DHT OTL Linestage - Tram 2

[xerocomm]

Originally Posted by bcherry

Cost is 25USD.
I expect delivery next week.
Brian

Brian, Great job and great price, thanks.

[bcherry]

Originally Posted by JimU

Hi, The repetitive sizzling mentioned in the EnjoyTheMusic review could be some instability in the PS/CCS, will this be investigated? Tnx, Jim

It's not. Everything is regulated and clean. It seems to be related to the tubes, especially older tubes. It also seems to diminish as the tube is used, maybe dissipating traces of gas on older tubes or stabilizing cathode emissions. We think these are sounds that were always there but masked in amplifier applications.

regards
Brian

[delicious2]

Originally Posted by bcherry

It's not. Everything is regulated and clean. It seems to be related to the tubes, especially older tubes. It also seems to diminish as the tube is used, maybe dissipating traces of gas on older tubes or stabilizing cathode emissions. We think these are sounds that were always there but masked in amplifier applications.

regards
Brian

When I moved to my new home in a different town 3 years ago my VTL TinyTriodes Signature Ed. which had been quiet and stable for all of their 8 years began blowing tubes at startup with associated popping and sizzling before a valve would go nova. I put it down just to old tubes and time to get things retubed and rebiased so back to VTL they went. Turned out it wasn't that simple and they have to be on a good filtering powerstrip (Furman in this case) in this house. The whole system is on that power filter at the moment. Could the quality of power coming in affect the Tram 2 despite its internal regulation?

BTW, This is my first post. I joined this forum after reading the EnjoyTheMusic review and would be very interested in having a demo in my home in Massachusetts. The Tram 2 would replace a Parasound SS preamp to the VTLs to Klipschorns in my 22 x 13 x 8 living room.

peace,
Mark H

[bcherry]

Originally Posted by delicious2

When I moved to my new home in a different town 3 years ago my VTL TinyTriodes Signature Ed. which had been quiet and stable for all of their 8 years began blowing tubes at startup with associated popping and sizzling before a valve would go nova. I put it down just to old tubes and time to get things retubed and rebiased so back to VTL they went. Turned out it wasn't that simple and they have to be on a good filtering powerstrip (Furman in this case) in this house. The whole system is on that power filter at the moment. Could the quality of power coming in affect the Tram 2 despite its internal regulation?

BTW, This is my first post. I joined this forum after reading the EnjoyTheMusic review and would be very interested in having a demo in my home in Massachusetts. The Tram 2 would replace a Parasound SS preamp to the VTLs to Klipschorns in my 22 x 13 x 8 living room.

peace,
Mark H

Welcome!

There are many variables so anything is possible. However in this case it seems the effect follows certain tubes.

Not sure about the home demo. You can email me.

regards
Brian

[bcherry]

This is a great way to kick off the new business year -- Enjoythemusic.com Blue Note award for the Tram2. Credit to Enjoythemusic.com staff for putting aside the unsaid selling price hierarchy and awarding the Blue Note on performance alone.
That's integrity.

[delicious2]

[clivetjm]

Originally Posted by bcherry

It's not. Everything is regulated and clean. It seems to be related to the tubes, especially older tubes. It also seems to diminish as the tube is used, maybe dissipating traces of gas on older tubes or stabilizing cathode emissions. We think these are sounds that were always there but masked in amplifier applications.

regards
Brian

I'd like to back up what Brian has said about the sizzling sounds. Since the review I've continued to swap my tubes around. The 1930's / 1940's 45s I have are very used....the previously unusable pair after a few hours of being powered up have become usable. With both pairs of ancient 45s I've found the sizzling has greatly subsided and all but gone after leaving them powered up all day. Sometimes on power up it comes back but it soon goes. I have no doubt this is some form of internal issue in these very old and very used tubes.

[2bkurious]

If one were seeking neutrality which would be the better tube 2A3,45?

[catastrofe]

Any estimate of tube life on the triodes? Especially if they're left on 24/7?

[clivetjm]

My comment above about leaving the tubes on all day was about leaving them on all day but just for one day! Not everyday. Sorry for being misleading.

I've since (at last) worked out that even though the NOS tubes pins looked clean, they weren't. Most, if not all the noise was due to this and these tubes depositing some crud into the sockets.

Which is better? 45 or 2A3? I have some fabulous truly NOS 2A3 that are sounding great. Hard to say which tubes intrinsically are better, probably whichever tube is in better condition and the least microphonic.