[duffer5]

Just received my active tube stage from Hattor Audio which is below the Khozmo passive preamp (sister company to Hattor). Dipping my toe into Tubes and am loving it so far.

 

[Reputator]

It's so much fun.

What you say is true. Often it's really not OK to be an audio gearhead:

• It's considered normal to be a fanatic about stuff others are familiar with, maybe also fanatic about themselves (cars, motorcycles, tools, lawncare equipment, whatever)
• But when you're a fanatic about stuff most people aren't familiar with (audio in general; headphone audio in particular), they tend to look at you as a cross between a hoarder and a disheveled public crazy person in need of intervention.
  • and video...being fanatic about video gear is something nobody understands

(trying not to be autobiographical here, especially the "disheveled public crazy person" part)

Exactly. People put "I listen to music, not gear" on some sort of pedestal like it's a religious mantra.

My feeling is

 

[bcowen]

Tube rolling has been fun and provided incremental gains for years, but I never tasted true transparency until I converted to a tube keyboard.

ROFL!!

 

[jonathan c]

As a longtime, treatment-resistant amp 'ho, I couldn't agree more.

For me, a "normal" listening session (quotes indicate abnormalcy) involve hearing the headphone du jour on at least 2 or 3 different amps, often on different DACs.

… be thankful that you have but one head

 

[jonathan c]

Tube rolling has been fun and provided incremental gains for years, but I never tasted true transparency until I converted to a tube keyboard.

… a tube keyboard is still digital …

 

[bcowen]

… a tube keyboard is still digital …

Way to ruin the mood.

As well, the LED in that "tube" is solid-state, but I was refraining from raining on the parade.

 

[BobSmith8901]

It's so much fun.

What you say is true. Often it's really not OK to be an audio gearhead:

• It's considered normal to be a fanatic about stuff others are familiar with, maybe also fanatic about themselves (cars, motorcycles, tools, lawncare equipment, whatever)
• But when you're a fanatic about stuff most people aren't familiar with (audio in general; headphone audio in particular), they tend to look at you as a cross between a hoarder and a disheveled public crazy person in need of intervention.
  • and video...being fanatic about video gear is something nobody understands

(trying not to be autobiographical here, especially the "disheveled public crazy person" part)

"...cross between a hoarder and a disheveled public crazy person.."
Cracked me up but then I had to take inventory there for a second

 

[gefski]

… a tube keyboard is still digital …

…but I swear, the tapping on the keys now sounds so “organic”…

 

[jonathan c]

At least you could have used an RCA 12AU7 labeled Baldwin …. ….

 

[Zachik]

…but I swear, the tapping on the keys now sounds so “organic”…

2nd harmonics, obviously!

 

[Mr Trev]

At least you could have used an RCA 12AU7 labeled Baldwin …. ….

Nah. Conn cleartops would truly elevate the keyboarding experience

 

[jroseCT]

And yes, the Simpsons rotating lamp is fully armed and operational.

 

[jroseCT]

Oh, and the wood stand once belonged to Sleater-Kinney guitarist Carrie Brownstein. I bought it from her at her yard sale in Portland in 2004.

 

[OhHeyItsLou]

Just added some new headphone stands to the setup. Sad part is, I need a few more

Highly recommend the Etsy seller: Headphone Stands

 

[bcowen]

Just added some new headphone stands to the setup. Sad part is, I need a few more

Highly recommend the Etsy seller: Headphone Stands

Those are very nice!