Dracule1. Just wondering if you ever ran your mod past Mr C or Jordan and if so what did they say?
Smokenjo. I run Psvanes type ll on the front end and they really opened up the soundstage and top end for me. I love them. Give them a try they made a big difference over the stock although the stock vintage tubes are very good.
Mark |
I'm still lovin' mine.
ozzy
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The standard warranty is 10 long years tubes and all ....sorry for the error and some distributors give 60 day returns. |
I own the crimson 350s and they are amazing. They will drive a 1 ohm dip with no problem. I drive Carver amazing silvers (on Mr Cs recommendation) that will eat power and again they handle them easily. Plus you can try them for 30 days and send them back if you don’t like them. Pair them with some pre amp specials some Carver dealers are doing and you will be amazed they are not $50000 +. I’ve been to AXPONA many times and I know $50000 + sounds like Mine are warrantied tubes and all for 50 yrs per Mr C but 5 yrs tubes and all how can you beat that. You can put your hand on the tubes after they have been playing for hrs. No mods I see no reason to mod them but I have a psvane type ll front end which I love. You cannot go wrong. Go listen to them. Then you will buy and live happily ever after |
I’m thinking of getting a pair of the Raven 350’s to drive my Martin Logan Montis but for the money am also looking at a used Mesa Boogie Baron amp or a VTL 150 (as had the MB450’s in the past and loved the sound) am open to input as the Carvers seem pretty amazing but for the $ wonder why they would need mods? |
smokenjo25 posts05-08-2018 6:42pmhas anyone try PSVANE tubes in their 350 I’m using PSVANE 12AX& & 12AT7 and the original Shuguang KT88s in my 180’s which drive Avalon Eidolons. The line level signal is from a Reflection Audio OM-1 battery powered preamplifier. In my experience the system context can have a greater influence on the outcome of a resulting tube change not to mention ones personal taste in a systems overall presentation. Pardon my ability to convey my sonic differences. In my system I found the PSVANEs increased a sense of space or openness and a slightly deeper stage. An overall refinement that one might associate, but not quite as dramatic as, a phono cartridge upgrade. Regarding the Shuguang KT88s used in the Bob Carver VTA 180s: Going on five years of ownership I’ve only needed to replace one output tube due to a physical bump that mechanically loosened the bottle from the base which dramatically lowered its output according to the amplifiers own bias test method. After testing the remaining five tubes as well as the new replacement tube the bias setting remained at the same point as the initial setting after the amplifiers initial insulation years ago. I was unable to hear any noticeable improvement with the addition of the one new tube. By comparison at this point in usage I had preformed numerous bias adjustments and changed full complements of tubes in my Marantz 8Bs and my MFA D75 exhibiting noticeable improvements in presentation as a result of their replacement.
From the 350 manual: ["FUSES The rear panel line fuse is a 6 ampere (3 ampere for 240 volt operation), fast blow type, and should be replaced with the same type and rating if it ever needs replacing. Do not, under any circumstances, use a "slow-blow" fuse here. The (rear panel) vacuum tube cathode fuse is a 1.0 ampere and should be replaced with the same type and rating. If the fuse blows during bench testing, it may be temporarily replaced with a 1.25 or 1.5 ampere fuse. Normally, a 1.0 ampere fuse will be perfect for music because the peak-to-average power ratio of speech and music is about 10:1. If you find that the 1.0 amp fuse blows with music, you may replace it with a 1.25 ampere fuse, or even a 1.5 ampere unit."] |
Thanks ozzy,
I have my SoundScape 8s now and the highs are still a little harsh. Was contemplating whether to drop the gain before I begin calibrating. I think I will calibrate and then see where I am at as I do not get any sound out of the speakers when there is no source playing.
Erich |
erichgs,
Yes, I have the 6 jumpers on the fourth setting plus the 2 on the input at the 2-3 setting. For a total of 8 jumpers being used.
ozzy
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Ozzy,
Where do you have the jumpers set? 4 on the output and 2-3 on the input (listed as default)?
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david_ten,
Well its funny, the DEQX jumper situation
didn’t really surface until I got the Carver speakers.
This week I will post more on the speaker thread.
ozzy
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@ozzy Good to know! Even better your being super happy with them. How are your Carver speakers breaking in? |
Well I did a disservice to the Carver Raven 350 Amps based on one of my previous posts about hiss coming from the Carver amps when using the balanced outputs from my DEQX. I discovered that my DEQX preamp had some
internal output jumpers in the wrong place. Either the previous owner or
somewhere earlier I did it.
Once corrected these amps are now the purist best dynamic amps I have ever heard, beit solid state or tube. ozzy
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No, I just put them in with the writing on the fuse going from front to back.
Sounded real good so I left them in that direction.
ozzy
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Did you try the different orientations for the fuse? SR states it is directional, but both fuses in the Carver amp are AC (verified with Jordan), so orientation of the fuse isn't necessarily "easy". |
erichgs,
No I just exchanged the 1A fuse with the SR 1.6A Blue in slow blow.
ozzy
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A 6.3amp and 1amp both in fast blow? |
To those that own these amps, I just installed a couple of the SR Blue fuses in them and it really adds to the smoothness of the soundstage.
Highly recommended.
ozzy |
has anyone try PSVANE tubes in their 350 |
I am just using the cords that came with the amplifiers. No issues, so no reason to change I bet replacing stock PC will yield bigger improvement over tube rolling. FYI, there are 2 types of Telefunken 12XXX tubes, ribbed and smooth plates. ribbed plate is more neutral with higher resolution. I always prefer ribbed plates. |
I haven't tried swapping the stock 12AX7s back in, but I would have to imagine it is the sum of both. Also, the improvement for the ECC801s was very noticeable in the highs which was too bright before. The ECC801s did a lot more to mellow that than the ECC83 did. |
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erichgs,
There are a lot of settings in the DEQX and it can be difficult to master. The instructions make you jump back and forth. I was just wonderin’ if you have it figured out yet. I have found that my main DIY speakers sound best without any DEQX adjustments but the sub crossover, delay and mixing with the main is valuable.
