Let me know how the Sylvania Nuvistor tubes compare to the stock RCA ones and your view of the sound with and without the HA3000.

One of my stock rca's went bad. I replaced them with RCA JAN Military spec 7895's. They are the quietest ones I have tried. I have consumer grade NOS Sylvania's and the 4 different one's I have tried were all higher in noise floor. This is sort of a bummer. I haven't tried my entire lot of 20 tubes, but will do so. I did find a pair of NOS JAN spec sylvania's and they will ship soon. I think in the end, if you want the best nuvistor tube performance, one needs to go for JAN military spec variants.

rockitman January 27, 2014 21:17

Hi Arnie:

Thank you very much for hosting me. As before, it was a total pleasure. The system sounds great.

Your room along with Mike Levine's and Winston Ma's are the three most outstanding audio rooms that I have been to (and I think I have been to over 200 audio rooms around the world). On top of that you have one heck of an equipment collection. I admire you for your passion.
I say you make Texas proud, hahahaha

The two best things in your system that I liked are the speakers and the turntable. The speakers are effortless and coherent (contrary to my suspicion before listening that they might lack coherence due to their inward and outward driver positions). But listening is believe and that is what matters. The speakers have impressive bass and punch. I did note however that the bass bloated at times but that was not due to the speakers but due to the subs. As you can imagine I am not a subwoofer fan and in fact if I ever make a Hollywood movie it would be named "subwoofer buster" as a sequel to "ghost buster"…....in my imagination only.

The other thing below my expectation was transparency. I think your Magicos were more transparent. Because of that lack of transparency it did not meet my favorite "touch the sound" test criterion although it is doing many other things right.

The speakers play loud and naturally, rendering a full-scale orchestral performance a joy to listen to. However, the speakers never disappeared and the sound still seemed to be coming from the boxes.

The sound also lacked the 3rd dimension, both on digital and vinyl, although your vinyl was easily more musical. So the system was pretty much 2-dimensional but with good lateral precision. But in the 3rd dimension, I did not find any layers in the sound. If I were you, I would pull the speakers several feet front and push the listening seat back. That interaction could enhance the 3rd dimension.

In fact if I were you, I would show the door to the speaker installer dudes and experiment with the speaker position myself and would not tire of experimenting until I am 100% satisfied –normally I ignore all manufacturer recommendations and make my own discoveries.

Your listening seat is also not ideal for sound as it acts as a huge sound barrie, blocking almost all sound reflected from the rear. You need a chair whose back is lower than the shoulder height. Such details make a hug difference.

I am also not a fan of VTL amps because they, like most tube-based amps, lack a bit of top end and bottom end. But I think there may be a way to circumvent that. Speaking out of my humble experience, your power tube, KT88, has a sound characteristic which is similar to its shape, that is thick in the middle and thin at the top and bottom. In contrast, KT90 sounds like its shape, that is flat response across the whole frequency spectrum. if you try the KT90 (it is compatible with KT88), it might add some sparkle at the top and some extra punch at the bottom. Audio is all about trying and experimenting. You may also try a combination of KT88 and KT90.

In summary, a lovely system but has a major room for improvement -- and it does have the potential to meet the promise.

gallant_diva January 26, 2014 09:12

System edited: I have made some further upgrades from Echole Signature Power cords to the new Echole Omnia power cords. I am now using the Omnia power cords on the Allnic H5000 DHT phono stage and the Absolare Purifier power conditioner which feeds my analog front end and Absolare Passion Signature preamp. Echole also made for me 2 Omnia DC power cords to connect my MSB Signature transport and MSB Diamond DAC to their respective MSB outboard power supplies.

babybear January 22, 2014 19:30

HI Christian,

Let me know how the Sylvania Nuvistor tubes compare to the stock RCA ones and your view of the sound with and without the HA3000.

I did find it interesting this time around with the Bendix tubes. My original listening notes from Jan 2, 2014 comparing the Bendix and GE rectifier tubes were:
"The GE 6087 tubes are somewhat warmer sounding than the Bendix tubes, less transparent sounding (more colored) and softer sounding tubes.  
The GE 6087 tubes are also less well resolved and more "bloated" and less controlled sounding in the lower mid bass and bass frequencies. They seem to have an overall more "fuzzy" sound and are not as refined sounding.

The Bendix 6106 rectifier tubes sound more transparent and have a more refined sound. The Bendix have quite a bit more punch and resolution in the mid bass and bass frequencies and are more dynamic sounding 
than the GE 6087 tubes. The Bendix also have a better portrayal of spacial relationships of the performers within the soundstage. "

Then a few days later on Jan 5th - I felt with further listening that something wasn't quite right in the upper frequencies with the Bendix so I switched back to the GE rectifiers. In my listening last night, I didn't really notice any problems with the upper frequencies but I want to do a few more listening sessions with a wider range of music to be sure.

babybear January 21, 2014 19:07

I am also trying a different brand of Nuvistor. Stock is RCA, I am trying the 6CW4 Sylvania. They have yellow printing on the sides. I added one more sheet of MU under the top of the casing. I had to order more Mu sheets to finish off the double layer shielding.

