Dennis Had Inspire Amps

[Simonatsea]

I don't see much in the way of selector switch holes. Will this be purely a MM phono stage?

I am excited to hear of further progress,

Good luck!

[Analog Addict]

Originally Posted by Simonatsea

I don't see much in the way of selector switch holes. Will this be purely a MM phono stage?

I am excited to hear of further progress,

Good luck!

That would be my guess. I asked him about including a MC stage and he said something about additional transformers or something, and I don't see any accommodation for that in the current chassis. I will swing by the shop next week with all the parts for my PSE 45, so we will have a listening session as well...

[timeout59]

I now have my system set up to better take advantage of the Inspire KT-88 HO (the one with 20 watt transformers) and LP27a preamp. About two weeks ago bought a pre-owned pair of Tonian Classic 12.1S that use the 12-inch PHY driver along with a Tonian modified ribbon tweeter. I could not be happier with the sound. My previous Magnepan speakers sounded okay but this is much better to my ears.

In the amp I'm using Pope 6V6GT, Psvane CV181 with gray glass and copper colored base, and Brimar 5Z4GY. The stock JJ KT-88, Raytheon 6SN7GT, JJ GZ34 also sound very good to me, but prefer the 6V6GT's I think. In the preamp I have the RCA ST 27's and the 80 rectifier it came with, plus a nice blue glass CV-181 Dennis sent.

I haven't done any serious tube comparisons yet. They all sound so good! But now that I have these speakers looking forward to tuning my new setup and rolling more tubes.

[Rosco65]

Originally Posted by Analog Addict

That would be my guess. I asked him about including a MC stage and he said something about additional transformers or something, and I don't see any accommodation for that in the current chassis. I will swing by the shop next week with all the parts for my PSE 45, so we will have a listening session as well...

As long as there is room for a switch and pair of step up transformers would allow for MC cartridges. Of course, we could also simply use a pair of outboard transformers as well.

[FloridaBoy]

Originally Posted by x3workshop

After the LP-27a warms up, I power up the Inspire amp and wait for 45 seconds before walking away in case I get the "hum of doom". It's loud!

Have you cleaned the tube pins? Scotchbrite does a good job.

[x3workshop]

Originally Posted by FloridaBoy

Have you cleaned the tube pins? Scotchbrite does a good job.

Yes, one of the first things I did. Still no love. It's just the one tube. I'd swap it out, but it is one of the best sounding, quietest (post hum) 56's I have.

[o]

Originally Posted by timeout59

I now have my system set up to better take advantage of the Inspire KT-88 HO (the one with 20 watt transformers) and LP27a preamp. About two weeks ago bought a pre-owned pair of Tonian Classic 12.1S that use the 12-inch PHY driver along with a Tonian modified ribbon tweeter. I could not be happier with the sound. My previous Magnepan speakers sounded okay but this is much better to my ears.

Nice!

[nhparrot]

Been listening to the same tube combo for a while in my Inspire amp so I thought I would switch things up. Rolled out the Pope 6v6's, Raytheon VT-231 and RCA 5U4G for a pair of Genelex KT77's, a Tungsol VT-229 and a Mullard "Fat Base" 5AR4.

[Bombadil]

I haven't tried a 6SL7 / VT-229 in mine yet. I own 4 (two 6SL7, a 5691 and a VT-229) but I know the amp is less linear with that tube and I've always been partial towards using the tubes that the amp was designed for. I know that Dennis has stated that it works, but it does change the sonic signature of the amp.

Maybe I'll stick one in at some point.

[Bombadil]

Power Tubes now "In The House"

5 pair of old stock 6V6GT
old stock (1950s?) Tung-sol 5881
1970s Russian 6P3S-e
1950s GE 6L6GC
new Genalex KT-66
1960s Fat Boy Sylvania 6CA7
1980s EI 6CA7/EL34
new JJ KT-77
new Genalex KT-88
new Tung-sol KT-120

Would like to have a pair of 6550s, shame to be missing such a classic tube, but the KT88 and KT120 are from the same family. Would like to hear the new Genalex KT-77 too, Dennis is the only person I know who likes the new JJ over the Genalex.

My tube shoot-out may take the better part of a week to complete.

I've already listened to all of them for at least a few hours. They all sound good in this amp.

I've decided to use my Westinghouse 6SN7 throughout all of the tests, as I've already compared various 6SN7s with multiple power tubes and I've liked it the best in every instance. I will be varying rectifier tubes, as I feel some of the power tubes have an affinity with certain rectifier types. I don't hear any difference between rectifier tubes of the same type, so I won't be worrying about that, I'll just be going with my fav GZ34, 5U4GB, and 5V4GA.