Joel Cairo
05-15-2002, 11:35 PM
Well, I just had to post a few of my first impressions upon joining the tube generation.
First off, let me say that I was cheating tonight-- since others were at home, I was listening at low level, and actually hit the loudness circuit to compensate for the lack of volume. I'll do some straight (uncolored) listening tomorrow.
I like the sound a lot, but I have to say that the frequency balance of the output is **much** different than what I've been accustomed to with my H-K sand amp... and at first, I didn't quite know what to think. It's a darker sound, with what started out as a sort of a bulge in the bass and midrange. A very "throw-y" type of sound, not unlike an old-style juke box... FYI: the components are stock, and tube complement is four OS Amperexes in the ST-70, and four OS Telefunken 12AX7s in the PAS-2.
I resisted the urge to play with the bass and tone controls and just let the music play for an hour or two. And strangely enough, as the music played on, either I grew accustomed to the tonal balance, or the system began to break in, because things started sounding much more "right" to my ears as time went on. Particularly when I had "Let Me Roll It" going, and the guitar riff started up... **very** much like a real guitar tone!!! There was still less treble than I was used to hearing, but of course, there was no sense of listening fatigue, either.
I don't feel that I was necessarily missing audio info, but I am aware that there was a definite roll-off of the "higher" highs. And of course, everything had a wonderfully smooth texture to it... I particularly enjoyed the S&P "Judy in Love" disc-- nice job, Steve!!!
Anyway, these are my first thoughts... I'm sure as the system breaks in, and the tube rolling begins, I'll have more to say, but for now, I do want to repeat my "Thanks" to everyone who helped out and encouraged me to make the change-- I know that I'm going to enjoy this old but new-found sound for a **long** time!!!
(And Steve-- a special "Thanks" to you, for giving me the biggest incentive to change-- the opportunity to hear this music the same way **you** do... now I know why you love your work!! In fact, I'll make you a deal-- you keep crankin' out new stuff, and I'll keep buying it, okay??) :D
-Kevin
First off, let me say that I was cheating tonight-- since others were at home, I was listening at low level, and actually hit the loudness circuit to compensate for the lack of volume. I'll do some straight (uncolored) listening tomorrow.
I like the sound a lot, but I have to say that the frequency balance of the output is **much** different than what I've been accustomed to with my H-K sand amp... and at first, I didn't quite know what to think. It's a darker sound, with what started out as a sort of a bulge in the bass and midrange. A very "throw-y" type of sound, not unlike an old-style juke box... FYI: the components are stock, and tube complement is four OS Amperexes in the ST-70, and four OS Telefunken 12AX7s in the PAS-2.
I resisted the urge to play with the bass and tone controls and just let the music play for an hour or two. And strangely enough, as the music played on, either I grew accustomed to the tonal balance, or the system began to break in, because things started sounding much more "right" to my ears as time went on. Particularly when I had "Let Me Roll It" going, and the guitar riff started up... **very** much like a real guitar tone!!! There was still less treble than I was used to hearing, but of course, there was no sense of listening fatigue, either.
I don't feel that I was necessarily missing audio info, but I am aware that there was a definite roll-off of the "higher" highs. And of course, everything had a wonderfully smooth texture to it... I particularly enjoyed the S&P "Judy in Love" disc-- nice job, Steve!!!
Anyway, these are my first thoughts... I'm sure as the system breaks in, and the tube rolling begins, I'll have more to say, but for now, I do want to repeat my "Thanks" to everyone who helped out and encouraged me to make the change-- I know that I'm going to enjoy this old but new-found sound for a **long** time!!!
(And Steve-- a special "Thanks" to you, for giving me the biggest incentive to change-- the opportunity to hear this music the same way **you** do... now I know why you love your work!! In fact, I'll make you a deal-- you keep crankin' out new stuff, and I'll keep buying it, okay??) :D
-Kevin