Hey Lon…which 6N1P are you using?
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I’m using military 6N1P that I get from Steve Deckert. I actually use the 6N5P that I get from him more often–it has the same electrical parameters as the 6N1P but has less gain and I find that I csan get a more “refined” sound as a result–I mainly use these tube types now in my ZTPRE preamp.
Steve selects and tests his tubes thoroughly, looking at a few factors other testers don’t, and I find that his selected and matched tubes are the best examples of the tube types he offers I have encountered. Even though I have about 20 other pairs of output tubes as spares, I buy pairs from him to use mainly as they “trump” the others in match and balanced sound top to bottom.
Right now I am not using any of the Russian input tubes though, I’m using Amperex 6085 (a 12AU7 long tube substitute) with converter bases in the ZTPRE and in all the other input positions gray glass RCA 6SN7 tubes. Both these tube types require use of converter bases.
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You guys are bumming me out - just checked the Decware list yesterday, and they’re just now building orders from the first week of October. Ordered mine in early December. 
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Looking forward to it, as I’ve recently gone to ARC pre and amp in the main system. Used to live not far from Decware, and heard them mentioned many times, but never got with the Program until now 
I’ll be very interested to hear your impressions. Decware has ended my audiophile amplification journey. I am totally satisfied with my pre- and amplification and speaker foundation now and this allows me to always pursue better sources as they have proven to be the weaker links.
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I wish I knew more about Decware them when I purchased my Prima Luna… but not really. As you, Prima Luna has pretty much ended my thirst for new amp/preamp… I have a Prima Luna integrated.
I never thought I would say this but… I think I am done and happy with Prima Luna. Further, when I get the itch, I can swap tube types, brands and vintages and play with the sound. The only negative with my Prima Luna is I know it has some veiling… I only know this because my unstable, high-maintenance, super model for girlfriend VTL monoblock tube amps were so crystal clear.
Peace
Bruce in Philly
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Bruce, getting to that point where we are stable and happy in our system choices and settled into really getting the best out of them is such a wonderful milestone. I know how much you love music and how much having great playback means to you. Keep on keepin’ on with this happy pursuit!
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Laughed at that one, as it always conjures my mom for me - externally the straightest white woman one could ask for - who adopted that expression back in the day. But the fact that she liked it enough to use it hinted at who she really was.
Yeah - I feel that sense of having arrived at the Right Place with the ARCs in the main system. And from experimenting with amps in the 2nd system, which has LS50 Metas, and which love tubes - ordered the Decware. Already a tubed VTL pre in there, so should be a nice combination.
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I put a Telefunken 6dj8 in the input of my SE84UFO and it’s magical.
His choice of 6P15P-EB output tubes are weird but hard to beat.
My next upgrade will definitely be his hp amp.
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Telefunkens have not been preferred in my system, but the beauty of these components is that they can be tailored to system need and taste! And as thease change, the tailoring can be redone.
There are sound reasons why he shifted to that tube. . . way back in '98 or so. You can run EL84 but it’s not the same.
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I tried EL84’s and they were horrible in comparison.
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PS----Yes, there are “sound” reasons he picked those tubes 
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I just ordered a second Uptone Audio EtherREGEN from the May production run. I received my first ER in the first batch of November 2019 and have been extremely pleased with it ever since. I will connect one to my NetGear router (powered by an Sbooster LPS to great effect) and the other in its present position feeding my Roon Nucleus+. I intend to then experiment with fiber vs wired connection between the two.
Given the timing, my next upgrade will actually be the new OS PS Audio is releasing for the Directstream DAC due in mid-April!
You’ll enjoy the fibre connection. I use one on mine and it’s cheap compared to to quality Ethernet cables and the sound is detailed and free of noise.
Holo Audio May dac upgrade has been illuminating after 3 years with DS. ~400 hours and impressing more deeply every day.
Adding Telefunken ECC802S from Brent Jessee to the BHK pre isn’t too bad either.
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Try this when planning your next upgrade… it’s what I do and it works really well.
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Find a component you want to buy.
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Justify the purchase by saying you’ll sell an old component to pay for it.
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Buy the first component.
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Eventually sell the old component, but wait a while so the financial sting of the new component has faded.
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When you receive the money for your old component, consider it an unexpected windfall, and you now have money for yet another new component!
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Repeat as necessary.
It’s like a perpetual-motion machine. 
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I love it. The crowning argument that swayed my wife when upgraded to a Stellar GSD and M-700 pair, was “Look honey, Paul will give 100% trade in value for my old NAD amp!”
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CocktailAudio X45Pro/ CocktailAudio X50Pro
I have some of those machines at home for the next 30 days. I need something new for the cottage…
A bit of an upgrade whirlwind over the last week.
For the 2 channel system:
- Farad pc (with orange fuse and upgraded cable) for the Matrix
- Synergistic orange fuse for the Auralic Aries G2.1 streamer
The improvement from the Farad is just amazing. All the laudatory comments about the Farad are true.
For the HT / music system:
- Joseph Audio Perspective speakers. Used but look brand new (replaced Dynaudio Contour 5.4s)
- Gaia II feet for the speakers
- Audience frontrow speaker cables for the Perspectives
- Audience 24au SX rca cable (Directstream to Anthem AVM 60)
- Synergistic Orange fuse for the Directstream
Big improvement on the music listening side of things.
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