atmasphere

Responses from atmasphere

Your journey with lower-watt tube amps -- Can a kit be good enough?
 Power supplies of all vintage tube amplifiers from 50-60x look so miserable with such small capacitors.  It is especially true for stereo amplifiers when PS is used for both channels in parallel without any separation. I can say for sure such a ... 
Phono Cartridge IMD Measurements, Observations and a Question
Why can't I see any changes in the IMD? Am I measuring the wrong thing? @kevemaher  That's a pretty good bet. By placing the Shelter on an outboard pod you put it at a disadvantage. Any vibration that might be affecting the platter will not be ... 
I'm new to Step Up Transformers
The Zesto Andros has the Nobel network included in their circuit, along with loading options designed specifically for that transformer/zobel. A Zobel network is often used to damp a transformer. But if you change the source impedance, the Zobe... 
Marantz model 8
@ccogopher It would be a very good idea to replace those capacitors to which you are referring! If they are original there's no way they are good. They could easily damage the power transformer if this amp is pressed into service without these par... 
Question about high current amps versus "not high current amps"
simplest test of amp current handling adequacy is to tap low frequency. driver membrane and checking voltage waveform at speaker terminals with the scope.. if voltage amplitude p-p observed is more than 10mV, then need to check speaker connectors... 
Your journey with lower-watt tube amps -- Can a kit be good enough?
Yes this Marantz 8B sounded more clear then McIntosh MC30. But despite Marantz bass wasn’t bad, MC30 bass was on the other league. It was also a big difference in complex music reproduction. 8B was good on very simple music but the sound became m... 
I'm new to Step Up Transformers
@rmcfee SUTs require proper care and feeding if you want the best out of them. Transformers transform impedance. So the output impedance is a function of the turns ratio and the source impedance (the cartridge and cables). If the SUT is insuffic... 
Your journey with lower-watt tube amps -- Can a kit be good enough?
Didn't have any particular issue with the amp, just blah, lack of transparency, resolution. This compared to two 845 SET amps I was running in that time frame. @sns  The Merlins are not a good match for any SET unless you are using them in a sm... 
Your journey with lower-watt tube amps -- Can a kit be good enough?
@decooney , @hilde45 , One weakness of that amp is seen in the schematic. The 4 power tubes share a single resistor (bypassed by a capacitor) to set up the bias of the output tubes. There really should be a resistor and cap for each output tube p... 
Pass....Accuphase....or......
@southofdallas I've recorded stuff in the same halls I've played in. You get a sense of the hall and I wanted that in the recording. Each hall has a different sound to it so I describe that as the ambient signature. So yes, the ability to express ... 
Pass....Accuphase....or......
@southofdallas  Thanks! I don't know that hall but I've played in a number of them here in Minnesota (bass in several orchestras so O'Shaughnessy, Orchestra Hall and the Ordway). I know what you're talking about but I'd never have thought to cal... 
Pass....Accuphase....or......
@southofdallas This is exactly why its a good idea to use speakers that are easy to drive. You don't have to sacrifice any resolution to have easy to drive speakers. Lower efficiency speakers tend to have something called 'thermal compression' whi... 
Your journey with lower-watt tube amps -- Can a kit be good enough?
@hilde45 Nice! I'll be interested to hear your comments. I saw that amp on ebay as well and really had to think about buying it just so I could see how far I could push it.  
Pass....Accuphase....or......
It’s not so much high volume I’m after but dynamics. @southofdallas Proper ’dynamics’ should arise from the signal and nothing else. Quite often amps can generate higher ordered harmonics which the uses to sense sound pressure, so just as often... 
Would I be wasting my money to get a turntable?
@audiotroy That is irrelevant. You still want to give it the best signal you can.