[iFi audio]

Change the tubes anywhere between 10,000 and 100,000 hours, depending on the tube. In other words, at the earliest when you're 75 years old, that is, of course, if you like the stock tube sound that iFi provides.

I won't speak for iFi but from the pics I've seen it seems like it would be easy to change out the tubes. This is called "tube rolling" if you don't like the stock ones.

I'll tell you what, though, I'm generally a solid state guy, but even I like the tubes that iFi has incorporated into the iTube and now the Retro, so I don't imagine you'd want to change them out, least you want a tube sound that is "unnatural" and "flubby."

 
Hi,
 
The EL84x that we use, there isnt anything that is really "better" (more expensive yes, but nope not better).
 
The ECF82 can be changed but please be careful as a lot of tubes thesedays should come from reputable sellers only as there is not an "infinite supply of NOS" (if you know what we mean, as there is a lot of Grade B and Grade C stock gradually coming out now that the Grade A stocks are pretty much exhausted),
 
We can provide some info on these tubes and why we chose them if people are interested...

 

[XjunkieNL]

I would be happy to learn more about the tubes.
On Wiki I read some extra info, learned that the EL84 was developed in my home country by Philips

 

[iFi audio]

I would be happy to learn more about the tubes.
On Wiki I read some extra info, learned that the EL84 was developed in my home country by Philips

 
Hi,
 
We have put in a request to the R&D team. Will give them a nudge in a few days' time. They have been writing something about the capacitors we use as some dropped us a PM to ask about the caps we use and why. And how they relate to the AMR machines.
 
Watch this space.

 

 

[Mach3]

Want a DSD DAC, Retro Stereo 50 offer what I need and more. However, my current setup is all balanced.
Should I wait for the iDSD Pro and the iTube Pro or mini (I think you guys still deciding on a name)

 

[iFi audio]

iDAC Parts quality Part 2.

 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/754820/idac2-is-a-coming-internal-discussions#post_11418704
 
This is related to the Retro as it shows what the iFi machines share in parts quality/execution.
 
Cheers,

 

[rickyleelee]

Want a DSD DAC, Retro Stereo 50 offer what I need and more. However, my current setup is all balanced.
Should I wait for the iDSD Pro and the iTube Pro or mini (I think you guys still deciding on a name)

You can sell of your whole bunch of boxes and just have the Retro - it is a complete system the DSD DAc (which also handle pcm) is inside. I am picking up my Retro soon and may take some pics and video of it. I'm so excited.

 

[speakertweaker]

I have a few questions regarding the Stereo 50 and LS3.5 speakers that maybe the iFi sponsor can answer:
 
1 - Are all the tubes socketed or are any of them soldered directly to the PCB?
 
2 - In this amp is the 6U8A a direct drop-in replacement for the ECF82?
 
3 - Can the amp operate with regular EL84 tubes as opposed to the EL84X tubes that come with the amp?
 
4 - Are the cabinets solid bamboo, bamboo veneer, vinyl veneer or something else?
 
I'll be purchasing over the net, so answers to these questions will be helpful to me as there are no dealers in my area where I can check-out the gear in person.
 
Thanks!

 

[iFi audio]

  I have a few questions regarding the Stereo 50 and LS3.5 speakers that maybe the iFi sponsor can answer:
 
1 - Are all the tubes socketed or are any of them soldered directly to the PCB?
 
2 - In this amp is the 6U8A a direct drop-in replacement for the ECF82?
 
3 - Can the amp operate with regular EL84 tubes as opposed to the EL84X tubes that come with the amp?
 
4 - Are the cabinets solid bamboo, bamboo veneer, vinyl veneer or something else?
 
I'll be purchasing over the net, so answers to these questions will be helpful to me as there are no dealers in my area where I can check-out the gear in person.
 
Thanks!

 
Hi,
 
To answer your questions:
 
 
1 - Are all the tubes socketed or are any of them soldered directly to the PCB?
Yes. All socketed.
 
 
2 - In this amp is the 6U8A a direct drop-in replacement for the ECF82?
Yes. Some of the staff personally use the 6U8A, the RCA in particular are nice.
 
