Exemplar Denon 2900. WOW Need owner advice.

Budrew, from the Exemplar website:

Tubes: - 5965 standard, 6829, 7062, E180CC, or CV8431 optional
(direct plug ins)

My Exemplar 2900 has a small static pop when I press play. JohnTucker
told me this is normal, and actually something that is endemic to Denon
2900 machines and is magnified by the modification. The static pop is
pretty quiet.

My machine makes another pop about 20-30 seconds after powering it
up. John tells me this pop is the tube stage turning on once it has fully
powered up. My terminology may be a little off here, but this is
essentially what is happening. This pop is a little louder than the static I
described earlier, and I simply mute my preamp for a minute or so after
powering up the Exemplar so that the tube stage has its chance to
become fully operational. It also will make a similar pop when its turned
off, and I mute the preamp again before I turn off the Exemplar.

Hope this helps.

I actually have not heard the static pop when you press play that some have noticed. The snap/pop that I described is pretty loud and happens randomly. I'm not loooking at the machine when it happens so i can't comment on where specifically it happens within it. I had assumed it might be the casing "snapping" into shape when it warms up. It does not effect the sound at all which is outstanding.

Budrew

I have lots of extra E180CC's, 7062's, 5965's, 12AV7's and can tell you which are the best IMHO.

I have found nothing to compare with the Amperex 7062/E180CC pinch waists although they are expensive.

Budrew, if you hear the pop on first turnon with the amps open, I am surprised that you describe it as a pop. I have once done this a got a increasing frequency woop. All Denons I have heard, modified and unmodified, did make a soft pop at the start of the recording.

Tbg, the increasing frequency whoop is exactly what I get 20-30 seconds after I power up the player. That's why I leave the preamp in mute for a minute or so after power up.