"Audio voodoo"- $400 ultra tweeters and a $485 wooden volume knob

Ooops, screwed up the previous message. This should work:

http://www.dccblowout.com/product.aspx?pf_id=magicpillow

Great find, Bob, and another reason I "hang around" audio discussion sites such as this one, Joe Curcio's, and others that are on strong and stable TECHNICAL ground.

Audiophools and their money are soon parted.

I'll put my two cents here. About 4 or 5 years ago a coworker was looking at his owners manual for a tube preamplifier. He said it was about 20 years old, and he hadn't used it in about 10. It now had a loud hum. I don't recall the make, but it used 12AX7's throughout, and it was well over $1000 according to said coworker. The really interesting thing was the magazine he had. He told me to check out these little wooden tripods for your speaker wire. Each one was $49.99 and you bought as many as needed to keep your speaker wire off the floor to prevent throwing off the "natural capacitances" of the speaker wire. A kit of four was supposed to be the most popular they sold. A previous customer raved about the improvement they made, as well as the high end 24(!) gauge speaker wire they also recommended he purchase. My guess is the too small gauge is what made the difference in the first place. To each his own I say.

BTW I did offer to fix the preamp, but he said he'll just put it away for another day.

Tony

While upgrading your components, cables, power cord and plugs, let's not forget AudioFoil-grade receptacles.

http://www.parts-express.com:80/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=110-439&vReviewShow=1&vReviewRand=2818820

Be sure to read customer reviews!

Bob Latino wrote: Here is an Ebay auction for a DEAD Mullard GZ34 rectifier tube. The fellow freely admits that the tube is dead and shows a photo of his tube tester reading zero emissions. He feels that "perhaps it has some use for someone". Maybe for your "dead Mullard tube collection" ?? Buy It Now for $10 + $4 shipping. Link below ..

Dead Mullard GZ34 on Ebay

Bob

Wow!! that guy deserves A face palm, i mean really.

You know, all I use is dead tubes, they sound so good...


-Vic

With dead tubes, quiets are . . . "dead quiet"! Inky blackness is surely even inkier. And since the Mullard is said to be the best rectifier tube, a dead Mullard is surely the epitome of DEAD. Deader than Dead.

thevic24 wrote:

Bob Latino wrote: Here is an Ebay auction for a DEAD Mullard GZ34 rectifier tube. The fellow freely admits that the tube is dead and shows a photo of his tube tester reading zero emissions. He feels that "perhaps it has some use for someone". Maybe for your "dead Mullard tube collection" ?? Buy It Now for $10 + $4 shipping. Link below ..

Dead Mullard GZ34 on Ebay

Bob

Wow!! that guy deserves A face palm, i mean really.

You know, all I use is dead tubes, they sound so good...


-Vic

I have always been suspicious of claims made for prolonged break-in period. This one takes the cake for sure. 720 hours or 30 days has to be the all-time leader in break-in time. Check it out: http://www.acmeaudiolabs.com/productinfo.htm

Captain Coconut wrote:I have always been suspicious of claims made for prolonged break-in period. This one takes the cake for sure. 720 hours or 30 days has to be the all-time leader in break-in time. Check it out: http://www.acmeaudiolabs.com/productinfo.htm

It probably comes with a 30 day return policy

Do you suppose that it's 720 hours of continuos use (that would be Guinness Record material) or accumulated use. Let's say you listen for two hours a day, that would be just short of a year. And then you would wonder 'Gee, what did it sound like a year ago'!

Auditory memory is short and fleeting. I wonder if they know this. Enough cynicism for now.

From over on Audiokarma

Bugs762 wrote:From over on Audiokarma

http://proaudioreview.com/article/25978

Hit "Skip Content"

FYI: Just to clarify, the price you quoted is actually for a complete Telefunken ELA-M251 professional studio microphone kit. This kit consists of the microphone, power supply, shock mount, carrying case, etc. $12K is indeed the suggested list price, but these mics can be purchased in the $8K to $9K range. Yes, they are expensive, but not exhorbitantly so for the pro-audio market. In years past, I had the privilege of using various Neumann microphones (particularly U87's which cost about half as much as the ELA-M251's) when making on-location recordings of various classical performances, both instrumental and vocal. I quickly learned to appreciate how a microphone of this caliber is a true work of art and that it can produce some quite stunning results.

