Dennis Had Inspire Amps

[Musica Amantem]

FloridaBoy also has the LP-27a. FWIW, I really like it and the 27 / 56 tubes are not expensive (while these last), but I have never heard the LP-2, so I can't comment on their sonic differences. Currently I only use it with the 80 rectifier, but I was wondering if I could replace that with the SE 274-B Mesh Plate?

[FloridaBoy]

Originally Posted by Musica Amantem

FloridaBoy also has the LP-27a. FWIW, I really like it and the 27 / 56 tubes are not expensive (while these last), but I have never heard the LP-2, so I can't comment on their sonic differences. Currently I only use it with the 80 rectifier, but I was wondering if I could replace that with the SE 274-B Mesh Plate?

No, stay with the 80 in the pre amp.

[Simmer]

First, a little history because I think it helps to understand the progression someone has made.

Around 2006, I had an excellent sales rep at my local hi-fi shop bestow his very-new-to-him knowledge of turntables and vinyl. From the first needle drop, I knew that getting off the CD/SACD/HiRez bandwagon was in the cards for me.

So, I picked up a turntable and started down the path of putting valves everywhere in the signal chain, because well... they just go together.

My first purchases were a Project RM 9.1 w/ a Sumiko Blackbird cart, Sonic Frontiers Line 2 SE, a Cary V12 (retubed with EH KT88s, and NOS EL84 and 6922), and a Project Tube Box SE matched to a pair of Vienna Acoustic Beethoven's. This was a huge leap in high fidelity from what I had before and I sat happy for a few years and racked up thousands of hours of great listening time, and grew my LP collection considerably.

Around 2010 or so, I thought I would try a better phono stage and I picked up a used Decware ZP3. Another big leap in transparency and dynamics!

While the Beethoven's were decent speakers, everything in the reviews is absolutely true about many in the Vienna line. The presence region is very recessed and although pleasant to listen to, not a lot of dynamics / emotion get through.

In 2012, I stumbled upon a pair of Cain & Cain Single Horn BENs that were 2 miles from my house. Knowing the rarity of these speakers, the proximity given their size and weight, I decided to roll the dice and pick them up. The guy I bought them from was running them in a small cluttered basement and quite frankly they sounded terrible and I was nervous I was making a mistake, but I went ahead with the purchase anyway.

Upon getting them home, wired in, and adjusting placement, I was immediately impressed with their timbre and dynamics with a sacrifice in imaging. My room is probably borderline too small at 17x25x8, but I've tried to set them up with decent space around them. Having the read the Stereo Mojo review many times, I had a good suspicion that the V12 was holding me back, but I wasn't sure and I didn't have a good handle on where I wanted to go next.

Fast forward to last month, and I stumbled onto Dennis' newest creations! I nearly jumped on the new KT88 amp that was on ebay in mid-Dec, but hemmed and hawed and next thing I knew it was sold. After kicking myself a bit for stalling, I kept checking to see what would go up next. After the New Year, I saw that he posted the 6V6 amp, and given I had zero experience with 6V6's, I again took pause...... and then quickly decided what the hell and clicked BUY IT NOW.

I've been doing a lot of listening the last few weeks (giving it plenty of burn-in time), and I must say I am so ridiculously overjoyed with the results. The synergy I have now is just off the charts compared to where I was at when I started this journey. Good recordings just sound so organic and alive. I've run the gamut with genre's from 60's - 2000's rock, to male and female vocalists, to classical, big band, etc. Everything is just really engaging. Bridge Over Trouble Waters brought me to tears it sounded so amazing.

I cannot believe how much incredible sound pours out of 5 watts!! Granted, the BENs are a very efficient 97-98db, but 5 watts just sounds so.... little!

One big improvement is in the tuneful bass I am hearing. It's not deep (the BEN's don't do deep bass), but the bass that is there is excellent.

So after all of that, I am so glad to be a part of Dennis' latest community and I can't say enough about the synergy I'm getting with this amp.

-Jeff

[nhparrot]

Welcome aboard Jeff (aka Simmer)

[pstrisik]

Welcome Jeff!

How about a photo of your new jewel? What tubes are you running?

[Simmer]

Originally Posted by pstrisik

Welcome Jeff!

How about a photo of your new jewel? What tubes are you running?

Dennis bundled a pair of Gold Lion 6V6's, both a new Russian 6N1P and a NOS Amperex PQ, and... the rectifier tube, I don't recall, but I believe it is NOS.

