Bigman80
Grandmaster
The HiFi Bear/Audioaddicts/Bigbottle Owner
Posts: 16,398
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Post by Bigman80 on Oct 21, 2021 6:13:33 GMT
Strangely enough I've just ordered something from Amazon, the first time in over a year. There are a couple of companies which do it, I go through someone who has a relation in the States, he orders stuff and sends to Cambodia, although it does cost more than the prices quoted on Amazon, it is cheaper than the shipping costs quoted by Amazon. Takes roughly 4 weeks to get here, so not exactly Prime. Do I fancy doing it myself, no, but I have ordered a syringe from Amazon, only to see afterwards I could get a plastic one from AliExpress cheaper Fingers crossed mate. This is a nightmare situation for folk with our love of music. Need mine doing but had to cancel my appointment for microsuction due to work. I will rebook soon and would highly recommend it, if you can find someone locally to do it. |
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Post by antonio on Dec 1, 2021 3:57:48 GMT
Latest news on my ears, they do seem to have improved, especially later on in the day, I was even able to listen to Alison Krauss  My amp has 4 KT88's installed, I know two of them must be near to packing up since they hardly glow and I was unable to get the right bias setting for them, the bias adjuster would not turn anymore. Well last night I was listening and one of them started to 'flash', well at least stop glowing and then come back slightly to life so I switched off the amp and I will re insert my Topping amp tomorrow, I'm playing on the safe side here because I don't know anyone to repair the amp should anything happen. Well I pressed the trigger on these www.vivatubes.com/new-matched-quad-4-sovtek-6550we-vacuum-tubes/ they're in the sale and I thought the price looked good even though there is a $31 shipping charge. When I come to install them my thinking was to turn down the bias to zero on each tube, then turn the adjusted a little bit and let the amp warm up before actually setting the correct bias, would that be correct? Also should I set the bias as per my KT88's? Thanks in advance. |
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Post by antonio on Dec 2, 2021 0:54:57 GMT
*When I come to install them my thinking was to turn down the bias to zero on each tube, then turn the adjusted a little bit and let the amp warm up before actually setting the correct bias, would that be correct? Also should I set the bias as per my KT88's? Thanks in advance"
Anyone therrrrrre
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Post by firebottle on Dec 2, 2021 7:36:53 GMT
Hi Dave, yes to both counts.
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Post by antonio on Dec 2, 2021 8:18:23 GMT
A big thanks Alan, I thought I must have upset a few tube users on here |
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Post by antonio on Dec 3, 2021 5:21:08 GMT
Well I've reinstated my Topping PA3 amp, it's ok but not as good as the RFTLYS A2, doesn't have the drive and tonal quality, but listenable. I am really impressed with my Mark Audio Cesti MBR's though, easy to position and they sound wonderful to me, anyone thinking of a small pair, especially for a 2nd system should definitely try and get a listen. If I want to use headphones, haven't done that much lately, it means unpacking my NVA headphone amp, since I've been using the one in the A2
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Post by antonio on Jan 11, 2022 16:02:30 GMT
Well I had a problem with my amp, one of the new 6550 tubes was glowing bright red, swopped a couple of tubes over and the one glowing bright red was in the same position so I knew it was an amp fault. Upon looking inside, one of the resistors had turned a brownish colour instead of the usual grey, have found someone to have a look at the amp, he deals mainly with guitars but knows a bit about valve amplification as well. Took the amp to him yesterday and he thinks I've just shorted it when biasing the new valves, the probe did just slip off the pin which I use to check the bias. What a small world it is, the chap comes from Hull, just across the river Humber from Grimsby, and he said he'd get is sorted this week. I've been looking forward to hearing the 6550's, especially since I heard about 10 seconds of music before switching the amp off, and it sounded pretty good. Also yesterday, booked my return flight back to the uk, leaving on the 9/3 and arriving on the 10/3, 23hr and 5mins travelling time.  Hoping the English weather will have improved by the time I get back. |
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Post by brian2957 on Jan 11, 2022 16:32:40 GMT
How long have you been away Dave ?
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Post by antonio on Jan 12, 2022 0:18:49 GMT
As of now 18 months, only two more months to go  |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2022 8:46:53 GMT
I have not been back to the U.K. for 26 months now.
It has been too long, but every time I book a trip, restrictions get put in place and I am unable to travel.
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Post by antonio on Jan 12, 2022 9:09:52 GMT
Seriously don't think you are missing too much in the uk, I guess it's family for you Kevin, my family consists of one brother who is also retired.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2022 10:07:45 GMT
Yes, family and friends.
The parents are not getting any younger, and my daughter misses seeing them.
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Post by brian2957 on Jan 12, 2022 10:08:31 GMT
Long time to be away. TBH if I was younger I wouldn't be in the UK much either  Maybe in an Independent Scotland yes, but not in the UK as it stands  |
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Post by macca on Jan 12, 2022 11:24:42 GMT
My father travelled all over the world on business (including China and the then Soviet bloc). He would always say 'We don't know how lucky we are to live in this country.'
