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Inspire by Dennis Had Enjoying Vacuum Tube Audio

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  #4791  
Old 08-02-2018, 08:49 AM
FloridaBoy FloridaBoy is offline
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I've concluded the Inspire definitely likes a good tube preamp in front for it to sound it's best.

I see a LP3 in your future.
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  #4792  
Old 08-02-2018, 09:29 AM
decooney decooney is offline
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Originally Posted by FloridaBoy View Post
I've concluded the Inspire definitely likes a good tube preamp in front for it to sound it's best.

I see a LP3 in your future.
Hehe. I know, not a bad I idea 'eh. My upgraded SLP-98 pre (love it) is for another system, and I've been swapping it in/out for now. Not a long term thing I want to do. On that note this week I was offered a LP3a and a second Inspire Hot Rod amp through a through a colleague who's not using it much any more. Like me, he wanted to "try one" and see what the hype is about, and all good. He has other systems. I thought about it some, essentially considering running two stereo amps for my bi-ampable speakers. While its something I'd like to try, it's another level to step up to now competing with my own main system and there are other local mono block considerations It's good to have tube amp options these days. Hard to believe I'm still enjoying this hobby after five decades. Tube amps and the sound they produce is good therapy after a long week at work
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  #4793  
Old 08-03-2018, 07:33 AM
FloridaBoy FloridaBoy is offline
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Originally Posted by decooney View Post
Hehe. I know, not a bad I idea 'eh. My upgraded SLP-98 pre (love it) is for another system, and I've been swapping it in/out for now. Not a long term thing I want to do. On that note this week I was offered a LP3a and a second Inspire Hot Rod amp through a through a colleague who's not using it much any more. Like me, he wanted to "try one" and see what the hype is about, and all good. He has other systems. I thought about it some, essentially considering running two stereo amps for my bi-ampable speakers. While its something I'd like to try, it's another level to step up to now competing with my own main system and there are other local mono block considerations It's good to have tube amp options these days. Hard to believe I'm still enjoying this hobby after five decades. Tube amps and the sound they produce is good therapy after a long week at work
Could you try his LP3a in your system? It has more gain than the LP27a.

IMHO, you still need more hours on your amp. I don't think the caps have fully settled in.
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  #4794  
Old 08-03-2018, 09:07 AM
decooney decooney is offline
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Originally Posted by FloridaBoy View Post
Could you try his LP3a in your system? It has more gain than the LP27a.

IMHO, you still need more hours on your amp. I don't think the caps have fully settled in.
Good idea. And, It's possible, but I'd probably just buy it. He lives far away, probably a one-way ship If I can find out if the LP3a has more gain than my Cary SLP-98L preamp (sounds amazing), it would give me a baseline to know to try or not from a gain perspective. I'm not thrilled with connecting/disconnecting any more; kinda do need a sep preamp or just sell the Inspire amp.

To your point, if I'm grasping it, I still don't know what this little Hot Rod can do and will hear until I try these things, giving it more time. Will think about it. Thx.
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  #4795  
Old 08-03-2018, 12:31 PM
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BearCityUSA BearCityUSA is offline
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Don’t sell it. Get the lp3a/Lp27a. You will not be disappointed.
Of coarse just a suggestion, not a command.
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  #4796  
Old 08-03-2018, 12:52 PM
decooney decooney is offline
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Originally Posted by BearCityUSA View Post
Don’t sell it. Get the lp3a/Lp27a. You will not be disappointed.
Of coarse just a suggestion, not a command.
Hey There BCUSA, I’m good with “command” too and take it as confidence. It helps, thank you Sir.
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  #4797  
Old 08-03-2018, 05:33 PM
Bombadil Bombadil is offline
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Stereophile measured the SLP-98's gain at 21db. Very high! No surprise you are hearing quite a difference between the two preamps.
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  #4798  
Old 08-03-2018, 10:27 PM
decooney decooney is offline
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Originally Posted by Bombadil View Post
Stereophile measured the SLP-98's gain at 21db. Very high! No surprise you are hearing quite a difference between the two preamps.

Found this on a prior LP3a sale on eBay, sold June 2nd 2018. 21db compared to 15db gain, is that correct?

Quote:
LP3a / "Circuit:
Buffered 6SN7 (6SL7) input direct coupled to grounded grid 15 dB gain stage direct coupled to 6SN7 low output impedance buffer stage."
, unquote.


.
.

Last edited by decooney; 08-04-2018 at 02:51 AM.
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  #4799  
Old 08-04-2018, 08:23 AM
Breakdown7 Breakdown7 is offline
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To my knowledge the LP-27a is 12db gain and the LP-3a is 15db.

In regards to the LP-27a, I believe if you use #56 tubes instead of #27's, you'll increase the gain to 14db.
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  #4800  
Old 08-04-2018, 11:36 AM
decooney decooney is offline
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Originally Posted by Breakdown7 View Post
To my knowledge the LP-27a is 12db gain and the LP-3a is 15db.

In regards to the LP-27a, I believe if you use #56 tubes instead of #27's, you'll increase the gain to 14db.
Good to know. I did some comparing to a local NorCal tube amp builder. Their brand standard preamp is 18db gain, and they offer a "low gain" 12db version. My SLP-98 at 21db gain seems to be more than plenty right now for my 91db speakers in terms of how quickly it gets loud at 10-11 o'clock on the volume dial. Perhaps I could step it back to a 15db preamp and still be able to use my main speakers (periodically) while continuing to work on a second custom (more) sensitive set of speakers to use permanently with my 10w Hot Rod and a possible LP-3a in the future; as tbd. Def gives some options to consider. Thx all.
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