LOw Volume

[beardog03]

Does your rig sound as good at really low volume as it does at higher ones ?

I got up this morning, and as I was reading about a jackass neighbor in another thread, I realized just how clear and good sounding my was at such a low volume....


Tubes have been hot for 8-9 days now !!:D

[W WALDECKER]

Hey Robert,My tube rig sounds really nice even at very low volume. Enjoy....WCW III

[madmax]

Mine is awesome at low volume. The longer you listen the louder it seems. Low volume is all about tubes. Never yet heard a SS amp that did well at low volume.
madmax

[beardog03]

got any pic`s of your rig?
I was reading your sig, and it`s sounds really nice !

how do you like the modson the jolida ?

F1nut is going to help guide me through modding my JD-100 pretty soon
(as soon as I get the $$)

[beardog03]

max,
I have the stock tubes that came with my Cary installed, but really want to try the popes that I read were supposed to be magic in the Cary...

it`s true though...the longer I listen at low volumes, the louder it seems to get...sometimes !

I also noticed that at night, without all the sounds of the world going on, it sounds sooo much better...

maybe it`s just my imagination..

[W WALDECKER]

got any pic`s of your rig?
I was reading your sig, and it`s sounds really nice !

how do you like the modson the jolida ?

F1nut is going to help guide me through modding my JD-100 pretty soon
(as soon as I get the $$)

Hey Robert,i still have not bought a Digital Camera yet :) there are a couple of pictures in the Club Polk DIY forum of the guts of my VK60 tube amp that MdBluePicker took after we swapped out the stock BAT/Jensen PIO capacitors for V-cap TFTF Reference Grade capacitors.The V-caps are insanely Good! I plan on getting another VK60 and doing the V-cap mod to it and running the pair of them as 120Wpc monoblocks.I love the sound of my HRAM stage 3+ Modded Jolida JD100A CD player.i have never listened to a stock JD100A to compare between the two but the HRAM version is really sweet! you are in very good hands with F1nut/Jesse so you wont be disappointed.Enjoy....WCW III

[mhardy6647]

yes. IME most tube amps sound good at very low volumes sans loudness compensation. My EICO HF-81 also still sounds very transparent and musical on track fade-outs. This is pretty speaker-independent, as well.

[Gaara]

The biggest improvement I experienced with low volume listening was going with a passive pre, specifically TVCs which by design sound there best at low volumes.

[billbillw]

I think my rig sounds pretty good at low volume. Problem is the ceiling fan and computer fan noise mask a lot of the low stuff, so I end up going higher.

[beardog03]

as the noise of the day goes up, so does the volume !


if I understand correctly, my amp is pure Class A untl it reaches a certain output...

maintaining up to 15w class A @ 8 ohms...
I have 4 ohm seaks , so I don`t know how that works

[schwarcw]

My system sounds great at low volume. I listen mainly at night after my daughter goes to bed. The levels are anywhere from -43 dB to - 35 dB. I think the soundstage is very holographic, detailed and deep. It does not sound as deep at much higher volumes. It does sound louder the more you listen to it.

[beardog03]

For some reason, after dark listening is the most enjoyable...

especially late night, when the XM starts playing stuff that you haven`t heard a million times before

I tried to do the headphone thing (HD-650), but just couldn`t get as much out of listening as I do with the normal (!) set-up

[hearingimpared]

yes. IME most tube amps sound good at very low volumes sans loudness compensation. My EICO HF-81 also still sounds very transparent and musical on track fade-outs. This is pretty speaker-independent, as well.

Man I so covet your tape gear!

[beardog03]

I sometimes wish I still had my old R to R


The one that Ken Swagger pulled out at Marks House (PF) was the nicest R to R that I have ever seen....such a sweet sound !


I believe that Madmax was alittle impressed with it also !!
I`m suprised that he hasn`t aquired one yet !

