Keep Vinyl Vinyl But What Abou Valves?

[Guest]

Not sure where to put this topic but here should do?

How many sit at home Djs play there Soul vinyl on Valve equipment?

and are there any pro Djs who prefer this to solid state of today?

Dont want a huge argument but ime just curious?

[steve z]

Not sure where to put this topic but here should do?

How many sit at home Djs play there Soul vinyl on Valve equipment?

and are there any pro Djs who prefer this to solid state of today?

Dont want a huge argument but ime just curious?

Before this post gets ousted Please explain yourself Not taking charge here moderators ATB Stevie

[Blake H]

Best sound I ever heard was through a Quad valve amp, the voltage for it was stepped up to 330 volts and it had a danger sign because of this but the sound was awsome. I always aspired to one till I saw the price!!

BH

[Mark R]

Best sound I ever heard was through a Quad valve amp, the voltage for it was stepped up to 330 volts and it had a danger sign because of this but the sound was awsome. I always aspired to one till I saw the price!!

BH

You wouldn't tell the difference with all them crackly old relics you play would you Blake

Cheers,

Mark R

[Guest]

Best sound I ever heard was through a Quad valve amp, the voltage for it was stepped up to 330 volts and it had a danger sign because of this but the sound was awsome. I always aspired to one till I saw the price!!

BH

Thats what i need Blake lots of encouragement because i know its ££££s Edited May 18, 2006 by Mr M

[Simon T]

Can't remember the exact details, but valves produce a more contant / smoother amplified current than transisters and so the end product is supposed to sound better: bit like the vinyl / CD debate, where vinyl is reputed to sound better because it essentially analoge (like our ears are) whereas CD are digital. There's bound to be an audiphile on here to shoot me down!

[Guest]

Can't remember the exact details, but valves produce a more contant / smoother amplified current than transisters and so the end product is supposed to sound better: bit like the vinyl / CD debate, where vinyl is reputed to sound better because it essentially analoge (like our ears are) whereas CD are digital. There's bound to be an audiphile on here to shoot me down!

Like smmoooother Warmmmer Fullller Deeeepeer ime starting to drip!

Trouble is i love my vinyl ! and want the best for it.

Edited May 18, 2006 by Mr M

[Guest Baz]

Always wondered this but surley the best way to play vinyl, is through normal, decks, mixer and a amp?

Let me explain.....

Lets face it unless you buy stone mint condition records, whats the point of spending loads on sensitive equiptment? im not up much on the valve amps so not sure what kind of sound they produce, but IMO the best is some good punchy equiptment.

I know a record collector stereo enthusiast, the has an amazing set up the arm on his record deck cost well over a grand in its self, but he uses this purley for LP's which i think im right play a more defined sound

On a good 'club' system 'our' records sound the best IMO

Feel free to corect, help me out with this, im not a massive stereo buff so not to up on what im talking about, just using my inicitive

[Guest]

Always wondered this but surley the best way to play vinyl, is through normal, decks, mixer and a amp?

Let me explain.....

Lets face it unless you buy stone mint condition records, whats the point of spending loads on sensitive equiptment? im not up much on the valve amps so not sure what kind of sound they produce, but IMO the best is some good punchy equiptment.

I know a record collector stereo enthusiast, the has an amazing set up the arm on his record deck cost well over a grand in its self, but he uses this purley for LP's which i think im right play a more defined sound

On a good 'club' system 'our' records sound the best IMO

Feel free to corect, help me out with this, im not a massive stereo buff so not to up on what im talking about, just using my inicitive

Yes ive basicly gone back in time every time searching through a miriad of amps decks and speakers but never into the world of valves

When i was a kid my dad had a valve gramophone and everything as i remember sounded rich and warm cant remember the crackles but ime sure there was plenty!

(Maybe ime missing Sundays as i remember them as a kid?)

Ime running a quad 306 through a goldring deck rega arm on a coil with an an old set of goodmans speakers 12" Bass 3 way drivers at the mo sounds okehdokay done me for years but every now and then i get sucked into valve forums! just wonder if any SS readers have taken the plunge and never looked back?

