Well, its been a while since any major component change. A few powercords and speaker cables have tried to be contenders but failed the test.
My sickness is tubes. NOS tubes. I've found as you have that tubes have different characters. If Rock or Blues is up that night then its the GE 211. If classical or Jazz then its the RCA 211. The other tube I play with is the Preamp output. A Mullard 6DJ8 with the GE 211 and a Amperex Bugle Boy 6DJ8 with the RCA 211. This is for CD playback. For LP same as above but the Pre output goes to a Phillips Mini Watt. Just opens up the soundstage and adds the nuances and inflections that make it sound real to me. Nervosa at its best.
By doing this change we have lush [ RCA] and dynamic and punchy [ GE]. For me changing tubes is like changing a component without the major expense. Unfortunately tubes are getting more expensive as we speak. Stocking up before they are really out of touch.
Lately though the SS deal seems appealing. Shoot man there are 24 tubes here. Its getting expensive to keep backups. I auditioned a Dartzeel amp and loved it but $20,000. WTF. Maybe a SS Pre like a Klyne or Ayre. Who knows.
So here is the dilemma. Do I try a SS Pre with the SET amps. Or a SS amp with the tubed pre [ Loesch & Weisner], that is the question .
Last night I went to a friends home for a listen. Snell B minors with Sonic Frontiers gear. Rega TT , Grado cart.gotta tell ya this system kicked some serious arse. Not one new component in about 20 years. Except CDP a Carey. Well no Nervosa for him so we will keep it going for him.
charles
