Kicking and Screaming to the Darkside...

Amp/Preamp Asylum

Looking for a new Amp or Preamp? If you're after tubes, post over here.

I listened to tube gear as a child in the '60s and like many moved to SS gear...always liked the look and sound of McIntosh but it was out of my "sphere of influence" monetarilly...then I got older and had a little more money...found places like here AK and Klipschforum and was able to satisfy some of my youthful urges and cravings...
I bought into the McIntosh sound...liked everything about it and got some Heresys...then another set, then K'Horns that needed a LOT of work...After I got things worked out with the K'Horns I had the speakers I loved and the sound I liked...but always there was the whisper...tubes...t u b e s...T U B E S!!!
Naturally I gravitated to McTubes and after several false starts (couldn't find ANY dealer with an MA2275 and the only one I offered to buy off audioGon was sold as soon as I offered)
I decided to give tubes a try by just dipping my toes into the water...Enter the Eico HF-81...all original but safe to fire up through the K'Horns...omigawd...sweet, syrupy sweet and I am hearing some things in a "different order" than before...I could swear I am hearing even more detail...am I kicking my McIntosh to the curb? Nope but WOW this lil engine that could sure can...if I could only have one 2 channel amp and the Eico was it, I could still be very happy!
Then as it usually happens...after going for a short period where I was missing every "deal" on tube gear until I bought the Eico...somone needed to sell off his nearly new Craig NOSValves VRDs (in beautiful cherry) along with a Juicy Music Blueberry MkI ...(but I just bought the Eico...but I NEED the VRDs...) and some nicer tubes as well as the originals...nice guy to deal with and a deal is struck...they arrived today!
I think I am totally ruined by tubes...this takes me back to my youth (Heck, the Eico smells EXACTLY like Dad's Eico HFT-92 tuner...which I still have!)...reminds me of sitting in the basement and listening to John Phillip Sousa (Dad was in the Army and liked marching bands...what can I say.)
Now the VRDs...strong powerful bass...sweet midrange and nice highs...I have only listened for about 1 album but I am impressed and happy.
Craig has been helpful and generous with his time even though I didn't buy anything from him...they are, after all, his babies!
Mark at Juicy has been helpful as well...ditto...I haven't bought anything from him...the Blueberry was his 1st baby! (for JuicyMusic)
robster has been very helpful even though after getting my money he could have said "see ya"...even threw in some "extras" to make my new tube experience sweeter...
This place has been helpful to me for the feedback both positive and negative...thanks,
Bill

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Topic - Kicking and Screaming to the Darkside... - wlegg206 16:59:21 03/27/06 (0)

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