My turn to play

[CMonster]

Try the Bifrost with the LD next, it is IMO leagues better then the A2.

I'm tired and a little cranky thanks to a work email I just had to deal with, but initial impressions of the LD with the CV4015 tubes aren't good. I switched over to U2's Joshua Tree album and there have just been too many instances of things not sounding right. And I'm only three songs in. (I did give the tubes time to warm up before I started listening - I noticed that made a difference when I listened to it when it first arrived.)

 

[PaulyT]

How were you connecting the m-audio dac to the amp? RCA or XLR? But yeah, now you can see why I got a fancier DAC.

The Denons aren't terrific with tube amps. They're low-impedance, meaning they're more current-limited than voltage-limited, and tube amps aren't great at putting out a lot of current. In my experience, the Denons sound WAY better with the A18 than they do with my current tube amp (Woo WA6). Do you have any other headphones left around?

Yeah tube amps need a few minutes to warm up. If you have headphones on when you turn on the amp, you can also sometimes hear various pops/sizzles - microphonics as the tube elements heat up. But within 5 minutes you should be good.

I agree about the warmth of the A18. It's the most "tubey" sounding ss amp I've experienced - its reputation for that is actually much of the reason I got in the first place, so I could try it for myself.

 

[CMonster]

How were you connecting the m-audio dac to the amp? RCA or XLR?

RCA

The Denons aren't terrific with tube amps. They're low-impedance, meaning they're more current-limited than voltage-limited, and tube amps aren't great at putting out a lot of current. In my experience, the Denons sound WAY better with the A18 than they do with my current tube amp (Woo WA6). Do you have any other headphones left around?

The only other ones I have are the B&W P5s and they, too, are low impedance.

 

[walls]

Son of a bitch. Ok, I can throw my HD650's in their case and send them to you if you would like. I did not want them on and off a bunch of people's heads and tossed around (the bands have been known to crack) but if YOU want to try them I will send them.
Then you will see why PaulyT, Dane and I love our tube amps.

 

[Rope]

^^
Add Rope to your list of tube lovers, especially 6922 and variants. In the case of my LYR, I got really, really lucky and got in on the last of the Lorenz PC88's.

Rope

 

[walls]

Hey rope why don't you let me send you the A1 and let me try the LYR!!!!

No pressure or anything, lol.

Speaking of tubes, I had delivered a matched pair of Tung Sol 5998's to my door last week. Supposed to be the bees knees with my WA2, and yep they are, until after about 2 hours one fizzed out on me. Thank God I was dealing with a good eBay seller as these were $300.

Where do you buy your tubes?

 

[Rope]

Hey rope why don't you let me send you the A1 and let me try the LYR!!!!

No pressure or anything, lol.

Speaking of tubes, I had delivered a matched pair of Tung Sol 5998's to my door last week. Supposed to be the bees knees with my WA2, and yep they are, until after about 2 hours one fizzed out on me. Thank God I was dealing with a good eBay seller as these were $300.

Where do you buy your tubes?

After I was able to purchase the Lorenz PC88's my tube rolling ceased. I rolled many a tube prior to the Lorenz purchase including Siemens & Halske Cca, Amprex, Gold Lions....etc. Tubemonger, Tubeworld, TubeDepot, AudioTubes and fleaBay.

Rope

 

[Barney]

Walls, have you asked Wardsweb about tubes ?

 

[walls]

Nope, didn't even think about it. For now I have my WOO WA2 pretty much maxed out with what are considered the best tubes for it (and it really sings) but I should see what else he would suggest.