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Post by bub on Apr 13, 2015 10:40:58 GMT -5
I just installed a pair of Bob Latino M-125 Mono's. My listening time has gone up appreciably . . This is my first attempt with tubes and I couldn't be happier. It's hard to describe without making it sound embellished . Soundstage is beyond the speakers. Imaging is stable. Add in 3d and I've become a believer. I had my ear two inches from my woofer and had to concentrate to pick up the very slightest hint of anything. It was so slight I still don't know ( or care ) if it was hiss or hum .
SS is good. Very good. And has its place. Tubes are unbelievable .
I hope Emotiva is listening. I waited a year and finally pulled the trigger after last podcast. I was pushing 850 Emo watts into 4ohm speakers at 60 on my pre. Now im very happy at 28. All other components , cables , placement are the same.
There's a whole nother demographic out there looking for that something that is missing with SS ..
I know Emotiva made their bones with SS. Might be time to expand your borders.
In the meanwhile I'll just sit here and listen while they break in.
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Post by jmasterj on Apr 13, 2015 11:32:52 GMT -5
Congrats on your tube mono blocks. Glad to hear you're enjoying them. I started off with a tube buffer back in 2002, now all three of my system configurations have tubes. snacker heard my BADA-222 hybrid tube integrated amp first and he liked it. Then I got my Yaqin MC-30L and he liked it even more. Then I got my Xiang Sheng 728A tube preamp to go with my XPA-100 mono blocks. snacker decided to take the leap and now he has two MC-30L's. He is planning get into tube rolling so I'm looking forward to that. Are you planning to tube roll? To date the only rolling I've done was just to upgrade from the stock tubes. Keep us posted.
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Post by pedrocols on Apr 13, 2015 11:46:46 GMT -5
Where are the pics of the magnificent glow....  |
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TubesRUs
Apr 13, 2015 12:34:42 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by bub on Apr 13, 2015 12:34:42 GMT -5
Congrats on your tube mono blocks. Glad to hear you're enjoying them. I started off with a tube buffer back in 2002, now all three of my system configurations have tubes. snacker heard my BADA-222 hybrid tube integrated amp first and he liked it. Then I got my Yaqin MC-30L and he liked it even more. Then I got my Xiang Sheng 728A tube preamp togo with my XPA-100 mono blocks. snacker decided to take the leap and now he has two MC-30L's. He is planning get into tube rolling so I'm looking forward to that. Are you planning to tube roll? To date the only rolling I've done was just to upgrade from the stock tubes. Keep us posted. Thanks Right now I'm running with 2 - kt88's So pretty much half power. The m-125's are made to run with either 2 or 4 output (?) tubes. I already ordered spare rectifier and output tubes from Tube Depot. Going forward I assume I'll roll. The designer of this amp ( Bob Latino ) recommends these particular tubes . And speaking of Bob. I've never waited more then 5 minutes to get a response to my e-mail's. He forwarded me his number after my first e-mail and we had a very pleasant conversation for 20 minutes. The guy is available. This was all before I ordered and continues today. I've watched your journey for last couple of years. I'm also interested in setting up additional systems. I spent over an hour with Christina listening. We both made playlists and each took a turn. All the while she was dancing in her seat. She now knows how to turn on and off system. So she is next for a stereo tube amp. |
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Post by bub on Apr 13, 2015 12:36:29 GMT -5
Where are the pics of the magnificent glow.... When the little one gets home. She's my photo grapher They are sweet at night with the lights out. |
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Post by 405x5 on Apr 13, 2015 19:31:14 GMT -5
"Imaging is stable." "Add in 3d and I've become a believer".
Hi, Glad you are enjoying your new equipment... just wondering if you could elaborate on two comments you made here that I'm having trouble figuring out what you mean by them??
