racers

Responses from racers

Tubes vs Solid State
Try an Aloia with the inductive power supply......close, and maybe part of a cigar? 
Hockey Pucks under amp?
Some of us do have kids that play hockey-my daughter has for 7 years....as a result there are lots of hockey pucks laying around the house. and wouldn't you know, just the other day I needed to lift my ARC VT-60 a bit. Bingo! Hockey pucks! You kno... 
the BEST garage system you ve ever built
Tandberg tuner w/ volume control and a self powered Bell and Howell speaker from an old movie projector. We minimalists are alive and well/crazy? :.) 
Best Silver ICs under 300?
How inexpensive do you want to be? I wouldn't get hung up on silver, gold, copper per se. Just listen to the best stuff you can find. You might just find some copper works the best. NBS Stingher at $95.00 is pretty hard to beat for a budget cable.... 
My first tube amp! HELP PLEASE!
How about an Audio Research VT-60-upgraded to MK II status just last summer by the factory. $1100.00. All new tubes, plus the upgraded curcuitry. 
TUBE PRE-AMP OR PASSIVE LINE STAGE ?
Yup. Until you've danced, you can't describe the floor. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad. I just decided to go with an ARC LS-16-for better or worse. I've had some of your negatives, and have sometimes been able to resolve them with a pre a... 
CD with volume control/ no preamp.
As always, the more stuff you eliminate the better the sound. Go with the Wadia and the CJ.