 
3 - Can the amp operate with regular EL84 tubes as opposed to the EL84X tubes that come with the amp?
Yes it can. BUT please ensure they are 100% EL84 (not the often inferior spec "almost EL84" from Russia and China) and remove the Jumpers on the PCB that need to be fitted for the EL84X.
Tube rolling will invalidate the warranty. So please wait after 1 year before changing the tubes. We really hunted high and low for these tubes and they are not to be scoffed at.

 
 
4 - Are the cabinets solid bamboo, bamboo veneer, vinyl veneer or something else?
They are solid bamboo, except the baffle which is solid bamboo additionally reinforced with a layer of MDF, to allow screws to "bite" better and to give extra strength to the baffle which is weakened by the driver cutouts.
 
 
Plus, we were notified today that Audio magazine (Germany) that the Retro full system was awarded "Reference Class" which places the Retro in very esteemed company indeed, not least given other Reference class products cost a lot more. Audio is pretty well-regarded and in Germay, they are very thorough.
 
As soon as we have a translation, we'll drop it in here.
 
 
Cheers.

 

[speakertweaker]

...

Thank you for completely answering my questions.
 
I'm certainly looking forward to the German / Audio review.
 
It looks like we have a winning system here!

 

[john57]

Hi,
 
If I use the Retro Stereo 50 mostly as a HP amp without speakers connected is it safe to leave headphones connected during power up and off? I heard that a load must always be present when using this tube amp.

 

[iFi audio]

  Hi,
 
If I use the Retro Stereo 50 mostly as a HP amp without speakers connected is it safe to leave headphones connected during power up and off? I heard that a load must always be present when using this tube amp.

 
Hi,
 
The Retro 50 is safe without load under all normal circumstances. It is also safe to leave the headphones connected, there may some very small noise, but no large bangs etc.
 
So no need to worry about any load being present all of the time etc as per tube amps.
 
Cheers.

 

[WNBC]

I've decided on the Retro and will get one in mid-April.  I was a little on the fence about needing the speakers but I'm reading good things about them.  I asked a vendor about them and he said wait to buy the combo.  I was ready to just buy the stereo this week without the speakers and purchase a set of different ones later on.  However, I'll just save up a little more for the combo and be done.  Really excited as I don't have a small footprint stereo speaker rig.  I have a nice pair of Polk LS90s and a sub that rocks the house.  But, the iFi rig will be a nice addition to the man cave.  Never owned a turntable but now I have a reason to

 

[XjunkieNL]

Never owned a turntable but now I have a reason to

Now you have the perfect excuse

 

[john57]

Since the Retro does not have line out for connection to powerful active speakers is there a High Speaker Level to RCA adapter that you would recommend?

 

[DougD]

 

And what was the answer? ................................

...........was 781 components!

 

Towards the high end of the range.
 
We shall explain a little more in a parts quality overview at a later date.

 

Starting with the 5th to 10th prizes, the winners are:

<< snip-snip >> 
 
2) We will then forward your details to Music Direct and Native DSD Music respectively and they will arrange to award you your prize!
 

 
A little update from Lucky Winner #7.  (me !!!) 
 
Flor from Native DSD Music contacted me very quickly via email, and was just great in guiding me through the process of selecting tunes. I'm mostly a rock kinda guy, and Native DSD Music is strong in jazz and classical, so I was not very familiar with the artists and material I got .... but let me tell you, it's all fabulously recorded in DSD64, and sounds just spectacular coming through the iFi-Audio Micro iDSD. Highly recommended.
 
And I also got lined up with Music Direct. I didn't realize when I talked to their guy that I should have a pick in mind ... poor thinking ahead on my part, I'd been browsing their catalog but hadn't settled in on anything specific ... but after a couple of guesses I had a bingo, and Thursday Mr. FedExMan brought an SACD of CCR's "Willie and the Poor Boys" to the door. It's never sounded so good before. Verry verry nice. 
 
So thanks so much to iFi Audio for putting on this contest, which was very generous. And to Native DSD Music and Music Direct, class operations.
 
d.d.