It is interesting how you find the Bendix to sound better the second time around. I suspect I will find that with the GE's

rockitman January 21, 2014 17:57

HI Christian,

Congratulations. Its good to know that the mu metal was effective and it will be interesting to learn what happens if you double the amount.

I have my Bendix rectifiers back in the H5000 and I did some preliminary listening last night - the Bendix tubes sounded quite a bit better to me than the last time that I used them. I will have to do some additional critical listening now with a wider range of music to see what I think.

babybear January 21, 2014 13:11

MU metal is a success. Lowered noise floor by at at least 2 dB with .004" metal. I may double it since it is effective.

rockitman January 21, 2014 03:55

Arnie,

I still plan to try the GE's again. Since they were nos they probably needed some more breakin than the 4 hours I was listening. I just finished modding my HA-3000 casing by covering the inside with MU metal with the idea of reducing interference and hopefully lower the noise floor. We shall see how that works. In the end, I kind of like having two options of gain...one active and the other passive.

rockitman January 19, 2014 16:06

Hi Christian,

Thanks for the input on your comparison between the GE and the Bendix rectifier tubes in the H5000. Of course my comparison was done without the HA3000 head amp and my initial results are a little different. I do agree with you that the Bendix has tighter and more impactful deep bass, but that I found the GE to have an overall richer sound than the Bendix. I plan to go back and do the comparison again this week to see if I get the same results as I did previously.

I have listened, albeit very briefly (just 2 or 3 cuts from 2 different LP's) to the HA3000/H5000 combo at Albert's home and in that very short listening I did prefer what I heard going direct with the H5000 versus the HA3000/H5000 combo, but it was a very short listening comparison. Once I get my H5000 to the point that I think it is fully broken in I will try and do the comparison again - both at Albert's and then again in my system.

Arnie

babybear January 19, 2014 13:21

Peter, that 5db estimate is by putting my ear up to the speaker at listening level volume with no music. It is significant and only noticeable between tracks. Comes with the territory using a separate tube head amp for gain. I plan to use my iPhone to measure the actual spl difference.

rockitman January 18, 2014 22:15

Rockitman, Those are interesting observations. I've been testing for noise in my system recently. It's the next area that I will be addressing. I use an iPhone app, turn the volume to max and measure from the listening seat. It is fairly easy to get an accurate measurement of different noise levels. I use max volume because it accentuates the differences. A 5 or 10 dB difference in noise floor at listening levels is huge IMO and would certainly be an issue if listening to low level details in complex classical music.

peterayer January 18, 2014 16:19

Alas, I remain divided. Having listened to Clapton Journeyman first issue both with trans first and head amp second. I prefer rock with the head amp. That said, my 10dB noise differential may be off...let's say 5 dB, but the frequency of the added noise is around that of the record surface rolling noise. Clearly the passive trans is quieter. I think I might enjoy the Classical pieces best with the trans, rock and hard jazz with the head amp.. You really need both then you don't have to worry about it...;)

rockitman January 18, 2014 07:52

H-5000 Rectifier comparo (Indirect Heated)...GE vs Bendix. I have had the H5000 for a couple of months now. The first month running MC tranny input and the last month HA-3000 head amp. I put the NOS GE's in tonight and let them warm for 2 hours. I was using the head amp input and not the direct coupled transformer. I felt the GE to be softer in the bass with an overall drier sound compared to the Bendix which I felt had better defined bass and an overall richer sound with greater presence. I did not do the comparison with trans input.

That said, I have not heard my trans for stereo playback, save for my mono table in over a month. Clearly there has been some break in time. I switched to trans (MC) input bypassing the HA-3000. The trans input bass is much tighter than I remembered...virtually as good as the head amp bass. What's more, the trans input noise floor is close to 10dB less that the head amp at listening level. Using the high gain head amp into MM input accentuated the records surface noise and any pops or ticks. The trans input is spookey CD like background silence. I tink the trans input is more real and musical sounding. It may become my standard, when I though the Head amp input would. Time will tell. When I get more oriented with the current trans sound I will switch back to GE. Based on my comparison using the head amp input...I vote Bendix.

rockitman January 18, 2014 05:47

HI Christian,

I definitely agree with you about the bass control that the Bendix 6106 rectifiers have - they are better than the GE 6087 rectifiers in that regard at least based on what I have heard in my system. I have gone back and forth between the bendix and the GE rectifier tubes multiple times to validate what I keep hearing and each time it is consistent - at least to my ears and in my system, there is something just not right about the upper frequencies with the Bendix - the best way that I can describe it is a little sterile and stiff but also just not quite natural sounding to me.