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Post by bub on Apr 13, 2015 21:09:31 GMT -5
Hi 405x5
I can try. By 3d I mean depth. Prior everything was on a plane between the speakers. A straight line. Now there's much more soundstage ( width) plus 3d (depth)
Now to imaging. I can pinpoint exactly where an instrument or vocals are coming from. Before they seemed to move about. Sometimes just a little. Now they are stable throughout the track. And I can put my finger on exactly where they are ..
I had a difficult time understanding or believing. So I went back and forth between my SS amp and tubes on the same tracks. Repeatedly.
The first night I asked my little one (14) to come listen and tell me if she can hear a difference. Two seconds into the first track with tubes she told me they sounded the same. To me it meant she wanted out of there ( this was right after the same track with SS ) ..I asked her to hang for a while. Within minutes she had full tilt boogie going on while sitting. ..Never happened before. Maybe a little head bop. But that's it. We sat there over an hour taking turns with our playlist. I was convinced earlier but this sealed the deal. There's a musicality with tubes that I've never heard with SS.
Of course YMMV. And this was in my room , with my gear. Etc etc etc . But I would strongly recommend listening to tubes if you haven't yet.
That's one reason I urged the guys back in Franklin to step up to the plate ..Theres a whole old world of technology that needs to see the light of the 21st century.
The guys at Emotiva are certainly capable. Now are they willing ?
I hope that helped.
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Post by garbulky on Apr 13, 2015 21:26:37 GMT -5
All that spot on musical enjoyment you are hearing? It's pure distortion!  That's why it sounds soooo good than a distortion free solid state. See how that makes sense? Hehe, sorry, joking aside. I've only heard mainly entry level (audiophile) tube gear and I appreciated what I heard. I could hear that dimensionality in the mid-range, but I think I would need to look towards more expensive options to really understand what it has to offer. Since it's clear that you like tubes you may be tickled pink with the lampizator dac. It's a tube DAC which is unfortunately pricey but appears to bring a whole lot of all those things you listed you liked. I think they introduced the lampizator amber dac recently which is their lowest priced otpion but it still is about $2k. parttimeaudiophile.com/2012/01/03/some-final-thoughts-on-the-lampizator-level-4-dac/ |
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Post by villock on Apr 13, 2015 21:47:14 GMT -5
Great review bub and congrats on the blocks I looked up his website and he is about 20 miles away from where I live in Sturbridge, MA, would love to hear these sometime. And I love to read when people go from SS to tubes and are almost in disbelief at how good tubes sound  The 3d depth and soundstage improvement is exactly what I experienced. And also how more realistic instruments sounded, especially drums. Enjoy your new monos, they are very cool looking and I bet they sound awesome |
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Post by bub on Apr 13, 2015 22:37:37 GMT -5
Thanks villock. Bob is a good guy. We bs'd for a while. Smart guy. Told me he where he went to school . ( grad work at Holy Cross where my god daughter 's sister is right now ) and I told him what prisons I was in . ( too long of a list for here ) ...just a genuinely nice guy ...my understanding is a couple of guys here on the Forum have been to his house and auditioned these amps . Down down to earth..
I listened to Sister Hazel. Album Somewhere More Familiar --- track... Starfish. Great drums to start. And through out ( thank you Andrew. Review of Martin Logan esl 2011)
If your ever in Fl stop by.. Think Mickey. .. Have a listen. Take a bike out for a ride. Life is good
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Post by bub on Apr 13, 2015 22:53:47 GMT -5
Hey Garbulky. Haha. Got me smiling. ...Stereomojo did a 6 DAC Shootout .. Lampizator ( the $5000 model ) came in first. My Anedio D2 came in 3rd..yes I would like a listen. But for today I feel I'm at end game ..Unless I come into some money. Thank you sir. For lending me your expertise. Again. And again. .
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Post by audiobill on Apr 14, 2015 5:23:12 GMT -5
Reading Bub's impressions, I agree it's the reality of the presentation with a quality tube amp tube that impresses.
