Paramour Review (long)

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My Paramours probably have 100 + hours on them now, maybe 200 since installation of the last mods so it's probably okay to subjectively review them.
Paramours were stock for about 50 hours or so until additon of the C4S circuit. As usual the C4S removed a layer of dull or fuzz and greatly focused and improved the sound. After C4S the Mours were allowed to play several days then the next "mod" involved changing a 499 ohm resistor to a 750 ohm resistor to lower a high B6 and b8 voltage.
Next was the repositioning of one of the grid stopper resistors as mentioned by a PJ post. No change in sound here. Just a fix from the original circuit.
Next was the addition of Mullard CV4024 Driver tubes and Sovtek 2A3's. The Sovtek 2A3's were clearly more musical than the Valve Arts in my amp and also better than an old stock pair of Sylvania's.
HV snubber was next. Two NTE .1uf caps from terminal 1 to 4 and terminal 2 to 4. Wasn't expecting a change in sound here but I got one. A better one I thought. A much better one I thought.
Had a couple .1uf Auricaps laying around and Wendell in Korea told me I should slap them in the Coupling Cap position. Wow! Good Call.
Ordered some 100uf Xicon caps to replace the 47uf Power supply caps as largely recommended on the board. Actually most recommend the Panasonic THSB (?) caps but my terminals were getting a bit busy and I essentially just wanted to melt some solder and slip the new ones right in where the old ones came out easily. I was expecting a huge reduction in hum (didn't have much hum to begin with, less than 3mV) and a change in sound. Didn't get either. Hum went down a fraction and the sound stayed the same.
The most remarkable mod was another PJ recommendation. 1.5uf Auricaps to replace the 3.3uf Solen Parafeed Coupling Caps. I thought hard about this one because it seemed to be a theoretical guess. I couldn't find evidence in the archives where anybody had actually tried it yet. Well, I pony-ed up and forked over the nearly $70 or so for the caps at Audience. Man was I skeptical.
It turned out to be the most solid mod delivering tons of bass. Almost too much I thought initially but after 50 or 100 hours it settled in real nicely. Just right. Warning: the 1.5uf Auricaps are supposed to work best with the stock Paramour Iron. Don't spring for two 1.5's and then buy the upcoming iron upgrade to the Paramours.
Well, what do I think?
I have three other stereo's. Each one "great" by a lot of standards. All higher power push pull stuff. 1 Dynaco ST 70 and two Fisher 500's....one B and one C.
I always invisioned the Paramours to be my "play" system and while I liked the SET sound I never thought it would replace my big old Dynaco and LS3/5A speakers.
However since the addition of all the Paramour mods, especially the 1.5uf Auricaps more and more I'm beginning to enjoy this SET sound. Perhaps it took a few mods, or break in time, or the addition of my new FE-103M back load horns to break in but damned if the Paramours don't deliver music more clear, and less "colored" than the Dynaco and the Fishers.
Everytime I go to work and listen to my Paramour system it's all I can do to from tossing it all in the back of my van and bringing it home to the living room. I'm sure that will happen soon. The Dynaco was my first rebuild and the LS3/5A's are my pride and joy. It's a tough task to replace your first DIY project and your first real "hi-fi" purchase. Too much sentimental value here I guess.
Blast you Doc and Paul for the great stuff you built. My SET gear wasn't supposed to be better than all my other stuff. It was all supposed to be this great time killer and project, not change the way I listen to music completely.
Don't get me wrong I still love all my gear but these tweaked Paramours are awesome in a way that the push-pull gear isn't. Listening to the Paramours and then rushing home and listening to the same music again it seems like it's a bit fuzzy or something on the push pull gear. The SET sound is like swimming in clear water compared to the murky stuff.
If this is so appealing to me I wonder what the Paraglows must sound like.
John

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Topic - Paramour Review (long) - John EH 20:07:07 01/03/03 (11)

Recommendation. - VoltSecond 13:52:50 01/04/03 (6)

What & where is C2? <nt> - SMB 17:12:30 01/04/03 (2)

Re: What & where is C2? <nt> - VoltSecond 17:32:38 01/04/03 (1)

Re: What & where is C2? <nt> - SMB 18:24:59 01/04/03 (0)

Re: Recommendation. - John EH 14:55:05 01/04/03 (1)

Re: Recommendation. - VoltSecond 17:02:56 01/04/03 (0)

Re: Recommendation. - calsaint 14:01:49 01/04/03 (0)

Re: Paramour Review (long) - calsaint 12:19:39 01/04/03 (0)

Re: Paramour Review (long) - Stuart S 05:37:39 01/04/03 (2)

Re: Paramour Review (long) - MikeW 07:06:32 01/04/03 (1)

Re: Paramour heater to ground - variation on Voltsecond recommendation - Stuart S 08:47:32 01/04/03 (0)

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