[Paladin79]

Timely, I was looking at Melz from Ukraine prices on EBay just last night, and prices are all over the place. (Well, everywhere except cheap.) As a tube-nube with very little knowledge of the nuances of Melz tubes, or the sellers, it all looked pretty hazardous to me. I have some CBS/Hytron 5692s and good Sylvanias ordered, that may be as high up the mountain that I ever climb.

I am not just saying this to be agreeing with you but looking on Ebay I saw some decent 5692's and Sylvanias as well. (Except for some the seller was trying to pass off as Bad-Boys.) Some of those would probably be my choices at this time. I am fortunate though to have plenty of tubes so I will not be buying any for a while. There may be some matched pairs I can donate to you to help out, unless you are buying singles.

 

[macdonjh]

I am fortunate though to have plenty of tubes so I will not be buying any for a while.

I wonder if you ever thought you'd say that...

I'll bet @bcowen hasn't.

 

[Paladin79]

I wonder if you ever thought you'd say that...

I'll bet @bcowen hasn't.

I am fine at this time but a new amp will need replacements for 14 tubes and a new DAC maybe 8. I will look around then. I believe Bill said at one point he was going to stop buying tubes but the words kind of caught in his throat.

In the next few weeks I will be doing an upgrade on an amp I gifted Mr. Cowen just so he may jump in and help if I need 12AU7's and such. I have a wealth of 6sn7's and some power tubes but I have had little reason to own some types.

 

[sam6550a]

I am fine at this time but a new amp will need replacements for 14 tubes and a new DAC maybe 8. I will look around then. I believe Bill said at one point he was going to stop buying tubes but the words kind of caught in his throat.

In the next few weeks I will be doing an upgrade on an amp I gifted Mr. Cowen just so he may jump in and help if I need 12AU7's and such. I have a wealth of 6sn7's and some power tubes but I have had little reason to own some types.

I have a modified Dyna ST-70 that uses 3-12AU7 as voltage amp/phase inverter. I am currently using a NOS Amperex E80CC/6085 gold pin as the voltage amp, and 12BH7s as the phase inverters. I would like to try other 12AU7s as phase inverters, but the E80CC sounds great in the voltage amp slot.

 

[Paladin79]

I have a modified Dyna ST-70 that uses 3-12AU7 as voltage amp/phase inverter. I am currently using a NOS Amperex E80CC/6085 gold pin as the voltage amp, and 12BH7s as the phase inverters. I would like to try other 12AU7s as phase inverters, but the E80CC sounds great in the voltage amp slot.

Good to know Sam. I used to use some singles in BH Cracks but rarely do much with those since I got a 6SN7 adapter.

 

[golfbravobravo]

My Oppo has optical and coaxial outputs. I'm not aware of any CD players/transports, other than the upcoming Urd, that have USB out. But I thought I read that Urd will also have a USB input that can be passed through.
Off topic - I Googled "CD Players with USB output" and IMO search engine optimization has made search engines all but worthless.

But, but..... SEO enables search engines. That's all it's there for.

 

[corndog71]

I have a modified Dyna ST-70 that uses 3-12AU7 as voltage amp/phase inverter. I am currently using a NOS Amperex E80CC/6085 gold pin as the voltage amp, and 12BH7s as the phase inverters. I would like to try other 12AU7s as phase inverters, but the E80CC sounds great in the voltage amp slot.

My understanding of phase inverters is that tubes have little varying effect. I would swap the 12BH7s in the voltage amp stage as that’s going to make more of an audible difference. Even noisy tubes will work as phase inverters without affecting overall performance.

 

[bcowen]

You got a great version at a reasonable price as I recall. At today's rates, my collection could fetch five figures but I have no interest in selling and some of those could sit on EBAY for ages.

It may be time to consider releasing some Melz from the strategic Paladin reserve. Perhaps if you put 4000 or 5000 out in the open market it would help reduce prices.

 

[bcowen]

I wonder if you ever thought you'd say that...

I'll bet @bcowen hasn't.

I *did* have a fleeting thought about that one time, but it was very fleeting.

 

[Paladin79]

It may be time to consider releasing some Melz from the strategic Paladin reserve. Perhaps if you put 4000 or 5000 out in the open market it would help reduce prices.

Now there’s a bad idea. Make them as cheap as Foton’s? Never!!

 

[bcowen]

Now there’s a bad idea.

I have more. If you're interested.

 

[Paladin79]

I have more. If you're interested.

One per decade is too many. Your ideas cost me money, remember I am operating on a semi-fixed income.

 

[sam6550a]

Now there’s a bad idea. Make them as cheap as Foton’s? Never!!

Perhaps consider leasing to only carefully vetted users that promise to properly use and care for the little gems.

 

[Ripper2860]

Your ideas cost me money, remember I am operating on a semi-fixed income.

Yeah. I mean, his son's piggy bank will only hold so much.

 

[Paladin79]

Yeah. I mean, his son's piggy bank will only hold so much.

I have a daughter too of course, so that is one more piggy bank. If things get bad enough I will invest in one of @bcowen's inventions, the square hula hoop! Imagine the workout you could get trying to keep that thing going, not to mention the bruises!!! The man is a genius.