Quote:
Originally Posted by
krs 
Look very carefully for any remnants of the stick-on clear plastic used to protect any plexiglass surfaces. I think the assemblers may be trimming it by hand which would create the possibility of a small piece being left on a transformer or other heating surface.
Woodsart, because I was expressing interest in your experiences some time back, an update:
I haven't bought an amp.
I do have a Yaqin buffer, the CD-1, and three tubes which I bought in a somewhat desperate attempt to roll down the high frequencies as played by a pair of fine speakers I was having trouble enjoying because of their too-fine-for-my-ear high note play, and to mellow the digital sound of some of my older CD recordings.. it wasn't enough for the speakers but is a great sounding addition to my CD input circuit.
The buffer DOES lessen or eliminate the scratchy sort of sound I was hearing mostly at fairly high volume. It is, in fact, a small tube amplifier which makes life easier for my Marantz PM8004 integrated amp. As such it definitely makes the sound "rounder" or "fuller" than without, even though the Marantz has a pretty warm sound on it's own. It took me a while to be sure that I could hear the difference - I gradually came to prefer to turn the buffer on rather than leave it off and now won't play CD's, old or not, without it.
So this experiment complete, I'm now studying again to convince myself of the advantages of a more complete or thorough changeover to tube amplifier, using the Marantz as preamp only.
I'm kinda' slow....
If you like the Yaqin Buffer CD-1, you will love one of these. Honestly, I don't know the Marantz sound, however, I know they are top knotch.
I had a 2 channel onk and it sounded ok. The other comparison is in the theater area I have a 806 Onk/ Emotiva XPA-5, so I am familiar with that combination. But....but....with tube sound, it seems to satisfy 2 channel critical listening more fully for me, if that makes sense.
Some will argue with this scenario as many state that a high end big name brand can prove as good. I cannot argue with that as I not heard much in that league, just a few and they were good.
But in Tube-O-Phile and other threads with owners of tube amps, they will argue to end about the tube sound.
I may be with them. There is just somethng special, that is hard to describe, like the reverberation, warmth, personal experience that seems live to me.
When I began to read about tubes, others shared with me I knew that the tube guys/gals were a different breed of people....I think more like purist in their liking to tubes. There obviously are different types of tubes that create variations in sound production. That is why there is tube rolling. i found it to be effective as many, many others.
If you really enjoy sitting down and getting into some good music with some good speakers then you might want to try a tube amp just for that. It seems already you are hooked.
I have noted in my reading/research that once these guys crossover there was no going back.
Also at RMAF 2010, you will notice everyone or just about everyone had tubes in their display, that ought to say something about them.
And, if you will research on amp prices, you will find this 10L, 20L and 100 Yaqins are quite the bargain.
Dealing with Canadian HiFi/Song, you definitely can't go wrong with his 100% rating/satisfaction.
I say go for it!!!
If you can imagine how I feel. I got the amp and it wowed me with the first start up, then it burned in and got even better, then I got a pair of the little WAF-1s speakers and they were stunning, then they broke in and wowed me more. Then I uprated 8 new front tubes, costing 30.00 delivered and everything opened up even more from top to bottom.
Then finally the 2 channel speakers, I've been wanting...the special order CAOW1s were made for 2 channel area designed by Dennis Murphy and what else can I say, beautiful, soft and room filling, but what else would one expect from a Seas woofer and a Hiquphon Tweeter.
I've been trying to get to this point a long time. The WAF-1s as you have probably read were for theater anyway, but temporary 2 channel.
There is something about the CAOW1s with the tube amp, maybe involving the on/off axis in that no matter where you are in the room the sweet spot follows you, if I am making myself clear.
I am listening to Grooveshark.com....Pandora One 192kbps, cds/ online radio with a RCA/stereo plug out from my audigy sound card to the 20L.
That is it.
And the sound is pure, clean and absolutely stunning!
Well, did I convince you?...( ;
on a cost basis, it's hard to beat ss equipment...
something tells me that joke is gonna live for awhile... 
does not limit my interest in these bargain tube adventures and if some unusually attractive deal occurs I'm ready to trip the trigger on a moment's notice. Meantime the more I can take in the better.