On the tubes, is it the sum of both of the Telefunken tubes or is one slot better than the other?
ozzy
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Swapped the Telefunken ECC801s pair in for the stock 12AT7s. The improvement is larger than when I swapped the Telefunken ECC83 pair in for the stock 12AX7s. Really happy with the sound improvements from these changes. |
If by mastered you mean have it hooked up, then yes I have mastered the DEQX. |
erichgs,
Well its nice to know that we both hear the same noise (hiss).
Bob Carver doesn’t really believe me. He thinks there is something wrong with the DEQX.
Oh well, at least with using the RCA outs on the DEQX to the Carver it is dead quite.
BTW, have you mastered the DEQX?
ozzy |
Ozzy,
Just an FYI, the balanced outs on my DEQX are very noisy on the Carver 350s as well. RCA dead silent. On the Benchmark DAC3, the balanced outs are quieter than the RCA outs, but not quite as quiet as the RCA on the DEQX. |
That is good to hear as I also have a set of Telefunken 12AT7 tubes on the way (purchased tuesday after some reading.)
Erich |
I just installed Telefunken 12AT7 tubes and they also complement the Telefunken 12AX7 with the Carvers.
ozzy |
erichgs,
I also purchased the DEQX used but it did come in a DEQX box.
smokenjo,
I agree give them a try. The only other tubes that I have tried is the Telefunken and the ones that came with the amp.
ozzy
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I emailed bob carver asking about tubes, I have a matching pair of MULLARD 12AT7 [CV4024] JORDON , emailed me back telling me to try them, they should make a difference, hope for the better !!!!! |
@smokenjo
Really interested in hearing your impressions of the 350's with your SS8's
@ozzy
Did you get your DEQX, was it new? If so, how was it packaged? I received mine tonight and it looked repackaged and had several small scratches in the case. It was also packaged in a plane white box. |
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just ordered the CRIMSON 350"s, they already have been burnt in |
Right now Salk HT-MTM, but preparing for Salk SoundScape 8s that are being built right now. |
Well congrats!
What speakers are you using?
ozzy
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Thank you Ozzy, have a pair on the way. Also have a DEQX on the way. |
erichgs,
Yes, according to Bob Carver the 12ax7 is the tube most sensitive to upgrades. Stick with Telefunken tubes that were made in West Germany vintage 1960's. Decent condition ones cost about $120-$150 a pair.
EBay is probably the best place to find a selection.
ozzy
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So only change the 12ax7 and not the 12at7? Completely new to tube amplifiers and haven't even started researching tube rolling yet. Anything I should be looking for when purchasing vintage Telefunken (stick with NOS, year, etc)? Any place recommended for purchase? |
erichgs,
Upgrading the power cords has provided a fairly impressive sonic improvement. Don’t sell this upgrade short.
Another improvement can be made by changing the supplied 12ax7 input tube to a vintage Telefunken tube.
And believe it or not I found upgrading the 1A fuse to a SR Red was also significant. Later on I’m going to replace the red for a blue fuse. But only after I’m confident the tubes have settled down and will no longer pop the fuse.
The DEQX has quite the learning curve, but once mastered it can provide great integration between subs, mains and the room.
ozzy |
I am just using the cords that came with the amplifiers. No issues, so no reason to change.
ozzy,
Been doing some reading on the DEQX products I and am fairly certain I am going to pick one up. It will be nice to be able to room correct my own setup and it will do a much better job with subwoofer crossover and also allow the subwoofers to be integrated into stereo listening if I choose (which I can't do now.) |
smokenjo,
I am using the Cerious Matrix power cords 3 meters long each!
ozzy
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what AC cables are you guys using with your carver mono"s |
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So I am going to keep the Carvers since they allow me to try other "hard to drive" speakers. Quads, Electrostatics, and Planers are on my list to try.
I must say though my Atma-Sphere M-60 3.3’s are very nice sounding amps that I hope I do not regret selling.
I have an ad on the "Gon’" for their sale right now with over 800 views in 4 days!
ozzy |
erichgs,
Some equipment does not work well with the inputs shorted.
I am using the DEQX as an electronic crossover and to blend the subs with my main speakers in the room. And it is quite a complicated piece of equipment that can make a big difference.
ozzy
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If you have multiple inputs, depending on how they are wired shorting plugs can be a bad idea.
Ozzy,
I had never looked at the DEQX equipment. Does it really make that big of a diffrence? Which DAC implementation do they use? |
There are shorting plugs that accomplish both.
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Actually the caps do help to keep stray RF/EMI out of the signal path.
ozzy
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The shorting plug shorts the signal to the ground where the cap just covers and protects from the elements. |
what is the diff. between a RCA cap and RCA shorting plug |
erichgs,
I have moved my jumper and output settings on my DEQX premate to its highest output settings and still no hum.
I can't tell you how satisfying it is to have discovered the source of the hiss. It was amazing that I missed something so obvious for a week.
smokenjo,
They can be purchased from many places. I bought mine off of EBay from a guy located in Michigan, they are of very high quality and with fast delivery. Now remember these are caps not shorting plugs. I have used them on all of my unused rca and xlr input/output throughout my system.
ozzy |
OZZY, where did you buy those rca caps |
The Benchmark DAC3 has jumpers to attenuate the XLR output. I moved the jumpers from the default position (0db) to the middle setting (-10db) and now I am noise free as well. |