That's quality, not the bargain basement stuff.
Forget specs, "distortion", ear destroying volume, ad nauseum. Leave all that for others.
Just sit and stare, with dropped jaw, at the near visual musical presentation laid before you.
A leap of faith for some, but a conversion experience for many!
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Post by villock on Apr 14, 2015 7:27:41 GMT -5
Thanks villock. Bob is a good guy. We bs'd for a while. Smart guy. Told me he where he went to school . ( grad work at Holy Cross where my god daughter 's sister is right now ) and I told him what prisons I was in . ( too long of a list for here ) ...just a genuinely nice guy ...my understanding is a couple of guys here on the Forum have been to his house and auditioned these amps . Down down to earth.. I listened to Sister Hazel. Album Somewhere More Familiar --- track... Starfish. Great drums to start. And through out ( thank you Andrew. Review of Martin Logan esl 2011) If your ever in Fl stop by.. Think Mickey. .. Have a listen. Take a bike out for a ride. Life is good My business is right behind Holy Cross in Worcester. And thanks for the offer, just might pop in and listen to those cool monoblocks Been thinking of going to Disney with my kids before they get too old, I have a 14 year old daughter also and a 12 year old son who would love it And with tubes (and bikes), life is most definitely good |
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Post by pedrocols on Apr 14, 2015 7:55:07 GMT -5
I live in Western Mass and had the chance to listen to these amps at Bob's home. It was not until almost two years later I could afford to get a pair.
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Post by 405x5 on Apr 14, 2015 7:58:09 GMT -5
Hi 405x5 "I had a difficult time understanding or believing". " I went back and forth between my SS amp and tubes on the same tracks. Repeatedly. " This was accomplished with an A/B switchbox with someone assisting you, or how so? Which solid state amps were switched out for the comparison?
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Post by pedrocols on Apr 14, 2015 8:24:14 GMT -5
Hi 405x5 "I had a difficult time understanding or believing". " I went back and forth between my SS amp and tubes on the same tracks. Repeatedly. " This was accomplished with an A/B switchbox with someone assisting you, or how so? Which solid state amps were switched out for the comparison?
I had basically the same experince. I now own a pair of Magnepans mg 1.7 and before I had (well I still have them but they are for sale) a pair of Magnepans mg 12. I have powered them with Acurus,Moscode, Rotel amd Emotiva amps and there is not a need for a A/B switch here. I wish you live closer so you can have a listen and make you also a believer. The music is just sweet. |
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Post by 405x5 on Apr 14, 2015 9:33:52 GMT -5
This was accomplished with an A/B switchbox with someone assisting you, or how so? Which solid state amps were switched out for the comparison?
"I wish you live closer so you can have a listen and make you also a believer" Hi,
This isn't about being a "believer" as you put it. I appreciate the differences between tube and solid state amplification. Certain tube amplifiers do generate a sound that is warm and pleasing. I was literally just asking the A/B question because I wanted to know how the comparison was done, plain and simple. Also, I take it from going back to the first post, It was an Emo. amp. that was replaced with the tube monoblocks.
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Post by audiobill on Apr 14, 2015 9:56:05 GMT -5
The differences in sonic character are so clear that, as Pedrocols says, some sort of scientific "proof" of differences is pointless.
Trust your voltmeter or your ears, in the end it's up to you.
"Warm and pleasing" is damning with faint praise IMO.
Some systems sound good, and others sound real.
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Post by 405x5 on Apr 14, 2015 10:01:44 GMT -5
"scientific "proof" of differences is pointless." Yes indeed! The very foundation of getting sucker punched.
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Post by audiobill on Apr 14, 2015 10:16:26 GMT -5
Could you please clarify?
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That's why it sounds soooo good than a distortion free solid state. See how that makes sense? 
The 3d depth and soundstage improvement is exactly what I experienced. And also how more realistic instruments sounded, especially drums. 