[Guest WPaulVanDyk]

well ain't they all the same mostly, surely most systems have same sound. some decks are better then others, but as said why not just get a simple good deck, amp and mixer to play your records or play on a hi-fi

[Guest Stuart T]

I'm currently using an Audible Illusions MA3 pre-amp (with upgraded military Mullard valves) from the US fed into a Lumley ST70 (4 KT88 valves run in single ended for 30 Watts, it will run in push pull as well to produce 70 watts, which are about 4 times louder than the transistor equivalent) and when working it sounds superb (sadly it eats valves in one channel and needs a repair). On old 45s you hear things you never hear on most equipment. The MA3 also has a mono button which cuts a lot of extraneous noise on mono pressings (a large proportion of 60s northern soul).

I don't think any two systems sound the same and I wouldn't give up my current amps for the world. I got them on ebay, second hand, for a very good price, I think new they would have been over £5,000, I'd never have paid that for them. The craftsmanship is incredible, they weigh a ton, but they do require a bit of effort.

The valve sound is largely, as I understand it, due to their faster operation, so transients on a record are produced with immediacy, and decay (go quiet) without smearing and more accurately, hence a clearer, more natural and less harsh sound. Detail can be greater with high quality transistor amps but often they are designed to produce lots of noises in detail rather than putting them together to produce music.

LPs do have a better sound quality in many styles of music as the pressing and mastering was taken more seriously. That said, 45s on the bigger labels like RCA and Decca sound great. I use my system to play utterly mashed Jamaican ska 45s and they sound better than they did before, with less noise.

I'm sold on valves, they are generally superior, and a decent system trashes most of the junk sold on the high street, which usually contain the same crap parts with a mark up and are built as much by accountants as audio engineers.

Please don't get a mixer like Paul suggests, they are of no use in the domestic scenario and undermine the sound quality, most of them really are a pile of crap.

[Guest Baz]

I currently run a citronic deck through my ION amp fairly old now, but doesnt give the right sound for me, and as there is no graphic on it you cant adjust it Which is a bummer, i like to hear the base in some soul tunes as it gives them a whole new 'edge'

[Mark B]

Thats what i need Blake lots of encouragement because i know its ££££s

i have had this discussion with my brother as he is a hi fi freak i think that due to the fact that the records most of us play (not mint) is it worth the expense valve amps are at the top end of hi fi and cost thousands

if you wasnt to go down this route you will need a top turntable with very good tone arm and cartridge so this is going to set you back a lot, most people tend to go for linn decks and the upgrade them as they can,

my brother used to have a thorens turntable and another (cant remember ) ar

cost him £250 cartridge about same so it does start to add up add speaker cables and interconnects, he had a sugden amp.

And what have you spent ££££££.

but is it any better listening than say a £250 turntable with reaonable cartridge and stylus a amp of similar price and the speakers similar price and interconnects at £30 each speaker cable, and decent racks you will have spent about £1000.00 + compared to £3000.00 to £4000.00 or more even more with stands added.

you van only tell bu going and listenig at the shop or better still if they are a good shop they will bring it to your home to test it.

the choice is yours (i personally could never tell the difference between my system and his but then again i am a philistine his words not mine.

mark

[Mark B]

I currently run a citronic deck through my ION amp fairly old now, but doesnt give the right sound for me, and as there is no graphic on it you cant adjust it Which is a bummer, i like to hear the base in some soul tunes as it gives them a whole new 'edge'

A good amp will have no base and treble as they are not required,

always used to leave the base and treble at nothing on my system at the moment i have no system but i do have my new turntable it is a project the clear acrylic one they had a special offer it came with speed control and £350 ruby cartridge so will be building from that,

mark

[Blake H]

You wouldn't tell the difference with all them crackly old relics you play would you Blake

Cheers,

Mark R

Your right Mark, the heat from the valves would melt my wax cylinders

BH

[vnicepce]

....valves produce a more contant / smoother amplified current than transisters and so the end product is supposed to sound better: bit like the vinyl / CD debate, where vinyl is reputed to sound better because it essentially analoge (like our ears are) whereas CD are digital. There's bound to be an audiphile on here to shoot me down!

.....I have a collection of 1960s electricity; the ultimate accessory for those classic tracks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest 50box]

.....I have a collection of 1960s electricity; the ultimate accessory for those classic tracks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You need a radiogram, a stylishly attractive piece of functional furniture.

& some inserts to allow use of multiplay option.

[Guest]

.....I have a collection of 1960s electricity; the ultimate accessory for those classic tracks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ile have some of that!

