williambf

Responses from williambf

Speakers 10 years old or older that can compete with todays best,
Sound Lab ELS  
REF5SE tubes
If you haven't, I'd suggest changing the 6550 if it is that old. If / when it goes it can take out other components in the PS. 3000 hours is the recommended time to replace, I believe,  
Any (new) Tube Testers that can be recommended?
And the Amplitrex can test output tubes at realistic voltages (example 6550a tube at 250V, 450V or 500V vs 170V w/Hickok 539b, plus the Amplitrex can test 6H30 and KT-150 tubes. Also, Amplitrex can test at a "fixed" bias or "auto" bias...Matching... 
Where did the term "mono block" originate?
Why isn't or when is a stereo amplifier a "stereo block"?  
Amplifier circuitry-4 ohm vs 8 ohm
I have ARC amps from 1995, 2018 and 2023, and they all have 16, 8 and 4 ohm taps. My ELS speakers impedance curve indicates about 30 ohms at 20Hz and 3 ohms at 20kHz. The 16 ohm taps sound excellent. The 8 ohm taps do too, but with a different bal... 
Can’t buy output tubes anywhere except from manufacturers at high prices.
FYI: B&H sells "Telefunken" tubes but they are not German made Telefunken tubes.  
Why are People Dumping their Audio Research Gear and What Does it Say about them?
After turning on the REF6SE I have to decide whether to fire up the pair of VT-150 SEs (1995, GE6550s, Telefunken E88CCs) or the pair of REF160M MKIIs (2023 KT150s, 6H30s). Both designs have spectacular sound quality. Both very well built.  For m... 
Acoustic Signature turntables
Rumor has it the Levinson 5105 TT/Arm is an Acoustic Signature manufactured in Germany system.  
Can a Amp be "timeless" and compete with todays amps?
I’ve tried the three options and 8 is the one (and only one) with both amps on the Soundlabs, also what Soundlabs states. Both amps sound excellent dynamically with a subtle tonal balance difference. 6550 vs KT150 and 1995 vs 2017 or so.  
Can a Amp be "timeless" and compete with todays amps?
I was reading through this thread and decided to post here what I had posted not too long ago on the SoundLab Owners Forum: Audio Research VT-150SE mono amplifiers (1994) vs. Audio Research Reference 150SE stereo amplifier (2016). "I recently pu... 
A full range speaker?
Musicians performing in a room, captured with a "stereo" microphone (Blumlein)...Playback: If you filter 35Hz and lower......you take away much of the "room" (the acoustical space) that the recording did capture and is capable of presenting back t...