Audio Innovations Classic 25 visiting the system.

[prime minister]

Glad it has found a loving home!

It's quite an astonishing piece of equipment. My tech, who pretty well likes nothing, found nothing to dislike about it. As it sits now, Its about as perfectly implemented example of a class A Williamson circuit as you will find. Plus it sounds fantastic.

 

[fiddlefye]

It's quite an astonishing piece of equipment. My tech, who pretty well likes nothing, found nothing to dislike about it. As it sits now, Its about as perfectly implemented example of a class A Williamson circuit as you will find. Plus it sounds fantastic.

Speaking of Williamson... one of these days I will do a rebuild on Williamson circuit my father built in the 40s. All war-surplus stuff, still the original tubes, oil caps etc. He designed the power supply himself, basically a big variac - weighs about 80 lbs due to the size of the transformers he had access to.

I'm sure your little fella is going to be just what you need.

 

[prime minister]

It's the 7 1/2 month anniversary, more or less, so I thought a follow-up was due. It's still here. A little tube rolling with some NOS tubes made it sing even prettier. It just a lovely sounding amp, and an absolute screaming deal.

I do take back my comments on it not heating the room. I must have been high when I said that.

 

[Opa1]

I do take back my comments on it not heating the room. I must have been high when I said that.[/QUOTE]

That's ok. Winters coming soon!

 

[David]

It's the 7 1/2 month anniversary, more or less, so I thought a follow-up was due. It's still here. A little tube rolling with some NOS tubes made it sing even prettier. It just a lovely sounding amp, and an absolute screaming deal.

I do take back my comments on it not heating the room. I must have been high when I said that.

Canucks can legally claim to be high eh......

 

[fiddlefye]

It's the 7 1/2 month anniversary, more or less, so I thought a follow-up was due. It's still here. A little tube rolling with some NOS tubes made it sing even prettier. It just a lovely sounding amp, and an absolute screaming deal.

I do take back my comments on it not heating the room. I must have been high when I said that.

I love it when someone says they've found something they really like and are happy! Seems to be so seldom....

 

[prime minister]

Canucks can legally claim to be high eh......

Not yet! A couple more months.

 

[prime minister]

I love it when someone says they've found something they really like and are happy! Seems to be so seldom....

Other then heat related issues, I really don't know how I could improve upon this little guy. It's just a brilliant little amp.

 

[airdronian]

It's the 7 1/2 month anniversary, more or less, so I thought a follow-up was due. It's still here. A little tube rolling with some NOS tubes made it sing even prettier. It just a lovely sounding amp, and an absolute screaming deal.

I do take back my comments on it not heating the room. I must have been high when I said that.

What is the tube complement these days ?

 

[fiddlefye]

Other then heat related issues, I really don't know how I could improve upon this little guy. It's just a brilliant little amp.

I really get the heat thing. With my system as it is now I'm just running a total of four 12AX7s and it is fine. The winter set up has 14 tubes, four of them output. Big difference in heat, not as much difference in sound as one would expect, though.

 

[prime minister]

What is the tube complement these days ?

I replaced the Mullard 12AX7's with 1960 vintage, Lafayette branded Amperex, with large O getters.

The 5881's are Sylvania.

That swap really transformed the amp. It always sounded nice, but the Mullard 12AX7's were a bit stiff. Swapping in the Amperex/ Sylvania combo really added some light and life to it. Best tube rolling I've ever done.

Go figure, that some of the best, $200 a pop, Mullards now sit, collecting dust.

 

[prime minister]

 

[prime minister]

 

[prime minister]

One of the nicest improvements of the Sylvanias. The glow really pretty!

 

[airdronian]

Very nice.

 

[TubeHiFiNut]

Go figure, that some of the best, $200 a pop, Mullards now sit, collecting dust.

Surprising how often things like this can happen.

 

[prime minister]

Surprising how often things like this can happen.

Those Mullards are genuinely great tubes. Just not in this setup, at this point

 

[TubeHiFiNut]

Those Mullards are genuinely great tubes. Just not in this setup, at this point

Exactly. Nothing can be the panacea for every situation.

 

[fiddlefye]

View attachment 7465

Whole bunch o' purty stuff in there!

I've come to the conclusion that there just is no hard and fast when it comes to what tube make works where. Even when you find some good recommendations it can then depend on how that piece of gear fits in a chain. When you do finally find what you like they suddenly become thin on the ground - of course.....

 

[prime minister]

Whole bunch o' purty stuff in there!

I've come to the conclusion that there just is no hard and fast when it comes to what tube make works where. Even when you find some good recommendations it can then depend on how that piece of gear fits in a chain. When you do finally find what you like they suddenly become thin on the ground - of course.....

Yeah, tube rolling is all kind of a best guess thing. Experience can help narrow it down some, but you still don't know what will happen until you plug it in.

This hobby can drive you nuts...