[mhardy6647]

Thanks for the compliment... wish I could afford some really nice tape hardware: Studer/ReVox,Stellavox, that sort of thing. Even a Tandberg, Otari, Fostex, or certain Ampexes. Ain't a-gonna happen.

[madmax]

The one that Ken Swagger pulled out at Marks House (PF) was the nicest R to R that I have ever seen....such a sweet sound !


I believe that Madmax was alittle impressed with it also !!
I`m suprised that he hasn`t aquired one yet !

Thats the understatement of the year! I've wanted one ever since. My only problem is I don't know which type to get. I'm still mixed up on it. Half track, quarter track and a bunch of other terms I can't remember right now...

madmax

[reeltrouble1]

You know it Max, I talked some with Ken, his is severely modded, But RT1 should have reel to reel now......

as far as the thread concur, as much as I love my BAT amp at low levels the Manley Stingray is my ticket.....

Rock On Robert.

RT1

[beardog03]

Manley stingray ?!!
I was considering the Manley when I bought the Cary...
I would love to get my ears on the stingray..

oneday when I get a little better cash flow/savings, I would love to get into a stellar R to R like that....I need to do alot of homework before I go there though.

[reeltrouble1]

well hop a plane to the Fest Robert, the Manley will be hooked to some stellar gear.

RT1

[madmax]

I'm pretty stuck on the manley stuff these days including a pair of mono blocks, a pre-amp and a phono pre. Always offers sound thats a little extra special. One day I want a pair of their 300B tube amps but it won't happen soon. Sorry for the de-rail, back to the original question. SDA's with tube amps are really awesome for super low volume listening.
madmax

[beardog03]

No de-rail here bro...

I may sell my Cary F1 Sig and try out Manley for a minute

I would very much like to be at PF...I have to ge tthe grip together first

[madmax]

It is my impression that Cary is of the same or better quality.
madmax

[Zero]

Low-moderate listening levels is where I hover. My ears were never built tough enough to endure long periods of high SPL. That said, I feel my rig gets the job done exceptionally well for those often late night listening sessions.

Hell, now is one of those moments. The temp is dropping.. going to reach the lower 50's tonight. Windows open... candles are lit.... got some new products in... life's good.

[beardog03]

I`m not one for extended periods of loud music, although I do have my moments...

[mhardy6647]

My only problem is I don't know which type to get. I'm still mixed up on it. Half track, quarter track and a bunch of other terms I can't remember right now...

Realistically, a quarter-track stereo machine will be the most useful in terms of compatibility. Get one that takes 10-1/2" reels and ideally offers (at least) 7-1/2 and 15 ips speeds. The Pioneer RT-909 is funky in that it doesn't have 15 ips, but does have 3-3/4 ips.

A four-track deck like the TASCAM 22-4 gives you lots of flexibility (i.e., you can play half-track or quarter-track stereo) and 15 ips, but only takes up to 7-1/2" reels. Other four-track TASCAM decks'll accommodate 10-1/2" reels.

Here's a photo of the 22-4 in action, dubbing a CD to quarter-track stereo (tracks 1 and 3) at 7-1/2 ips.


Sorry for the hijack. I'll go away now... :-)

[beardog03]

very Nice !

No highjack here.... I love it !

[madmax]

So a 4 track which does 7 1/2 and 15 ips while accepting up to 10 1/2" reels? That doesn't seem so complicated. That will play almost anything? I guess what I would most likely want to play is consumer stuff from the 50's and 60's. This would handle that? (sorry beardog)
madmax

[beardog03]

I`m learning too..!!

[schwarcw]

Nice stuff Mark! I've always liked the photos of your gear here and at AK. The RT-909 is nice, I have an RT-707 which does not take 10 1/2 inch reels. I also have a TEAC X-2000R and an Otari half track which doesn't see much action. The Teac X-2000 gets a workout!

Check it out!



Carl

[hearingimpared]

Damned show offs!!! GIMME DAT!!!