Dennis Had Inspire Amps

[FloridaBoy]

Originally Posted by pstrisik

Back when we were trying them (I think Florida Boy introduced them here), Dennis thought they were fine to run in the SEP amps. He even designed an amp around the tube. (edit: here it is along with his comments..... https://www.audioaficionado.org/show...081#post718081)

I remember being very impressed with them. But memory fades. Keep trying new tubes, on and on... . There are many combos that are great, though different from each other.

Guilty as charged. They sounded quite good in the beginning but... I don't recall if I used a 5Y3 with them.

[Musica Amantem]

Analog Addict wrote: "Dennis' PSE with 6V6s, A just completed SET(P) with KT-77s, and Tony's SEP with EL34's. We switched Tony's from pentode to strapped triode, and made a big improvement to my ears. Also changed the KT-77s out for KT88s on the middle unit".

Even though I've never listened to an Inspire SEP, I have one from another manufacturer. The difference between my Triode-strapped Inspire and the SEP is quite evident when running any mid to large Pentodes or Kink-Tetrodes. I allocate an important portion of those improvements to the Triode configuration, as the other manufacturer is no slouch.

You guys may remember me ranting about the EL34 being probably the most capable of tapping all the potential of Pentodes strapped as Triodes given their internal structure. So, I'm not surprised you found switching EL34's to a Triode configuration made evident improvements. Now, I'm wondering if ...

[Formerly YB-2]

Anyone over here interested in a quad of Stromberg-Carlson labelled 7408s? Think they were made by GE. Not sure how I ended up with them, but have no use in either of my current amps.

Couldn't agree more on folks take on triode vs ultralinear. Both of my current amps (Cary SLI-80 & CJ Classic Sixty SE) sound best in triode. The Cary with GL KT88s and the CJ with GL KT77s are the best to my ears.

[BearCityUSA]

Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2

Anyone over here interested in a quad of Stromberg-Carlson labelled 7408s? Think they were made by GE. Not sure how I ended up with them, but have no use in either of my current amps.

Couldn't agree more on folks take on triode vs ultralinear. Both of my current amps (Cary SLI-80 & CJ Classic Sixty SE) sound best in triode. The Cary with GL KT88s and the CJ with GL KT77s are the best to my ears.

Pm sent

[x3workshop]

Hi Guys. Been away for awhile. New project has me against the wall till April.

Just wanted to comment on the 6AR6 discussion. I tried them in both 6AR6 and 6098 iterations. I thought they sounded quite terrible in my setup and gave them away. No question. To my ears they were the worst of any tube I'd tried in my Inspire SET(P)

[GeAllan70]

^^^

[david45]

Originally Posted by CoGT3

BTW: my electronic waving of Benjamins got a quick response. As I said earlier with the chassis pics "something wicked this way comes". Somebody is going to be able to pick up a lightly used PSE and slightly more used 45 SET in the future.

popcorn time and see how the movie plays out.

Any update on this? It's between a 45 PSE for me or a triode-strapped PSE depending on what is made available for sale and if it is possible to demo one or the other at some point in time.

Have you heard from Dennis in the last few weeks? Is there still some kind of hangup with his chassis supplier?

[Musica Amantem]

Originally Posted by Musica Amantem

Oh, I agree, I was just explaining what my experiences have been ... I would probably tell the difference only between mesh plate and rigid plate on the same rectifier.

Update: Well, apparently even this presumably evident difference between mesh and rigid plates in the 274B is hard to identify ... So far, I have been using the Aqua version (rigid plate 274B from Sophia Electric) and it sounds about the same to my ears, in the same system.

No more tube-rolling for me for a while, as my mesh plate turned out to be still alive! (go figure, it is back working flawlessly). I need to concentrate in getting the EITR and the Audiophile Optimizer, and setup the virtual stream server with JPlayer/Linn Kazoo/MinimServer and call it quits, finally.

I'm curious to know if someone has had a chance to compare PSE vs SE Inspire amp designs, with the same tube types, and could comment on sound quality differences (other than SPL's). Since everything is relative, it would not matter whether the configuration (which has to be the same in both alternatives) is Pentode or Triode-strapped, as I'm sure differences, if real, would carry out to both configurations. Thanks!

[pstrisik]

Originally Posted by Musica Amantem

Update: Well, apparently even this presumably evident difference between mesh and rigid plates in the 274B is hard to identify ... So far, I have been using the Aqua version (rigid plate 274B from Sophia Electric) and it sounds about the same to my ears, in the same system.

No more tube-rolling for me for a while, as my mesh plate turned out to be still alive! (go figure, it is back working flawlessly). I need to concentrate in getting the EITR and the Audiophile Optimizer, and setup the virtual stream server with JPlayer/Linn Kazoo/MinimServer and call it quits, finally.

Glad it's working out for you!

[BearCityUSA]

Recently as discussions here related to some tube options I came to the conclusion that my memory of past tube rolling experience was fading. Even to the point of not recollecting having tried combinations, much less what my impressions were. I have no intention of starting over but I did try to put on paper the options so that I can reference them in the future. Also, as I plan to will my Inspire Amps and Preamps to my kids, they could use a little guidance. Anyway see the attached if interested. It may be comprehensive, it may not. Keep in mind my efforts were objective and manufacturer's were left out completely.

Scott

Inspire Tubes.pdf