[Guest]

I want it but then i allways want it! Its a pity i dont know anybody whos got it then i could try a few pieces on it but then ide probably just want it even more!

Stuart sounds in the pocket just that my pockets arent deep enough i dont think (Fu877in scary pounds) on the otherhand suppose if you do get a pair of mono blocks off the bay and they dont really do it you can allways put them back on again??

Maybe my curiosity will get the better of me?think one day it just might been as ime so bloody curious???!!

Trouble with going on the audiophile threads theyre all a load of audiophiles! but it gets you all wet and adles your head thats for sure anyone got a gramaphone! for me gramaphone soul records!

[Guest miff]

I used to work in a Hi Fi shop here in Grimsby and the guy that used to repair all the Hi Fi equipment used an old valve amp to set up all the modern transister amps in the workshops he clamed it gave a better sound and it was a smother output & then went on to show me the differance on an osscillascope and you could see it the sine wave comeing out was a lot smoother compared to the transeriter output He clamied that for all the frequancys that were omitted from the amp to the speakers there less distortion so a fuller and deeper sound came from the speakers.

It certenley sounded better to my ears

[Guest Stuart T]

Stuart sounds in the pocket just that my pockets arent deep enough i dont think (Fu877in scary pounds) on the otherhand suppose if you do get a pair of mono blocks off the bay and they dont really do it you can allways put them back on again??

I got the power amp for £300, absolute bargain. They do turn up from time to time. I certainly wouldn't pay what those things cost new, but bargains can be had. You might want to keep any eye out for something by audio innovations, beard, those brands did some great amps that can be had cheap. Tempted to get the soldering iron out and build something from one of the kit amp vendors but given the scary wattage I think I'll have to forget about that.

[Guest]

Ive got a "Heathkit" open valve amplifier thing?,had to have it!!,says its made in Benton Harbor,Mich,look like its never been used,and its all there?,how would i set this thing up,would it cost loads?,looks luverly,would be nice to see the valves fired up,listening to US records on a US amp,i paid 45 pounds for it years ago,with a mint copy of "crawdaddy simone" ,i got quiet a few pounds for "crawdaddy",my key board as lost it pound key ,can i get it bakc? ,bakc to me amp,can anybody help,its waisted as a trophy like thing on me shelf thanks Ken

Edited May 22, 2006 by ken

[Guest miff]

Ive got a "Heathkit" open valve amplifier thing?,had to have it!!,says its made in Benton Harbor,Mich,look like its never been used,and its all there?,how would i set this thing up,would it cost loads?,looks luverly,would be nice to see the valves fired up,listening to US records on a US amp,i paid 45 pounds for it years ago,with a mint copy of "crawdaddy simone" ,i got quiet a few pounds for "crawdaddy",my key board as lost it pound key ,can i get it bakc? ,bakc to me amp,can anybody help,its waisted as a trophy like thing on me shelf thanks Ken

Ken you need to check what voltage and what frequancy it runs at to work in the UK it needs to be 240 Volts and 50 htz, A lot of old yank stuff ran at differant voltages and frequancys and needed to be adapted for the UK it shold tell you on the data plate somewhere on the amp, If in doubt take to your neret HI FI dealer they should put you right and if it needs adapting they can do, it shouldnt be too expensive to sort out me thinks

[Guest]

Ken you need to check what voltage and what frequancy it runs at to work in the UK it needs to be 240 Volts and 50 htz, A lot of old yank stuff ran at differant voltages and frequancys and needed to be adapted for the UK it shold tell you on the data plate somewhere on the amp, If in doubt take to your neret HI FI dealer they should put you right and if it needs adapting they can do, it shouldnt be too expensive to sort out me thinks

110 volts,Miff cheers,it the bakc thats confusing me,first input as stikcer with "Mic",the second as stikcer with "Gram" on it,the speaker out-puts first as "com"second 3,third as 8,and last says 16,its easy to get a 110 volt thingy,so it just the wirering up?

[Guest Baz]

110 volts,Miff cheers,it the bakc thats confusing me,first input as stikcer with "Mic",the second as stikcer with "Gram" on it,the speaker out-puts first as "com"second 3,third as 8,and last says 16,its easy to get a 110 volt thingy,so it just the wirering up?

