Tachikoma

Quick question about balanced vs unbalanced inputs (on the T1S) - is the amp working harder when I use unbalanced inputs, since I'm turning the volume knob a bit higher to get the same volume?

Well its not like the SD card is meant to be used for permanent storage 32gb even at high res should have enough music to last me till the next time I update the card.

Actually, there's a 3rd option: Get the SD card player at diyaudio.com I like the idea of SD-card transports: it avoids the fundemental problems plaguing PC/CD transports and with a 32gb card, they have enough storage for me.

IIRC the PMD200 is actually a blackfin DSP (like the one the Naim is using) so it looks like they've re-created the PMD200 somehow... I hope the USB stick/ipod input have been done properly - me likes not having to worry about SPDIF.

@Tony: Yep, that pretty much mirrors my impressions. Thats why its important to have a few vintages to mix things up with the O2 The SR-3 (not the "new" model apparently) I have is far from perfect (they have a huge channel imbalance, although it is improving after being plugged in for a few days) and gets trounced by the O2 in every technical aspect but damn they're musical, and so much fun to listen to.

Happy birthday

Hmm, its probably an interferometer of some sort. I guess its about time someone tried to apply it on audio.

Err, the volume knob is also a balance control

Haha, I'd have to forget about the cover if I got those tubes. Here's what Grant Fidelity says: "Premium vs. Standard; Grade A vs. Grade B All Treasure tubes from Grant Fidelity is of Premium Grade export quality from Shuguang and they are superior to those sold out of China or Hong Kong - which are intended for Chinese market and are commonly referred as Standard Grade. Standard Grade treasure tubes have much wider variance in specifications and could deviate from the tube's designed specs by up to 40%. If you are looking for first class quality tubes and want protect your investment, we strongly recommend you to buy 'Premium Grade' only. The Treasure Premium Grade tubes imported by Grant Fidelity are further divided to Premium Grade A (perfect matching on every aspect and strong emission) and Premium Grade B (less than perfect matching in certain aspects such as plate current, transconductance or minor internal gas, slightly less emission. However we guarantee that none of these minor weakness will interfere with the tube's normal operation and pose no safety hazards to your amp. Grade A tubes are sold with a price premium over that for Grade B. Even if you purchase 'Premium Grade B' tubes from Grant Fidelity, you are getting better tubes than the Chinese 'Standard Grade' sold over eBay type of places. Buyer beware." ... which is probably a load of shite. Yes Shuguang sells them at two different grades (even the "Premium grade" tubes go for a lot less than what GF is charging, in China) but I doubt that Shuguang makes a speshul set just for GF.

You mean between the "Treasure Series" and the regular CV181-Zs Shuguang makes? Yeup, the main difference between the two seems to be better matching, and perhaps better emission etc from what I've read on some chinese forums. Note that the label is actually something Shuguang made up, rather than Grant Fidelity. I'm assuming that Shuguang is only giving Grant Fidelity the more "up-market" tubes they're making.

Short report on T1S tube-rolling: I've plugged the Toshibas back into the T1S to do a back to back with the Syl GTBs, and the main differences I noticed were that the Toshibas gave a better sense of ambience (low-level detail?), and the tone was a bit more musical to my ears. However, the Toshibas were definitely less dynamic and the transients felt strained by comparison, and I think they had somewhat less gain as well. If finances permit I think I might try to get a pair of Shuguang CV181-Zs direct from China (they only cost AU$120 + S/H per matched pair on taobao, but those probably aren't the same "treasure series" tubes being sold by grantfidelity et al) According to their spec sheets, those tubes are supposed to be rated up to 450V, like the GTB/As.

Lavry's lower end products only uses off the shelf parts (the DA10 uses an AD1955 I think), so I wouldn't expect much from those.

Cutting up USB cables to wire up a separate 5V supply?

Happy birthday

Actually, it isn't (I don't see any mention of it on his website). The only async solution empirical audio offers involves a modded Tascam US-144 + their clocking device. There are quite a number of async USB devices out there actually... the Tascam US-144, and even the EMU 0404 USB are meant to be async, and they all use custom solutions.

The Musiland USB converters (particularly the ones that don't draw their 5V off USB) should be fairly decent as far as USB goes, since they're asynchronous. Have you considered upgrading the EMU1212m instead of going with USB?

You'll have to google the rest yourself =P "Better than the Bel Canto USB link" doesn't say much nowadays...

The Focusrite Saffire isn't really an SPDIF converter, its a Pro Audio card which happens to have an SPDIF-out. Its relatively cheap too ($200~ on ebay) and you can power it externally.

I have my eyes on a pair of sylvania brown base WGTAs atm

And switch to 6SN7GTB/As I'm fairly certain that the GTBs are more dynamic and generally sound better when you turn the volume all the way up, but of course I haven't done a back to back with the Toshibas. With the 6SN7 -> 6CG7 adapters there's so many tube-rolling possibilities that it boggles the mind =_=

I used to be a big proponent of computer audio but after reading that I've given up on computers completely - True story. <_________< Honestly though, computers were never meant to be "optimized for audio" (unless you're willing to spend major dough to fix up the flaws) and besides, whenever I'm at the computer, my attention span drops from whatever it was irl to that of a hyperactive 6 year old's.

Got a set of Sylvania 6SN7GTBs with the 6SN7 adapter + a ToLab carrying case and some Telos Audio thingies I don't recognise from Elephas today, free of charge As far as I can tell the 6SN7GTBs are working pretty well with the T1S. I'll report more when I have the time to compare them with the Toshibas

1 Tesla o_O? Are they trying to make mini NMR machine with that thing?

As far as I can tell, its like paying for a downgrade :S Why would I want a DF1704 for a PMD100? Its not like the PCM63P takes 24/96 anyway. The CS8414 for CS8412 swap is at best a sidestep, too.

The SR-X Pro doesn't really have a treble-tilted response at all Character-wise they're extremely similar to the normal bias SR-Xmk3 - it just has a bit more bass to round things up on the bottom end. The lambda sig is the headphone for you, I guess. The treble tilt (at least with a weaker amp like the T1S) did not sit well with me.