If the hi-fi faerie offered to pay for ANY single component replacement, which would

Agreed. Absolutely speakers. N/T, posted on July 23, 2014 at 08:29:22
Jeffrey Lee Audiophile Posts: 708 Location: Louisville Joined: September 24, 2002	.

The hi-fi faerie... , posted on July 23, 2014 at 08:30:30
mkuller Audiophile Posts: 38130 Location: SF Bay Area Joined: April 22, 2003	...and no-brainer seem to go together. You think someone will chose a power cord?

Replace it all, posted on July 23, 2014 at 08:33:41
LWR Audiophile Posts: 66808 Location: The woods Joined: August 12, 2003	with live house concerts. Barring that, I am very satisfied with what I have...maybe 10TB hard drives would be cool.

I'll third or fourth it..., posted on July 23, 2014 at 08:45:04
JeffH Audiophile Posts: 4574 Location: Orange County, So Cal Joined: April 5, 2000	Speakers for sure...and I love my current speakers!

Make my red LEDs green nt , posted on July 23, 2014 at 08:49:42
Goober58

Fair to vote for "listening room," i.e.: house? :), posted on July 23, 2014 at 09:26:58
David S. Audiophile Posts: 3552 Location: Mountains of WNC Joined: August 31, 2000	Otherwise? Yeah, count me in for speakers too.

RE: If the hi-fi faerie offered to pay for ANY single component replacement, which would, posted on July 23, 2014 at 09:37:26
middleground	Speakers: large, accurate, coherent, dynamic speakers.

Another vote for speakers, posted on July 23, 2014 at 09:38:38
Mick Wolfe Audiophile Posts: 3364 Location: AZ Joined: October 10, 1999 Contributor Since: September 4, 2000	nt

Speakers Definetly!..........nt, posted on July 23, 2014 at 09:41:06
AudioSoul Audiophile Posts: 4594 Location: north central AZ Joined: July 9, 2005	nt

A killer CD player, posted on July 23, 2014 at 09:54:30
Mike K Audiophile Posts: 13973 Location: 97701 Joined: September 23, 1999	The sound you hear will never be better than the source player (cdp, tt, tape deck, whatever) delivers. So, audio fairy, give me a killer cdp, if you please! Lack of skill dictates economy of style. - Joey Ramone

I'd take a new..., posted on July 23, 2014 at 10:09:47
mkuller Audiophile Posts: 38130 Location: SF Bay Area Joined: April 22, 2003	...source - a live band at my beck and call. Party by the pool tonight everyone! Thanks Tinkerbell!

RE: If the hi-fi faerie offered to pay for ANY single component replacement, which would, posted on July 23, 2014 at 10:46:54
mbnx01 Audiophile Posts: 7956 Location: Eagle, Idaho Joined: October 22, 2004	I don't think the ARC SP20 is worth nine grand but I'd sure like to have one. 'A lie is halfway around the world before the truth gets its boots on'. -Mark Twain

I'm pretty happy with what I have., posted on July 23, 2014 at 11:16:18
briggs Audiophile Posts: 1674 Location: Connecticut Joined: April 16, 2002	My system has evolved over some sixty years and the synergy is good. If there were something I thought I should replace I wouldn't rely on faeries. A turntable, perhaps, but it would have to be quite special to get me to set aside my cherished AR-XA.

Well, I've given up on finding speakers or an amp I like better than mine, but . . ., posted on July 23, 2014 at 11:23:06
jnr Reviewer Posts: 2164 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Joined: April 5, 2000	I would love to give Dave Slagle's strain gauge cartridge setup. theaudiobeatnik.com

Oddball choice: Speaker stands., posted on July 23, 2014 at 11:46:17
mwhitmore Audiophile Posts: 1720 Location: San Francisco Joined: September 17, 2008	My MMGs in a vertical, sand loaded stand. Or Gunned.

Agreed, posted on July 23, 2014 at 11:58:07
G Squared Audiophile Posts: 8474 Location: Washington, DC Metro Area Joined: November 16, 2004 Contributor Since: May 23, 2023	Hands down speakers. They make the most difference and a real step up is often very costly. Gsquared

Speakers, absolutely ^, posted on July 23, 2014 at 12:00:45
Road Warrior Audiophile Posts: 21653 Location: Dallas Joined: August 31, 2004	---------------------- "E Burres Stigano?"

