There is no solid state gear that can touch good tube gear for musicality ....

joeinid said:
Sean,

I am so happy right now that I'm going to explode. The Studio2 sound stunning with the GAT/ART. The heat will be unbearable in the summer but from now until spring, I'll be listening to glorious music. I had a feeling but never knew how good the CJ combo could be.
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I'm smiling ear-to-ear for you, Joe. So happy the combo is more than you expected. CJ has always been something I've wanted to hear.

Any song/album that you playing more than the rest because it just sounds so damn good?
 
NorthStar said:
I'm real glad for you Joe.

* Do you think you can last till next spring (2014)? ;)
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That will be the true test.

SFete said:
I'm smiling ear-to-ear for you, Joe. So happy the combo is more than you expected. CJ has always been something I've wanted to hear.

Any song/album that you playing more than the rest because it just sounds so damn good?
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Sarah McLachlan Surfacing is one that gets a lot of play. Adia, Do what you have to do and Full of Grace are favorites from that album.


 
Hi Joe

I take D'Agostino has now gone since it is no longer in your Sig?

Did you trade in on the cj tubes or sell?

And Yes I agree, tubes have a musicality that is hard to beat. Been playing my Pass / Day combo for a couple of months now. Could be time this week to turn the big cj tubes on.:exciting:

Cheers
 
Hi Shane,

Ah the causalities of war. I was fortunate to have separate deals culminate very close in time. I saw opportunities and took them. I am complete now. :)
 
Joe, I'm so happy for your current sonic bliss....it's great. I've been doing the tube thing (probably owned 50 sets of tube amps) for about 40 years now, along with the SS thing. Agreed that no matter how good SS is and there are some REALLY great sounding SS gear out there, nothing sounds like an all tube system. Once you acclimate to the tube sound then the fun really starts as there are so many variations of "tube sound" and finding the right combination with speakers and the tubes that work just right for you can really deliver long term sonic (like ARC for life) bliss. All tube systems sound pretty good to me. Definitely can't say that all SS systems sound pretty good to me. I must say that once you experience a top quality SET tube system it also can be a platform for sonic bliss. SET's matched with the right (for any particular person) are another great experience along with the high power tube offerings.

The one thing that I have found over the last few years is that the SS offerings have gotten so good especially in the last 5-10 years that personally a really great tube pre with one of the really great sounding SS offerings that are out there actually please me just as much sonically as a full tube (pre/amps) system does. And they are so much easier to live with on day in day out basis....especially in the summer. The tube pre/SS combo is a different sonic presentation, but again for me personally (and I understand all of this is like religion), one of the latest really good tube pre's with one of the latest really good SS amps can also deliver sonic bliss.

Enjoy your CJ system....it is gorgeous and sounds great. Can't wait until you connect it to the CR1's.
 
joeinid said:
OMG!

I have had and still have some awesome solid state gear but nothing, and I mean nothing can touch good tube gear for sweet music. I am blown away by my GAT/ART combo like no other SS gear I've had. I am sorry but that's just my opinion. I am approaching goosebump territory again and the only two other systems to give me goose bumps was VTL MB250's with Alon Circes and McIntosh C500/MC2301 with Strads.

My Studio2's with the GAT/ART is seriously good. :heart:
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Well, when I get a chance to test out the Lampizator Level 4 Gen 4 tube Dac with the darTZeel amps, and EA speakers, I will let you know my subjective opinion. I will be a good comparo against the PBD and the Chord Qute with a BoTWs Linear PSU. I wont likely have the Paul Hynes SR3 LPSU in time, unfortunately.

I think the tubed Dac with its huge sonic weight/density will blend nicely with the slightly warmish SS monoblocs and the rest of the amp line.
 
Bob,

Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughts. I agree with your assessments. I can not go all tube like this in the summer but the rest of the year is no problem. i hope a few us us can make it to see you in the next few weeks. I am eager to hear your gear.

ps. I'll give Michael the TT guy a call when I figure out where I am going to set it up. Thanks for the recommendation!
 
Joe,

Yes Mike is great at what he does, you would enjoy the experience with him.