You'll need a transformer to conver the 240v to 110v

I have Optimus Prime in the cuboard some where he was there leader

[Guest miff]

110 volts,Miff cheers,it the bakc thats confusing me,first input as stikcer with "Mic",the second as stikcer with "Gram" on it,the speaker out-puts first as "com"second 3,third as 8,and last says 16,its easy to get a 110 volt thingy,so it just the wirering up?

Only guessing here ken but would sugest that the Gram is for plugging an old radio gram think in, The outputs I would surgest are for the Speakers EG 3 ohms, 8 ohms 16ohms. All being the + side the common being the - Mic for a microphone for use as a PA

and as it seems to only have 1 output seems to be a mono amp but please I am no expert on these things so dont take my word for it

Edited May 22, 2006 by miff

[Guest]

I have Optimus Prime in the cuboard some where he was there leader

You lost me there,dead in me trakcs...........................what does this mean? we reight Baz?

[Guest Stuart T]

Ive got a "Heathkit" open valve amplifier thing?,had to have it!!,says its made in Benton Harbor,Mich,look like its never been used,and its all there?,how would i set this thing up,would it cost loads?,looks luverly,would be nice to see the valves fired up,listening to US records on a US amp,i paid 45 pounds for it years ago,with a mint copy of "crawdaddy simone" ,i got quiet a few pounds for "crawdaddy",my key board as lost it pound key ,can i get it bakc? ,bakc to me amp,can anybody help,its waisted as a trophy like thing on me shelf thanks Ken

Try here for some more information:

https://www.heathkit-museum.com/hkhifi.shtml

A step up transformer wouldn't cost much but some US electrics don't like them. You might try Classique Sounds in Leicester for a once over or the bloke in West London, will post a link.

Try here: https://www.londonsound.org/repairs.htm

Edited May 22, 2006 by Stuart T

[Guest Baz]

You lost me there,dead in me trakcs...........................what does this mean? we reight Baz?

Optimus prime is a transformer (robots in disguise)

Im al-reight Ken thought you were in Hamberg this weekend

[Guest]

Optimus prime is a transformer (robots in disguise)

Im al-reight Ken thought you were in Hamberg this weekend

I was,but major motor troubles,got back on the back of a trukc and customs still turned me over fourth time on the bounce,i`m thinking they might be pikcing on me

[Guest Awake 502]

Can't remember the exact details, but valves produce a more contant / smoother amplified current than transisters and so the end product is supposed to sound better: bit like the vinyl / CD debate, where vinyl is reputed to sound better because it essentially analoge (like our ears are) whereas CD are digital. There's bound to be an audiphile on here to shoot me down!

Valve amps sound better to a lot of people because all they are used to is crappy Japanese hi-fi. Having owned and have access to some of the most esoteric pieces of kit I couldn't live with a valve amp, warm sounding but generally too much inherant distortion and no guts. Yes they make 100 watt power amps but they are sonically inferior to the lesser powerful models. Oh and they are a right ba****d when they blow up...

Only place for valves is in a pre-amp... imho....

[Guest Stuart T]

Valve amps sound better to a lot of people because all they are used to is crappy Japanese hi-fi. Having owned and have access to some of the most esoteric pieces of kit I couldn't live with a valve amp, warm sounding but generally too much inherant distortion and no guts. Yes they make 100 watt power amps but they are sonically inferior to the lesser powerful models. Oh and they are a right ba****d when they blow up...

Only place for valves is in a pre-amp... imho....

LOL this is just like an audiophile forum!

I don't find a decently engineered valve power amp "warm" sounding at all, despite perceived wisdom (I think most of that means "old" amps, rather than valve amps per se), there are many high quality transistor amps that I would certainly give house space to, if only they glowed in the dark (I think the current ones from Musical Fidelity do?).

My current amp produces 35 watts running single ended into 92dB speakers or 70 watts in push pull, and I certainly don't need a pre-amp that goes up to 11. I've had to attenuate it. The previous audio note only produced 12 watts and was capable of going much louder than I ever need, just need to match speakers carefully. As for distortion, mine has lower measured distortion than a Naim 250. And I think Naim are brilliant for some styles of music. And made in England, like the Lumley.

You're right too, valve failure is a right pain. And quite scarey sometimes!

Cheap Jap hi-fi is now made in China. By oppressed child labourers. Probably. :angry: The good stuff is still good though.

[Guest]

Ime gonna do it, Ime gonna do it ! Ime gonna have to do it !

Anyone got a spare couple of mono blocks in the attic unwanted!