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75.130.155.46

Posted on March 27, 2015 at 00:36:06
Posts: 3
Location: South Carolina U.S.A.
Joined: March 27, 2015
Hey everyone! Im new here and new to the world of tubes in the living room stereo. I've been playing guitar/bass for over 20 years and I will only play through tube amplifiers. I know my way around tube equipment pretty well from that standpoint. I really want to get a good tube receiver for the living room to go with my new turntable. Isnt it great that vinyl has returned?! I have no idea I need though. I'll be pushing my old 70's 15 inch Pioneer speakers that were given to me in middle school. Two of those. And I would like to keep the price under $600. I love heavy music. Mainly doom stuff like Sleep, Obsessed, Sabbath, ect. Any suggestions?
If you hear a good sound but youre half deaf, does it still sound good?

 

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     Receiver - Awe-d-o-file 08:33:25 03/27/15 (2)
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There's a Pilot 602 receiver on eBay now., posted on March 27, 2015 at 03:07:36
jusbe
Audiophile

Posts: 5950
Location: North Island
Joined: April 4, 2000
Welcome to the madhouse!

I'd look at that, and at getting it refurbished over time. Item 141617548212.

Be prepared to change around a bit, until you find what you like. :^)

Big J

"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."


 

RE: There's a Pilot 602 receiver on eBay now., posted on March 27, 2015 at 04:15:59
Posts: 3
Location: South Carolina U.S.A.
Joined: March 27, 2015
Cool. And I see the only real issue is the tuner knob. I wouldnt be using it for radio anyways. What can you tell me about the newer stuff that you see on Amazon and so on. Like Gemtube? I think that was the name. And Yaquin? Peices of junk? And i see a lot of the uses they list are for like bookshelf speakers. Ill be pushing more than that. Do you have to bias when changing tubes in a reciever like I do for my amps? Thanks for the welcome by the way!
If you hear a good sound but youre half deaf, does it still sound good?

 

RE: There's a Pilot 602 receiver on eBay now., posted on March 27, 2015 at 05:36:12
Brian Levy
Audiophile

Posts: 2438
Location: Toronto
Joined: June 5, 2000
Most new tube amps are coming from China and quality is not consistent. Some of their units are getting great reviews but, the question remains as to reliability. Plus service data seems universally not available so if something burns and the markings lost, finding a replacement based on values may be a real challenge. I am not aware of any US made tube amps in your stated budget.

If buying from there I would make sure there is a detailed schematic and better, a full service manual available and make sure you get it or them.

You wrote you know your way around tube amps so, used may be good alternative depending on you wants. There are a number of units not highly sought after so not priced high but are are very good. Many are extremely simple in design and component count meaning easy to repair and inexpensive, parts wise. Just depends on the amount of power you need or want.

Some companies include Grommes that has several generations of the Little Jewel, Calrad and Philmore, Lafayette, Allied, VM, Magnavox, Sherwood and others. Of those mentioned the Sherwood would be where I would look. These in stock form are one of the best yet still are undervalued and there are a couple of guys who concentrate on working on them for repairs, restoration, rebuilds, and mods. So, you could get one and when the piggy bank refills, move up to even better without starting over.

One thing to remember is you do not need high watts so many espouse. A tube watt seemingly will produce higher spl than a solid state watt. This is fiction in theory but somehow seems true in practice. I used to use a 25 watt tube amp and to replace it took a 105 watt amp. There are some solid state as that dispelled this. More recently, a 20 watt amp replaced my 105 watt amp with no loss of either average or dynamic levels. Probably not telling you anything new.

Good luck on your hunt, it can be lots of fun. Keep us up to date as to progress and how you finally decided and a review of what ever you get.

Don Brian Levy, J.D.
Toronto ON Canada

 

Receiver, posted on March 27, 2015 at 08:33:25
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
Is there FM radio worth listening to where you live? Even if there was here I would go separates for several other reasons. I'm not a receiver fan.


E
T

ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

RE: Receiver, posted on March 27, 2015 at 09:36:34
Posts: 3
Location: South Carolina U.S.A.
Joined: March 27, 2015
I dont think ive listened to the radio on purpose since the late 90's haha! I hear a lot about Macintosh recievers. Pretty expensive though i bet.
If you hear a good sound but youre half deaf, does it still sound good?

 

RE: Receiver, posted on March 27, 2015 at 11:17:51
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
"If you hear a good sound but youre half deaf, does it still sound good? "


Sure!


E
T

ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

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