Fell in love with tubes two years ago and sold off my solid state stuff (Krell amp and Levinson pre, transport and DAC) to make the move to tubes. The Coincident Total Eclipse speakers are awesome. Mostly listen to Jazz. I think I am done for a while. NOT!
Very interesting thread Jaiello. I'm running solid state with the Sonata II's. I have a Plinius amp and pre-amp, and I'm enjoying it a lot. The Sonata does not have all the bass I would like, even with the SS amp, so I'm very temted to go to tubes and enjoy the advantages in the rest of the spectrum. Unless I listen to organ music, I don't miss the bass. I'm curious...did the PS Audio line conditioner make a big difference?
I recently upgraded my somewhat antiquated stereo system with a Cary 280 V12 amp (new); Cary SLP-2002 preamp (new); California Audio Labs CL-20 DVD/CD player (demo); Cary PH-30MK I phono stage (used); Audio Physic Virgo II speakers (demo); and Tara Labs Decade and Tera Labs Air One interconnects. This system is not quite in the same league as yours, but I like it a lot. I still need to tweak it with power cords and speaker cables. I bought an early production SLP-2002 that came with the 6H30 driver tubes. Cary later replaced them with 6922s. Cary's 12-01 Newsletter says about this substitution: "After extensive listening tests we chose the 6922 driver tube over the 6H30 tube mentioned in earlier news releases. It simply sounds much better to us." I tried the 6922s, which Cary provided, and after breaking them in for about 75 to 100 hours decided that the 6H30s sounded better in my system, MUCH BETTER, particularly in the midrange and treble. The system with 6H30s had much better microdynamics and better soundstage. The 6922s did, however, have better base extension. An audiophile acquaintance listened to both sets of tubes in my system and agreed with me. I sent the 6922s back, and kept the 6H30s. If you have the 6922s, you may wish to compare them with the 6H30s. The tubes represent a minor cost but can make a huge difference in how the system sounds. Best regards, BobJ
Jaiello,You have a nice system. I made the same switch about a year ago. I went from Levinson/Vandersteen 3A Sigs or Coincident Super Eclipse to a mostly tube system with Herron preamps and a Wavelength Duetto ampllifier and the new Silverline Sonatas. I have never regretted it. I have also changes from Kimber cables to Nirvana SLs for interconnnects and Yamamura M6000s for speaker cables. The other change I made was from having a CD (the Mark Levinson transport is the only thing still remaining) as primary source to vinyl as primary source (Immedia with a Lyra Helikon cartridge). Some of the 45 RPM recordings are incredible! Someday you might try that as well. I am sure that you must be enjoying your very nice system a lot!
Jaiello, Nice setup. Yes I agree. I moved to tubes about 3 years ago and have never looked back. When I listen to SS amps I cringe. Their is no warmth or emotion in the music. Again, Nice rig!