RE: Speakers, absolutely ^, posted on July 23, 2014 at 12:23:04
mbnx01 Audiophile Posts: 7956 Location: Eagle, Idaho Joined: October 22, 2004	New JansZens. Eight grand is a bit rich for my blood but I'd love to have a pair. 'A lie is halfway around the world before the truth gets its boots on'. -Mark Twain

RE: Speakers, absolutely ^, posted on July 23, 2014 at 12:25:25
zako Audiophile Posts: 935 Location: Mo. Joined: March 29, 2004	Tannoy Westminster Royal would be my pic,,,

Turntable with out a doubt nt, posted on July 23, 2014 at 12:32:46
risabet Audiophile Posts: 3197 Location: SoCal Joined: January 10, 2005	nt Science is the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition. Adam Smith

Yep, no-brainer -- the Amplifier comes first, posted on July 23, 2014 at 12:38:24
jedrider Audiophile Posts: 15166 Location: No. California Joined: December 26, 2003	I may NOT even want a big expensive loudspeaker for the room I would put it in. But, a nice amplifier is ALWAYS desirable. Of course, with a vinyl collection, WHO wouldn't want a nice turntable to play with ;-)

A house with a dedicated listening room..., posted on July 23, 2014 at 13:29:28

musetap
Audiophile

Posts: 31871
Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
Contributor
Since: January 28, 2004

go ahead, say the room isn't an important component to the experience.

Me and David S. say it is!

"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure

RE: If the hi-fi faerie offered to pay for ANY single component replacement, which would, posted on July 23, 2014 at 15:06:40
Todd Krieger Audiophile Posts: 37333 Location: SW United States Joined: November 2, 2000	A new concert hall for the Phoenix Symphony, that is not an acoustic disaster like its current place.

Speakers. Snell CV ..., posted on July 23, 2014 at 16:05:00
reelsmith. Audiophile Posts: 13131 Location: CT Joined: June 7, 2005 Contributor Since: January 19, 2010	I've owned them several times and every time I "upgraded" them I wished I could have them back. Nothing special for most folks, but they float my boat. Dean. reelsmith's axiom: Its going to be used equipment when I sell it, so it may as well be used equipment when I buy it.

Kurt Ellington &abandoned, posted on July 23, 2014 at 16:06:43
hifitommy Audiophile Posts: 15387 Location: canyon country califiornia, orig from buffalo ny Joined: June 9, 2000	Would be perfect. Great jazz whether he sings or not. ...regards...tr

Personally..., posted on July 23, 2014 at 16:30:44
mkuller Audiophile Posts: 38130 Location: SF Bay Area Joined: April 22, 2003	...I was thinking more of the Rolling Stones, Tom Petty or Boz Scaggs...

RE: If the hi-fi faerie offered to pay for ANY single component replacement, which would, posted on July 23, 2014 at 17:15:47
michaelhigh Audiophile Posts: 839 Location: midwest Joined: August 18, 2010	For MEE??? I can imagine that a really good speaker can make the biggest change for the better, so I'd probably pick Wilson Alexandria XLF, but I'd go broke trying to maximize their sound quality with ancillary gear.

A pair of these would do, posted on July 23, 2014 at 18:01:42
Brian Walsh Distributor or Rep Posts: 10768 Location: IL Joined: December 6, 1999	500 watts of pure class A triode power. Brian Walsh

More GOOD sounding Watts! nt, posted on July 23, 2014 at 18:28:45
Dman Audiophile Posts: 7211 Location: Kansas Joined: January 28, 2001	nt Dman Analog Junkie

You Mean Duke Ellington....., posted on July 23, 2014 at 18:35:09
Todd Krieger Audiophile Posts: 37333 Location: SW United States Joined: November 2, 2000	[-;

A room heater? (nt), posted on July 23, 2014 at 19:07:11
mkuller Audiophile Posts: 38130 Location: SF Bay Area Joined: April 22, 2003	(nt)

RE: A room heater? (nt), posted on July 23, 2014 at 19:43:11

Brian Walsh
Distributor or Rep

Posts: 10768
Location: IL
Joined: December 6, 1999

Mike, I'm told they draw about 850 watts at idle each, which is a lot of heat, but compared to the 220 watt MA-2s here which draw about 650 watts each, is nowhere near proportionally more. The MA-2s put out the heat but aren't a problem in a good size room. Plus the MA-3s can be operated with one or two of the three banks of output tubes running.

Here is a pair with the chassis lined up side by side. Quite a sight. Did not hear them, unfortunately or fortunately as the case may be.