Best Regards,
Charlie

bnc31 wrote:FYI: Just to clarify, the price you quoted is actually for a complete Telefunken ELA-M251 professional studio microphone kit. This kit consists of the microphone, power supply, shock mount, carrying case, etc. $12K is indeed the suggested list price, but these mics can be purchased in the $8K to $9K range. Yes, they are expensive, but not exhorbitantly so for the pro-audio market. In years past, I had the privilege of using various Neumann microphones (particularly U87's which cost about half as much as the ELA-M251's) when making on-location recordings of various classical performances, both instrumental and vocal. I quickly learned to appreciate how a microphone of this caliber is a true work of art and that it can produce some quite stunning results.

Best Regards,
Charlie

Thanks Charlie, I hate it when my ignorance is showing.

Bugs,

Well, the article did indeed show a picture of the tube with the $12K price below. IMHO Pro Audio Review should have done a better job!

Charlie

O.K. Maybe not Audio voodoo but some one else will have to get one and let me know.

http://www.mofi.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=124&idcategory=9

Well here's the only review of it I can find on line:

http://www.tonepublications.com/index/mobile-fidelity-sound-labs-35c-phono-cartridge/

Elsewhere on another audio forum there were comments that the cartridge has been out already more than a year, and yet, no reviews to be found.

3.5k isn't really stratospheric for a top tier MC cartridge, but it's getting there. There are plenty costing that and more, but boy oh boy, you want to be sure about what you're getting before laying out that kinda spondulic.

It is pretty, I have to say, though I'm starting to think Carbon Fibre is the gimmick de jour panacea for all that ails.

Hey, I know, how about a carbon fibre chassis for a special edition Dynaco, Bob? The VTA DynaCarbon!

Tames excess resonances caused by having too much cash in my wallet.

;-)

Okay guys, sorry to revive an old thread, but some days I read something and I think to myself: Just shoot me now, please!

See this: http://www.stereophile.com/powerlineaccessories/907fuse/ and this: http://www.revolutionpower.com/o/HiFi-Tuning/

Now perhaps I should throw a few of these into my ST-70 or my SET MP-7 (yes I know it takes only one, but I can always mod it ;-)). I am sure the improvement in clarity, detail and the sheer magnitude that this change will bring will far overshadow my self-doubt about being a bloody gullible & stupid idiot.

One poster on AK tells that there was even an improvement over time as the fuse was "breaking in". My sister is a Psychiatrist, perhaps I should send the poster her contact details - I am willing to pay for his treatment (if he agrees to let my sis disclose her findings to me).

-- 'Jan in BC, Canada

Michael "the more it costs the better" Fremer wrote:

"...worth trying, if only for the diversionary entertainment."

But that was at "less than $30" per fuse (though now, they start at $35 and go up).

If they were $300, he'd be ecstatic ($350, by now...).

Hmm I wonder what's next....
Maybe audiophile quality shock absorbent rubber feet to put under your amplifier which shield it from detrimental vibrations which can cause microphonics. Only $100 for a set of 4!!!!

Corona wrote:Hmm I wonder what's next....
Maybe audiophile quality shock absorbent rubber feet to put under your amplifier which shield it from detrimental vibrations which can cause microphonics. Only $100 for a set of 4!!!!

================================================

The audio accessories manufacturers have beat you to it. Some of them DO cost $100 or more. EACH.

I have an idea -- I believe there's already audio-foil hook up wire, but I'm betting its purveyors have totally overlooked the sonic improvement potential of audiophile insulation for said wire!

How about those "western electric" and other vintage power cords that you see on ebay sometimes. Supposedly the copper is more "pure" or something and some people swear they can hear the difference.