and a few flirtations with push pull tubes, I am very happy with the sound. More organic and pure, quiet...yes, quiet! Easier to understand interplay of instruments, and, compared to what I am used to, more ambience where it exists in the recording. I guess like anything else, it's hard to describe an experience, but I am happy that I made the change, and I wish you luck.
Brian is really good to work with as well. |
Hi Charles,
Yes, I was lucky that by chance as I was getting this built, I happened upon a forum where the Khozmo was mentioned. I researched it further, and called Brian who had one and sent it to Pete the builder who had already installed the Alps. He took it out and put in the Khozmo. Apparently, it's a precision resistor ladder type of attenuator. Not the fanciest by any means, but very good for the money, and better sounding than the Alps.
Rebbi,
The caps that Brian is speaking of are Mundorf gold silver oil. They were the standard issue in my version. I would look into the Jupiters, again if it is within the limits of what you want to spend, because they are said by those who know a lot more than I do to compare favorably with the very expensive Duelund caps. I only know that it sounds very good, and didn't cost too much. Like you, I didn't want to do things twice. They fit into the amp very well with no strange accommodations needed. When I had Pete build the ANK 2.1 DAC for me, I specified Duelund caps, and he had to put them in a different place due to their large size.
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Rebbi,
Small details aside, I think you are really going to have a lot of fun listening with this amp. It is just going to be a new experience for you in comparison to what you are accustomed to, and it should mate well with your speakers since they don't have a complex crossover.
Keep us posted as you begin building it. |
This thread has taken an exit. |
I'm pulling for you Rebbi, and Charles, of course it's just a detour, I'm just impatient. I would like to see this resolved . You'll be having some fun soon Rebbi. |
Alright Schubert, I will take my lumps. It is not a big deal at all. |
I have had my arguments with them over the years (you never win), but what do you mean, if you are able to say, by "putting your card online"? |
Brownsfan,
I am in no position to buy the Triumph Extreme II speakers now, but knowing how good the Total Eclipse are, and having a room too small for them, I would love to have them hooked up to my Kit One. I would buy them without hearing them, because Israel designs great speakers. You are making me drool.
Rebbi,
Like everyone else, I am really happy that you are loving the music your Kit One is making. If you have just a little money to spend, I have a recommendation. As you know, I switched out the stock 300btubes to the Black Treasures, and it was a really nice improvement for my tastes, although I also liked the stock tubes. However, as I mentioned last week on Charles' system thread, I replaced my rectifier tube and my 6sn7. I believe it is the 6sn7 that is responsible for the amazing difference in the fidelity of the amp now. It's not shades of difference, it is right there. The tube was chosen on the advice of Andy from Vintage Tube Services, and it is an RCA from the forties, I paid $46.00.
If you can spring for one, DO IT! Where before I thought that plucked strings on an acoustic guitar sounded great, I realize now that they were not nearly as focused and natural as they are now, and they reveal much more about variations in touch and volume. It's the same way with everything though. It is so much easier to hear how recordings were mixed, and just hear more true to life sound in recordings where it exists.
It is hard to believe that this could make such a difference, but it did. Once again, Andy didn't steer me wrong. He said that the difference would be night and day, and it is. I have found over the years that even though I can perceive what is missing in the way music is being reproduced by my system, it is really hard to imagine what an "improvement" to the sound would consist of until I actually hear it. That said, when it happens, especially to this degree, it's a real treat. I have a new found respect for the amp as well as my speakers. You are halfway there, as I know that you already have an upgraded rectifier tube in your amp. |
Larryi,
I agree. They certainly make a big difference. I would like to explore the alternatives you mention in the future.
Rebbi,
Sorry, but I had things mixed up. I thought that it was a different 5u4 rectifier that Brian had given you, not a different 6sn7. No wonder that you like it so much. Andy told me that the one that came with the amp was basically bottom of the barrel. |
Reb,
I am really excited for you, and I do mean excited. I forgot to mention that mine was also slightly used, but tested 100% in all parameters. If you don't find it to be a revelation, I will be surprised. Those tubes are old, from the 40's. |