Right now I have been using the Amperex PQ.

-Jeff

[Masterlu]

Simmer... Welcome to AA!

[BearCityUSA]

Originally Posted by Simmer

First, a little history because I think it helps to understand the progression someone has made. Around 2006, I had an excellent sales rep at my local hi-fi shop bestow his very-new-to-him knowledge of turntables and vinyl. From the first needle drop, I knew that getting off the CD/SACD/HiRez bandwagon was in the cards for me. So, I picked up a turntable and started down the path of putting valves everywhere in the signal chain, because well... they just go together. My first purchases were a Project RM 9.1 w/ a Sumiko Blackbird cart, Sonic Frontiers Line 2 SE, a Cary V12 (retubed with EH KT88s, and NOS EL84 and 6922), and a Project Tube Box SE matched to a pair of Vienna Acoustic Beethoven's. This was a huge leap in high fidelity from what I had before and I sat happy for a few years and racked up thousands of hours of great listening time, and grew my LP collection considerably. Around 2010 or so, I thought I would try a better phono stage and I picked up a used Decware ZP3. Another big leap in transparency and dynamics! While the Beethoven's were decent speakers, everything in the reviews is absolutely true about many in the Vienna line. The presence region is very recessed and although pleasant to listen to, not a lot of dynamics / emotion get through. In 2012, I stumbled upon a pair of Cain & Cain Single Horn BENs that were 2 miles from my house. Knowing the rarity of these speakers, the proximity given their size and weight, I decided to roll the dice and pick them up. The guy I bought them from was running them in a small cluttered basement and quite frankly they sounded terrible and I was nervous I was making a mistake, but I went ahead with the purchase anyway. Upon getting them home, wired in, and adjusting placement, I was immediately impressed with their timbre and dynamics with a sacrifice in imaging. My room is probably borderline too small at 17x25x8, but I've tried to set them up with decent space around them. Having the read the Stereo Mojo review many times, I had a good suspicion that the V12 was holding me back, but I wasn't sure and I didn't have a good handle on where I wanted to go next. Fast forward to last month, and I stumbled onto Dennis' newest creations! I nearly jumped on the new KT88 amp that was on ebay in mid-Dec, but hemmed and hawed and next thing I knew it was sold. After kicking myself a bit for stalling, I kept checking to see what would go up next. After the New Year, I saw that he posted the 6V6 amp, and given I had zero experience with 6V6's, I again took pause...... and then quickly decided what the hell and clicked BUY IT NOW. I've been doing a lot of listening the last few weeks (giving it plenty of burn-in time), and I must say I am so ridiculously overjoyed with the results. The synergy I have now is just off the charts compared to where I was at when I started this journey. Good recordings just sound so organic and alive. I've run the gamut with genre's from 60's - 2000's rock, to male and female vocalists, to classical, big band, etc. Everything is just really engaging. Bridge Over Trouble Waters brought me to tears it sounded so amazing. I cannot believe how much incredible sound pours out of 5 watts!! Granted, the BENs are a very efficient 97-98db, but 5 watts just sounds so.... little! One big improvement is in the tuneful bass I am hearing. It's not deep (the BEN's don't do deep bass), but the bass that is there is excellent. So after all of that, I am so glad to be a part of Dennis' latest community and I can't say enough about the synergy I'm getting with this amp. -Jeff

Cary V12 and Vienna Acoustics? That sounds like Audio Inc in WNC. Am I Close?

Welcome Jeff.

[pstrisik]

Originally Posted by Simmer

Dennis bundled a pair of Gold Lion 6V6's, both a new Russian 6N1P and a NOS Amperex PQ, and... the rectifier tube, I don't recall, but I believe it is NOS.

Right now I have been using the Amperex PQ.

-Jeff

Let the rolling begin!


.

[Simmer]

Originally Posted by BearCityUSA

Cary V12 and Vienna Acoustics? That sounds like Audio Inc in WNC. Am I Close?

Welcome Jeff.

No, these were all Audiogon used purchases.

Thanks everyone for the welcome!

As far as tube rolling goes, Dennis didn't mention anything in the ebay ad that this one would accept other tubes (like I've seen w/ the KT88 amps for example), although I think I gleaned from another post that it might accept KT66s and the like? I'm not an electrical engineer, so I get a little lost when the discussion turns to plate voltages and different rectifiers for different drivers, etc. So, I'm open to an education on what might be possible!

Thanks,
Jeff