Brian Walsh

No, he means, posted on July 23, 2014 at 19:54:30
Brian Walsh Distributor or Rep Posts: 10768 Location: IL Joined: December 6, 1999	Kurt Elling, a renowned Chicago jazz artist. Brian Walsh

I hope the little guy keeps retubes them too. NT, posted on July 23, 2014 at 20:14:57
jnr Reviewer Posts: 2164 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Joined: April 5, 2000	. theaudiobeatnik.com

different .., posted on July 23, 2014 at 20:24:49
hifitommy Audiophile Posts: 15387 Location: canyon country califiornia, orig from buffalo ny Joined: June 9, 2000	horses for different courses. ...regards...tr

RE: If the hi-fi faerie offered to pay for ANY single component replacement, which would, posted on July 23, 2014 at 20:37:28

Daverz
Audiophile

Posts: 2104
Location: So. California
Joined: September 24, 2002

Speakers as well.

RE: A room heater? (nt), posted on July 23, 2014 at 20:43:53
mkuller Audiophile Posts: 38130 Location: SF Bay Area Joined: April 22, 2003	...I reviewed a pair of Ralph's OTL amps, perhaps 200 watt mono blocks, in about 1990 and they were superb. He came to my house and set them up - plus he's a nice guy.

RE: A room heater? (nt), posted on July 23, 2014 at 20:45:58
Brian Walsh Distributor or Rep Posts: 10768 Location: IL Joined: December 6, 1999	They've come a long way in 24 years! Brian Walsh

A larger listening room...., posted on July 23, 2014 at 22:46:10
AbeCollins Audiophile Posts: 46280 Location: USA Joined: June 22, 2001 Contributor Since: February 2, 2002	I had a larger room, but then we moved. I am now sharing my smallish home office with my relatively smallish equipment. The basement is unfinished and still a mess with boxes from our move and other excess 'stuff'.

Amplifiers for me please. Four Lamm ML3s so I can bi-amp my speakers! -nt, posted on July 23, 2014 at 23:28:49
Raiderman Audiophile Posts: 2129 Location: Silicon Valley, California Joined: March 14, 2003

If such fairy existed I’d pay it to get rid of tin ears and replace them with golden ears. ..., posted on July 24, 2014 at 00:49:21
three_sox	...What's not to like? Money doesn't buy what I want but I'd gladly trade my old ears for those of a healthy teenager.

RE: Speakers, absolutely ^, posted on July 24, 2014 at 08:22:41
jsm71 Audiophile Posts: 1123 Location: Cincinnati OH Joined: June 16, 2011	I have the JansZens so I'm set there. I'll take the top-of-the-line VPI turntable with 3D arm please.

Not a concern, posted on July 24, 2014 at 09:24:18
Brian Walsh Distributor or Rep Posts: 10768 Location: IL Joined: December 6, 1999	Since output tube life averages 10,000 hours and the amps are auto-biasing, there's little to do but sit back and listen. No need to babysit them. Brian Walsh

That is 84 output tubes, holy f$%k! nt, posted on July 24, 2014 at 11:16:43
risabet Audiophile Posts: 3197 Location: SoCal Joined: January 10, 2005	nt Science is the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition. Adam Smith

Tube rollers exult! (nt, posted on July 24, 2014 at 11:33:29
genungo	.

Hi-end active speakers, posted on July 24, 2014 at 11:40:12
genungo	Pretty sneaky of me, eh hi-fi faerie? Now you have to buy me two components at once.

Good on ya, Al!., posted on July 24, 2014 at 11:55:01
rlw Audiophile Posts: 3347 Location: Near West Palm Bch, FL Joined: August 29, 2006	I would only modify that to say a larger, properly designed room. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, makes more difference than the room you have. And a close second is how the speakers interact with that room. Everything else is of much, MUCH less importance. And yet, many of the denizens here spend their time and money fettling with cables, magic rocks, and mystical dots. Truly bizarre.... -RW-

RE: If the hi-fi faerie offered to pay for ANY single component replacement, which would, posted on July 24, 2014 at 12:33:15
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	For me, CJ 350 Premier power amp!

Better, dedicated room, hifi furniture. -t, posted on July 24, 2014 at 12:55:41
jusbe Audiophile Posts: 5950 Location: North Island Joined: April 4, 2000	Big J "... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal* salvation is a contradiction in terms."*

RE: If the hi-fi faerie offered to pay for ANY single component replacement, which would, posted on July 24, 2014 at 15:32:54
bigshow Audiophile Posts: 472 Location: WI Joined: December 3, 2012	George Warren turntable with 4-point arm and lyra etna cart. Oh is that 3 things. Then just the turntable. bigshow

Tube sellers also! nt, posted on July 24, 2014 at 16:46:23
risabet Audiophile Posts: 3197 Location: SoCal Joined: January 10, 2005	nt Science is the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition. Adam Smith

