[Robosculpts]

Tons of advice and thoughts already in this thread.

as soon as i posted that i started reading up on the thread. got too excited about the incoming amp. I ended up getting https://tubeworldexpress.com/collec...house-usa-black-plates-d-getter-halo-nos-1957 and https://tubeworldexpress.com/produc...ons-in-white-box?_pos=21&_sid=a79d97f3c&_ss=r

They seem to be popular choices so I felt a little more confident buying them.

 

[Ripper2860]

Yes! A wonderful HP stand with a nice steam-punk motif gear / gauge piece that could be removed and replaced with a Coaster holder. And it has a nice copper and UNC Blue patina.

 

[bcowen]

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[bcowen]

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[Mr Trev]

A DIY kit would be awesome. As purty as your amps are, I'm not really into furniture grade woodwork - the giant hunk of copper is cool though. Could definitely save myself some $$ there. Heck, I could Canadian-ify it and use a beer cooler for a case.
I am not sure why the beer cooler idea does not excite me lol. I did some of the early work on the Schiit coaster amp and it was always a dream to mount one in a scotch bottle, but... I never quite got there. I did mount one in an eight ball, in a tobacco tin, as a flying saucer etc.

https://www.google.com/search?q=coa...UXbc0KHSLjCPEQ_AUoAnoECAsQBA&biw=1920&bih=937

I never quite did a snow globe either.

That was a joke, son. No self respecting Canadian would ever ruin a perfectly good beer cooler.

 

[Paladin79]

Yes! A wonderful HP stand with a nice steam-punk motif gear / gauge piece that could be removed and replaced with a Coaster holder. And it has a nice copper and UNC Blue patina.

I only do Duke blue patina. Have you been listening to Cowen?

 

[Ripper2860]

Don't you mean you only do Duke blue patina for Bill?

 

[bcowen]

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[Robosculpts]

Can someone explain the little addons? Are they worth to check off when you buy a tube from this site?

The site is tube depot btw

 

[Paladin79]

Can someone explain the little addons? Are they worth to check off when you buy a tube from this site?

The site is tube depot btw

It is like you are buying insurance lol. If you do not check the box will they send you a noisy tube with microphonics and you are stuck with it? New tubes should have relatively close triodes, if they are selling used tubes they could vary a lot more. I have plenty that do not show matched to within say 10% and they sound fine. Just a few thoughts.

 

[domes]

Nice, let us know how they work out for you!

Got the Ken Rad today and been listening for a couple of hours. The bass is definite plus and need to keep turning the volume down because I keep turning it up!

 

[bcowen]

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[Zachik]

High gain? What a crock.

Bill, are you saying one should not pay for add-ons, like I did for tubes that were stored in a natural cave, inside oak barrels, at constant 60F?!
Oh wait, that was my Pinot Noir...

 

[bcowen]

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[domes]

After listening to the Ken Rad further I am little dissppointed as the soundstage is a bit diffused. I am not hearing placement of instruments nor a solid focus of vocals in middle. This is more noticeable when listening with my amplified speakers instead of headphones. Maybe this will improve on further burn in as I only have about 12 hours on it so far. Bass is a nice plus as I mentioned but missing some of these other qualities. Am I assessing this tube sound correctly? Maybe I need to be more patient or maybe I should have gone with the bad boy instead. With the cost of the Ken Rad I was hoping for more.