My D3's are going to be arriving here either today, tomorrow or Wed....not sure yet, but I'm CRAZY with anticipation at the moment. You should wait for several weeks for a visit, until I get at least 250+ hours on them so that you can hear my "toys" in full bloom. I will keep you updated.

I can only imagine how much fun you are going to have as your CJ equipment breaks in. Again, can't wait to hear how it sounds on the CR1's. I think that it will be magic!!!
 
wisnon said:
Well, when I get a chance to test out the Lampizator Level 4 Gen 4 tube Dac with the darTZeel amps, and EA speakers, I will let you know. I will be a good comparo against the PBD and the Chord Qute with a BoTWs Linear PSU. I wont likely have the Paul Hynes SR3 LPSU in time, unfortunately.
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Norman,

I look forward to your findings.

The only other great SS gear I will not part with is my Dartzeel 108. That's a keeper.
 
Well, I don't know about that in the overall sense. I do know that with my Marantz CD player and Paradigm speakers, my system is quite musical! That said though, I do admit that even with my Phonomena II my vinyl does not sound as good as it does on my vintage system, but it is solid state as well. I also know one will never get the warm sound of tubes from solid state circuitry. (Although my Sansui 8080db in my vintage systems comes awfully close). Of course, the only tube gear I have ever heard was a tube phono preamp and it sounded awful. My guess would be it was because it was used with solid state gear? I don't know. So really, I have not heard a tube system to my memory. While I do like the glow of tubes, I don't feel it's safe to be messing around with tubes and such personally. That's just me though.
 
Eric,

If you heard what I was hearing, I think you might change your tune (Ha!). Seriously I don't like the heat and maintenance but I can not give up what I hear now. It's stunning. It's nice to have choices. Sure SS is more convenient but I want music.



MusicDirector said:
Well, I don't know about that in the overall sense. I do know one will never get the warm sound of tubes from solid state circuitry. Of course, the only tube gear I have ever heard was a tube phono preamp and it sounded awful. My guess would be it was because it was used with solid state gear? I don't know. I'm not a fan of tube gear anyway because it's very high maintenance and I don't feel it's safe to be messing around with tubes and such personally. That's just me though.
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joeinid said:
Eric,

If you heard what I was hearing, I think you might change your tune (Ha!). Seriously I don't like the heat and maintenance but I can not give up what I hear now. It's stunning. It's nice to have choices. Sure SS is more convenient but I want music.
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I have no doubt what you hear is fabulous. How can it not be? I used to have the desire to hear some tube set ups, but now days I no longer desire to because it's not something I can even consider for my own use down the road or at any time. (That's not to say I would go out of my way to avoid it of course). Unfortunately, I have to stick with solid state personally for gear and now I wonder if that means I've wasted all my time and money on my system(s)? All I want is music too as everyone knows and I wish I did not need any gear at all to have music actually. I can't have tube gear, not because of the heat (it don't get that hot unless you touch the tubes or something with your bare hands, which you don't want to do even if they are cool anyway). The maintenance and frequent replacement of tubes and such, not to mention the hard to find compatible source gear is just not for me. I could not handle it. My vintage system would be the only system that I could put tube gear in anyway if I could, but my Sansui 8080db has that "tube like sound" as it is even though it's solid state. (Of course it's not true tube which may sound slightly different) ~Eric
 
MusicDirector said:
Well, I don't know about that in the overall sense. I do know that with my Marantz CD player and Paradigm speakers, my system is quite musical! That said though, I do admit that even with my Phonomena II my vinyl does not sound as good as it does on my vintage system, but it is solid state as well. I also know one will never get the warm sound of tubes from solid state circuitry. (Although my Sansui 8080db in my vintage systems comes awfully close). Of course, the only tube gear I have ever heard was a tube phono preamp and it sounded awful. My guess would be it was because it was used with solid state gear? I don't know. So really, I have not heard a tube system to my memory. While I do like the glow of tubes, I don't feel it's safe to be messing around with tubes and such personally. That's just me though.
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Eric, as long as you enjoy music through your system, I wouldn't worry. We all like different things, Joe is just really happy and sharing that with us !!
 
Which reminds me: Joe, do you have a turntable yet? Now that you have the tube gear you have to get a turntable if you don't already have one! Turntables go with tube gear like fish go with water.
 
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