Valve amps, great with Jazz, shit with everything else.

[Mikeandvan]

Certainly. I'm happy to post a piccy here if you would like. Are you doubting me?, lol. I apologies if I misjudge but people often doubt.
But if that is what you want, I'm happy to oblige. The weekend is now here. Please watch this space chap.

I thought you might have been a figment of some other members imagination, or may'be from a Russian troll farm? I suppose with a moniker like Knuckledragger what does one expect! Good day to you sir.

[anthonyTD]

I agree, and also it should be remembered that most people on AoS have put time, effort and money into their hifi of whatever stature it may be in audiophile terms, and most are justifiably proud of what they have, whether others like it or not. So for someone to come along and say some of their gear or system is poor or should be replaced then it very likely to cause upset, especially if an individual has asked for advice on issues they are having. Also we should not forget, as we hopefully all appreciate, getting an audio system to sound great is not the easiest thing in the world to do, there are a great many variables involved, not just the kit and its synergy with each other, but how it is installed, the room layout and how it interacts with it.

There are certain pieces of equipment that I have learnt from personal experience I would not recommend, I try and observe caution before giving my opinions to owners of them unless they ask for it specifically if they know I experience of it. I might offer genuine advice on what might gain improvements but resist direct criticism. In the past my wife has often pulled me up for just saying it the way it is without any real tact or diplomacy, and I have learnt that it is best to consider what I do and say first, rather than regret the result after and possibly loose a friendship or unnecessarily upset someone. This does not mean I do not put my views across but rather do so in a fitting and appropriate manner.

Like Marco said, in my view its not what you say but how you say it that is important.

[Mikeandvan]

How long do valve amps normally take to come on song after switch on? Once mine is on there are days - when its raining! Where I'll leave it on for like 5 hours. I don't mind too much having to replace valves say once a year if I have to.

[Marco]

In the past my wife has often pulled me up for just saying it the way it is without any real tact or diplomacy, and I have learnt that it is best to consider what I do and say first, rather than regret the result after and possibly loose a friendship or unnecessarily upset someone. This does not mean I do not put my views across but rather do so in a fitting and appropriate manner.

Hey, Adrian, respect to your good lady for keeping you in line, lol!

Seriously though, you (and she) are spot on. Tact and diplomacy, along indeed with showing respect for your fellow man, regardless of what you think of his or her system or hi-fi views, is something that we will always INSIST upon here. It is a fundamental part of what makes AoS, AoS, and the sense of community that has been generated by everyone since the site's inception.

So if someone refuses to 'fit in', in that respect, and comply with how we do things here, then they can simply go elsewhere for their 'hi-fi kicks', as we only want people here who are willing to behave in the required manner. It's really as simple as that

Marco.

[AJSki2fly]

How long do valve amps normally take to come on song after switch on? Once mine is on there are days - when its raining! Where I'll leave it on for like 5 hours. I don't mind too much having to replace valves say once a year if I have to.

The more you use them the better imo, mine takes about 30 minutes to hit the sweet spot. TBH I don’t worry about it to much just enjoy the music , once your new valves have settled down it will be on song just the same


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Marco]

Just one thing I was thinking of Mike, have tried returning to the EL34 output valves that the amp (and its transformers) was originally designed to be used with, instead of the 5881/6L6s?

Try some nice NOS Mullards... I'm almost certain that would cheer things up!

Marco.

[Pharos]

How long do valve amps normally take to come on song after switch on? Once mine is on there are days - when its raining! Where I'll leave it on for like 5 hours. I don't mind too much having to replace valves say once a year if I have to.

This raises an issue for me which really bothers me. My happiness, or not, with my system, is so dependant on how I am affected by the weather.
I despair and tell myself to grow up when it is raining and windy outside with dark clouds here, the sea splashing all over the beach in the near distance - Wrath of God feeling, which undermines all of my activity. The speakers are either side of a large window and the rain a day ago was so loud that I had to turn the sound up to quite high levels, with water pouring down the pains in high volumes. In fact I also watched a film on which was similarly intense rain on windows, and it was virtually indistinguishable from the reality of that on my own.

This should not affect my perception of sound, but when the sun is out and a light breeze blowing through my open front door, the sound appears to be better, and often to the point of joy.

I conclude that to be entirely objective in this situation is impossible, and that it is futile to try to overcome this, because our brains are wired to be concerned with potential survival threats above all else.

[Pigmy Pony]

This raises an issue for me which really bothers me. My happiness, or not, with my system, is so dependant on how I am affected by the weather.
I despair and tell myself to grow up when it is raining and windy outside with dark clouds here, the sea splashing all over the beach in the near distance - Wrath of God feeling, which undermines all of my activity. The speakers are either side of a large window and the rain a day ago was so loud that I had to turn the sound up to quite high levels, with water pouring down the pains in high volumes. In fact I also watched a film on which was similarly intense rain on windows, and it was virtually indistinguishable from the reality of that on my own.

This should not affect my perception of sound, but when the sun is out and a light breeze blowing through my open front door, the sound appears to be better, and often to the point of joy.

I conclude that to be entirely objective in this situation is impossible, and that it is futile to try to overcome this, because our brains are wired to be concerned with potential survival threats above all else.

Good morning Dennis,

I sympathise with you mate, the time, money and effort that goes into your enjoyment, only to have it scuppered frequently by forces outside your control (the weather). But I suppose it's part and parcel of where you live.

A couple of suggestions: replacing your large window with a new, better performing one, or if it is already modern, you could replace the double glazed units with triple glazed ones. Both options would lower the noise floor to some degree. Can't do much about the rainy view apart from closing the curtains, but it occurs to me that a bit if SAD might be at play here too. Vitamin D is supposed to help.

Also, if you live in a bungalow or your listening room is upstairs (basically have you got a roof directly above your ceiling), "light tunnels" can be very good at bringing natural light into a room. Look at me spending all your money like there's no tomorrow! Apologies if you have already considered and rejected these ideas

Objective ideas to deal with a largely subjective problem as we're all different - Mrs. P likes being in her dad's conservatory (polycarbonate roof) when it's raining. The sound takes her back to her childhood caravan holidays, and she finds it cosy and comforting. I on the other hand can't hear myself think...

[Marco]

This should not affect my perception of sound, but when the sun is out and a light breeze blowing through my open front door, the sound appears to be better, and often to the point of joy.

Understandable, Dennis. It'll naturally be a psychological effect, when your spirits are lifted. As Steve's said, it appears you're suffering from the effects of SAD, which I presume isn't something that's new to you? Sorry to hear that, and there are treatments for it.

Interestingly, for me, in terms of how my system sounds, it's the opposite, as when the earth rods plunged into my lawn are 'well watered', it lowers the impedance of my mains supply [yes a sparky and me were sad enough to measure it], and consequently my system sounds better when it's raining!

Anyway, I hope you can take some effective steps to combat your gloomy mood in the bad weather and feel better about things soon

Marco.

[anthonyTD]

Understandable, Dennis.

Anyway, I hope you can take some effective steps to combat your gloomy mood in the bad weather and feel better about things soon

Marco.