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One Component You Would Never Change One Type You Would Return To

You are given an opportunity to revamp the system. Is there one component you would never change, and one you would want to return to?

 

For me my SOTA Cosmos Eclipse with Origin Live Agile tonearm is an end game table. It will not leave. I might put a different cartridge on it, and have been considering moving my Kiseki Blackheart to it. I would like to try the Audio Technica ART20 on it also. 

What I would return to is SET amplification and tube preamp. I have loved the sound of SET gear, and left because speakers I bought meant I needed different amplification. 

 

That is the rub. To return to SET I would need something other than my JBL 4365. They are expensive, large, and hard to sell. Also I would never get them back, as nice a shape as mine are or as affordable a price. 

For SET I would need something like the Pure Audio open baffles. Or possibly a pair of Klipsch Belle where I would retrofit a modern horn like the Fastrax or something equivalent

 

What would yours be?

neonknight
elliottbnewcombjr
7,746 posts
 

Every time I suggest a basic tester, good/bad/strength/shorts

here comes 'it's got to be mutual ....'

the cheapest Hickok on hifishark is $599. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/127803106846?mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=f5e93a84-35b1-11f1-b59e-303461663738

I suspect MOST people will NOT spend that (or more)

I had a big Hickock, my little Accurate 157 always found the same as the Hickock, I gave it away! I like my small portable, primarily to rule out bad or weak tubes or shorts when something goes wrong, for myself and friends, just to have the confidence the problem is more than likely not the tubes. And, to test the new ones I buy before I put them in place.

Without a basic tester, you keep yourself BLIND.

......................................

here's an accurate 151, working, $95. bucks, delivered

https://www.ebay.com/itm/377064722132?mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=553c8486-35b3-11f1-aed2-646530326337

I've had the one my wife got me since 1983

 

For years people gave me used tubes, pulled from units being discarded, I have a heck of a lot of them, and most test good, they are great to use to keep listening while researching, picking, buying, waiting for a matched pair from someone other than Brent Jesse because sadly he closed.

 

lewm
14,673 posts
 

I think the guys who pay ca thousands for a Hickok 539C or the like are essentially guys who collect tube testers per se. You can certainly get a competent Hickok that measures transconductance for less than $500. Just recognize their limitations especially for testing power tubes, or step up and pay thousands for a modern digitized tester.

kennyc
2,910 posts
 

Keepers:

VDH Grail SB phono stage - transimpedience quietness at a great used price

Volti Rival - 100db neutral speaker used to investigate tube Sonics including flea watt SETs.

HRS RXR rack - can’t afford to upgrade, and changing would be a downgrade 

dwette
538 posts
 

@kennyc HRS RXR rack - can’t afford to upgrade, and changing would be a downgrade

That's a helluva component rack. This past year I changed from Naim Fraim to HRS EXR (two racks). One of the best upgrades I have done in recent years. Recently I added another EXR shelf to one of the racks. I also have R3X and M3X2 isolation bases.

kennyc
2,910 posts
 

@dwette I also have R3X and M3X2 isolation bases.

I just moved so just paid a huge capital tax gain bill, so money tight for awhile. But I need an isolation platform for my Audionet Humboldt. A wood platform would be 2-3k. Or can do a piece of panzerholz.
Ideally, an HRS platform, but not sure if I should go (justify) all the way to the M3 which would be 4.5k.  @dwette - any feedback of HRS R3X/M3X2 platform differences aka help/advice on what level I should get?

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