I will be curious to learn what you think after you compare the Bendix to the GE in your system.

babybear January 06, 2014 18:52

Hi Arnie,

I bought a set of the GE's you mention. I have been using the Bendix 6106 since my unit came back from repair. Compared to the stock direct heated triodes, I found the bendix to provide a better grip on the bass. I will have to try the GE's soon.

Regards,

Chris

rockitman January 06, 2014 18:05

Thanks John,

I actually made a change after you left to the Allnic H5000 - I changed the rectifier tubes from the Bendix 6106 to the GE 5 Star 6087 and it actually sounded quite a bit better. In comparison, the Bendix rectifiers that you heard it with are more sterile and stiff sounding in the upper frequencies. The GE rectifiers are more relaxed and natural sounding to me in those same upper frequencies and harmonically richer across the board.

Looking forward to hearing our system again soon.

babybear January 06, 2014 13:30

Arnie, great seeing you yesterday. And listening to your system. I must admit, the clarity, effortlessness and resolution of your new Allnic H5000 DHT phono is pretty amazing. Startling good in fact in it's ability to change with the music whether a simple 2 instrument jazz ensemble in small venue to a group with 5 or more instruments and how it unravels space, the recording location and each instrument and places them on the sound stage...

jfrech January 05, 2014 13:08

Thank you...same to you!

lloydelee21 December 25, 2013 20:17

Hi Lloyd,

Thanks very much. The system that you heard at the Hong Kong dealer would certainly be very representative of the sound that I have in my room given the same speakers and amps. We just need to get you over to Texas so that you can hear some of the many wonderful systems we have here within a 3 hour drive.

Have a great holiday season!

babybear December 25, 2013 19:33

Hi Albert,

Thanks so much for those amazing and kind words about my system. That means alot to me as I know that you have heard so many systems over the years and also that you and I value the the same attributes in an audio system.

BTW, I finally received a pair of the Bendix 6106 red bank rectifier tubes. I have not listened to them yet but I installed them in the H5000 DHT yesterday and powered it on to be sure they were fine. They appear to have an even slower ramp up than the GE 6087 tubes. I'll let you know what, if any differences I hear between these and the GE rectifiers once I have done some listening.

Have a wonderful and safe holiday season.

babybear December 25, 2013 19:24

I have never had the pleasure of listening to Arnie's system...and every small nuance can make a remarkable difference. But I HAVE heard Arrakis IIs driven by 2 sets of Siegfried II monos, VTL 7.5 Series III, and a Clearaudio Statement turntable...so a 'parallel' system at the dealer in Hong Kong.

I have to agree with Albert's description of Arnie's system insofar as I can say that, imho, the system I heard in HK is 1 of 2 of the best I have ever heard in my life and by some distance. Utterly effortless, utterly detailed, utterly fatigue free...so easy to listen to, you almost forget how impossibly full-scale the music is. It seems so easy, you almost wonder why everybody cannot make a system like this. It is really that good. By comparison, it made my system at home (Wilson X1/Grand Slamms + Velodyne DD18) and other X2 systems I have heard feel like Alexias or big Sashas, where at the scale-level we were listening, it was as effortless as when I listen to my X1s at 70db-80db.

lloydelee21 December 25, 2013 13:37

Dragon_vibe
This is by far one of the best systems iv seen on the internet? Very well laid out. Room looks Stunning. Can not imagine how it feels sitting there listening all day long. Top Class!

Dragon_vibe, I can tell you how it sounds. I visited Arnie some weeks back and not only is he a gracious host, his system is top tier.

Of all the systems I've listened to in my 30 plus years as an audiophile/music lover his ranks among the very, very best.

I've heard systems that were "different" and high performance but it's almost impossible to achieve more than what Arnie has. It's remarkable in it's control, low distortion and tonal color.

I think equally important is the fact that Arnie loves music. The system is not just a toy. When I visited for two days he played LPs I had not heard. When I returned home I purchased several of those titles.

That does not happen often, I own and listen to thousands of titles so Arnie not only has a ultra high performance system that I respect, he is a kindred spirit in music.

albertporter December 24, 2013 22:38

Hi Dragon_vibe,

Thanks very much.

babybear December 24, 2013 18:44

Hi Lloyd,

"But there is always another mountain to climb...Mt. Arrakis! "

Now that is funny!!

babybear December 24, 2013 13:50

This is by far one of the best systems iv seen on the internet? Very well laid out. Room looks Stunning. Can not imagine how it feels sitting there listening all day long. Top Class!

dragon_vibe December 23, 2013 14:25