He was absolutely right.
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Post by antonio on Jan 12, 2022 12:31:29 GMT
I'll change that a little Macca and say "we don't know how lucky we were to have been BORN in the uk"
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Post by macca on Jan 12, 2022 12:51:30 GMT
My father wasn't... But yes, if I had the money I'd live in the Caribbean. |
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Post by antonio on Jan 14, 2022 8:53:08 GMT
Just seen your last post Macca, wouldn't disagree with the Caribbean although I've never been there, would have liked to have gone to Cuba. Putting up with the cold, the days not even getting light ain't for me. I'm sorry to say it but the country has changed dramatically for the worse over the last 20 years imo. Is it me just becoming a grumpy old man? I don't think so.
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Post by macca on Jan 14, 2022 10:12:27 GMT
really it's only the winter here I object to, in all other respects I'm pretty much fine with living here.
I wouldn't mind living in the USA either as long as it was in the part that is warm all year round. In the past the amount of advert breaks on their telly would have put me off but that's no longer an issue.
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Post by lurch on Jan 15, 2022 14:47:46 GMT
Yep Yank TV annoyed the hell out of me when I visited a mate living in Florida. Having now not owned a telly for 5 years it wouldn't bother me as doubt I will ever own one again. My father summed up telly perfectly years ago, calling it "The idiots lantern".
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Post by macca on Jan 15, 2022 16:50:24 GMT
I lived without telly for a few years but I was young and had a lot going on.
Almost all my viewing is programmes from the 1960s and 1970s though. Not the modern rubbish.
Plus I like to watch a film once in a while.
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Post by antonio on Jan 15, 2022 17:10:31 GMT
I don't have a tv here either, my brother watches a fair bit of sport, and detective drama's, but it's come close to having half a brick thrown at it with all the shite that's broadcast nowadays.
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Post by antonio on Jan 16, 2022 3:16:26 GMT
I have now put a few hours on the 6550's and to say I am delighted is an understatement, the sound has just got so much 'bigger'. The bass has a real fullness, and I had thought previously using the KT88's the treble could sound slightly hard at times, even before my ear problem, it's gone now  All the good things I read about the 6550's seem to be true, have I been influenced by what I've read, I don't know and don't care, very happy with my purchase. I will add, when first trying the amp I put on my VanDamme Blue speaker cables, they are easier to fit, but yesterday having more time I changed them to my diy OCC cable, the difference is huge, I hadn't realised before how much of a difference they made. www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003630712610.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.436870c1osPFOy&algo_pvid=4469e1f7-0c88-48e5-8d7d-0feaff742069&algo_exp_id=4469e1f7-0c88-48e5-8d7d-0feaff742069-3&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22sku_id%22%3A%2212000026573820284%22%7D&pdp_pi=-1%3B60.06%3B-1%3BUSD+3.65%40salePrice%3BUSD%3Bsearch-mainSearchwww.aliexpress.com/item/32904675216.html?spm=a2g0o.9042311.0.0.27424c4ddTPniRShould have added, I learnt something when picking up the amp, he biased the amp while I was there, using crocodile clips on the ends of his probe, I've been using the probe and just touching the pin, why didn't I think of that, so much easier. |
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Post by antonio on Jan 21, 2022 16:59:17 GMT
Bloody amp is doing the same thing again, power tube number two started glowing red again this morning, going to take it back to the repairers when I have time, and just when it was sounding so good.
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Post by robbiegong on Jan 21, 2022 17:09:00 GMT
Bloody amp is doing the same thing again, power tube number two started glowing red again this morning, going to take it back to the repairers when I have time, and just when it was sounding so good. Thats blinkin frustrating. Things going wrong with kit is a right PITA |
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Post by macca on Jan 22, 2022 9:06:52 GMT
There's nothing worse and it never happens when tweaking or trying new stuff, always when you just want to sit down and just listen to some music.
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Post by jandl100 on Jan 22, 2022 12:42:40 GMT
That's a bummer.  |
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Post by antonio on Jan 22, 2022 12:45:35 GMT
Too right Macca, I was sitting at my laptop, busy causing a nuisance on the net, looked up and there she was glowing away, had to then switch off and convert to listening from YouTube through a Anker Soundcore Flare Mini.
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Post by macca on Jan 22, 2022 13:03:13 GMT
had to then switch off and convert to listening from YouTube through a Anker Soundcore Flare Mini.I've no idea what that is but I'm guessing it's bad. |
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Post by jandl100 on Jan 22, 2022 13:30:08 GMT
I think Dave just made up a random 4 word name. |
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Post by antonio on Jan 22, 2022 13:32:20 GMT
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Hoping the English weather will have improved by the time I get back.
All the good things I read about the 6550's seem to be true, have I been influenced by what I've read, I don't know and don't care, very happy with my purchase.