Not most, posted on July 24, 2014 at 17:07:29

Brian Walsh
Distributor or Rep

Posts: 10768
Location: IL
Joined: December 6, 1999

You can't do anything with the output tubes -- they're either 6AS7G or 6H13 types sourced from Russia or China, and NOS ones have been found to be unreliable. In the case of the 6SN7GT driver tubes, yes, you can try different ones if you like. The MA-3s each have 12 of them, but not all of them would be worthwhile rolling. Still, anyone who can afford the amps might be inclined to experiment. Tell you what, when my ship comes in and I get a pair you can come over and we'll try a bunch.
Brian Walsh

RE: A house with a dedicated listening room..., posted on July 24, 2014 at 17:32:53
Kirk57 Audiophile Posts: 606 Location: Chicago's North Shore Joined: December 9, 2008	Same here.

RE: If the hi-fi faerie offered to pay for ANY single component replacement, which would, posted on July 24, 2014 at 18:25:26
sudz1234@yahoo.com Audiophile Posts: 2956 Joined: February 20, 2011	ARC claims it's a bargain!

RE: A pair of these would do, posted on July 24, 2014 at 22:22:37
Todd Krieger Audiophile Posts: 37333 Location: SW United States Joined: November 2, 2000	The perfect amplifiers for 110 degree Arizona summers.... [-;

My Question Would Be..........., posted on July 24, 2014 at 22:23:57
Todd Krieger Audiophile Posts: 37333 Location: SW United States Joined: November 2, 2000	What would happen in the event just one of the tubes goes bad? ......

Almost nothing, posted on July 25, 2014 at 04:52:32

Brian Walsh
Distributor or Rep

Posts: 10768
Location: IL
Joined: December 6, 1999

Atma-Sphere amps don't blink an eye when an output tube goes. They just put out slightly less power. You turn off the amplifier, replace the bad tube, check DC offset once the tube is conditioned, and go back to listening.

A couple of things you can do with the amps:
- Pull out an output tube while music is playing. Nothing happens, you just get a slight reduction in volume.
- Short out the speaker binding posts by putting a quarter across them. This is equivalent to when the speaker cable spades inadvertently touch each other either at the amp or at the speaker. Most amplifiers will fail in one way or another, some blowing a resistor or something, others in a catastrophic way. This stresses the amplifier, but in the case of the Atma-Sphere you just don't hear any music out of the speaker. Remove the quarter and the music resumes immediately as if nothing happened.

I wish all amplifiers were as fault tolerant.
Brian Walsh

RE: Dynavector DV-507 MKII Tonearm, posted on July 25, 2014 at 09:35:06
BigguyinATL Manufacturer Posts: 3475 Joined: April 10, 2002	out of my league price wise, but something i lust for over and over. Until the Fairy comes I'll have to rely on pristine Grace 704 Tonearm. Unless any owners out there would like to swap for a Rabco SL8E & The Grace my 5/10 Thorens 125Mk11 and a more moderate sum of money... "The hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if there is no cat" - Confucius

Off topic: , posted on July 25, 2014 at 13:21:15
tinear Audiophile Posts: 65782 Location: Kansas City, KS Joined: April 9, 2006	the bottom quote. Why should anyone expect wisdom to emanate from such a colossal ego as one that would write, "… only a very few individuals…?" Some would argue that absolute wisdom and towering egotism are incompatible.

Of course it is. It's tough to buy one, though., posted on July 25, 2014 at 13:27:24
tinear Audiophile Posts: 65782 Location: Kansas City, KS Joined: April 9, 2006	Shipping costs would be towering.

RE: If the hi-fi faerie offered to pay for ANY single component replacement, which would, posted on July 25, 2014 at 14:27:49

Billy Wonka
Audiophile

Posts: 3760
Joined: April 25, 2013
Contributor
Since: October 15, 2013

Zen Mystery Amp. Forty watts a side is more than enough for me.

This Leads to More Questions........., posted on July 25, 2014 at 18:43:10
Todd Krieger Audiophile Posts: 37333 Location: SW United States Joined: November 2, 2000	If a tube goes out, and the effect is negligible....... 1. How would you know a tube went out? 2. How would you know which tube(s) went out?

RE: This Leads to More Questions........., posted on July 25, 2014 at 19:28:44
Brian Walsh Distributor or Rep Posts: 10768 Location: IL Joined: December 6, 1999	1. You might see a flash when the tube goes, or worst case you'd notice one side (one triode) of a tube isn't lit up any more. 2. See above. Brian Walsh

General Asylum

If the hi-fi faerie offered to pay for ANY single component replacement, which would

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