Totally Tubular: The Tube Thread

Joe Mac said:
Is it on both channels?
Click to expand...
Yeah. Which is why I wasn’t thinking input tubes at first. It does favor one side over the other, but it is audible on both sides.

If I’m going to have to send it to Decware anyway, I’ve half a mind just to resell it and let them repair/recertify it on the way to the next person.
 
kvetcha said:
Yeah. Which is why I wasn’t thinking input tubes at first. It does favor one side over the other, but it is audible on both sides.

If I’m going to have to send it to Decware anyway, I’ve half a mind just to resell it and let them repair/recertify it on the way to the next person.
Click to expand...
I would talk to the previous owner and/or Steve at Decware before you decide. Sorry this isn’t working out the way it should.
 
welp, my father came by and figured it out in five minutes.

@HiFi Guy’s guess was closest: it was the Sonos Port located on the shelf underneath the amplifier. The device’s wifi was causing interference in the Decware’s output tubes.

moved it over a few feet and we are in business.
 
kvetcha said:
welp, my father came by and figured it out in five minutes.

@HiFi Guy’s guess was closest: it was the Sonos Port located on the shelf underneath the amplifier. The device’s wifi was causing interference in the Decware’s output tubes.

moved it over a few feet and we are in business.
Click to expand...

So now that you’re fully firing what are the initial impressions!
 
HiFi Guy said:
We need pics!
Click to expand...

hdu6G8V.jpg

RjU692i.jpg
 
We think we’ve diagnosed an issue with the crossover network in my speakers! The horns don’t appear to be properly attenuated, which is probably the reason I often think my system sounds a little thin. The subwoofer helps recover the lower frequencies, but there is essentially an even dip in response below 400hz, where the horns hand off to the woofer.

The KingKo has a rather rich, meaty midrange that I think helps to counteract this shortcoming in my system, but I imagine if we can get the crossover straightened out, the transparency of the Decware may carry the day.
 
kvetcha said:
We think we’ve diagnosed an issue with the crossover network in my speakers! The horns don’t appear to be properly attenuated, which is probably the reason I often think my system sounds a little thin. The subwoofer helps recover the lower frequencies, but there is essentially an even dip in response below 400hz, where the horns hand off to the woofer.

The KingKo has a rather rich, meaty midrange that I think helps to counteract this shortcoming in my system, but I imagine if we can get the crossover straightened out, the transparency of the Decware may carry the day.
Click to expand...
Is this a design issue with the Forte’s?
 
Jango said:
Is this a design issue with the Forte’s?
Click to expand...
Nope, I replaced the original crossovers a year or two ago and we’re wondering if I missed something, or maybe something on the crossover itself isn’t quite right.

Like, the speakers still sound good, everything above 400hz is just at a slightly higher amplitude so the juicy parts of the midrange and upper bass are a bit more restrained than they should be. I had assumed this was a room issue, but who knows. We’re gonna get his F2s and measure them in the same spots to see.
 
kvetcha said:
Transparent, neutral, effortless. In this room, less warm and lovable than the KingKo, but in absolute terms, a much more accurate amp. Still figuring it out.
Click to expand...
Glad to hear you're getting it all worked out! Yes, I would say that my Decware ZMA doesn't immediately bring that woolly, comforting quality that we sometimes expect from vintage tube equipment, but the depth and accuracy (without shrillness) allows for the opportunity to hear more in the music, IME. Once your ear gets accustomed to the overall sound, I suspect you'll find that most well-recorded albums just sound more "right" than they previously had. Hopefully your crossover troubleshooting will yield some results in that regard as well.

If you decide to keep the Decware, let us know; I have some output tube suggestions that might help you tailor your overall tone one way or the other. These are not necessarily cheap tubes, so no sense in going there unless you're committed to keeping the amp for a while.
 
To some degree, this comparison will be a throwdown between personal ambition (owning a Decware) and the current reality of my setup.

I think if I can get my Fortes straightened out the Decware probably wins it, but the KingKo is awfully tempting as a compact, enjoyable unit with a nice headphone amp built in. It should be fun to compare them directly.
 
kvetcha said:
To some degree, this comparison will be a throwdown between personal ambition (owning a Decware) and the current reality of my setup.

I think if I can get my Fortes straightened out the Decware probably wins it, but the KingKo is awfully tempting as a compact, enjoyable unit with a nice headphone amp built in. It should be fun to compare them directly.
Click to expand...
Have you tried the headphone amp on the Torii yet?
 
kvetcha said:
To some degree, this comparison will be a throwdown between personal ambition (owning a Decware) and the current reality of my setup
Click to expand...
If I'm understanding your meaning, this has been an underlying fear I've had when I bought a couple of my components, esp my Chinook and LTA preamp.

There's the idea of something, and the reality of it. Will it meet the hopes I have, based on certain qualities I really like, some of which are outside its actual performance?

I'd really like to own the Pass Labs XA25 amp some day, and I cant tell you how badly I want it to blow me away. I've never heard it, but I sure do like the idea of it.
 
HiFi Guy said:
What’s the 1/4” jack that looks like a headphone jack? And where are the bias points?
Click to expand...
Bias points are beneath the two 6922 input tubes. The little jack on the front is where the adjustment screw is located.

Splunders said:
If I'm understanding your meaning, this has been an underlying fear I've had when I bought a couple of my components, esp my Chinook and LTA preamp.

There's the idea of something, and the reality of it. Will it meet the hopes I have, based on certain qualities I really like, some of which are outside its actual performance?

I'd really like to own the Pass Labs XA25 amp some day, and I cant tell you how badly I want it to blow me away. I've never heard it, but I sure do like the idea of it.
Click to expand...
Even now I think the Decware sounds genuinely fantastic, but the KingKo does (if I recall) have a more exaggerated, liquid tubiness that was very enjoyable in my current mid-starved system. That, and a very nice headphone amp. Power is a wash since the Decware needs 1.9V to hit rated wattage, but that doesn’t really matter.

The Decware is transparent, detailed, all the things you want in an audiophile amplifier, but it’s also pricier and has a more expensive tube complement. Of course, I can also get a lifetime warranty on it, and no such promises with the KingKo.

It’s basically a less expensive, giant-killing, “fun” amp with questionable long-term reliability vs a beautifully made, admirably clean, neutral, effortless audiophile amp that it may take me some time to really do justice.

I feel like the KingKo fits the system I have now, while the DecWare makes me feel like I need to upgrade to do it justice.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top