Tubes/Thermionic Valves.. discuss them here

No, I don't understand either, why someone would buy a headphone amp with the pre amp as a kind of 'bonus' and then go and spend that kind of money on valves is a waste of money.

A headphone at $200 dollars would have made more difference.

And then comparing tube amp with an ss? Totally different designs and sound quite different too. So?

I don't know why you keep doing it to be honest.

Chasing your own tail comes to mind.

Err.... I use the Ember on some active studio monitors, so I have tried it. However, it's a secondary part of the amp and wasn't really designed to do that as its main function.

Why don't you talk to Headfi people about all these comparisons? They love it there.

Part of my work consists of working in studios.

It's kind of like me telling you how to run your computer company tbh with incessant comparisons with other companies in different areas. How about I compare your company to the bank?

Besides, I didn't like the Genalex Gold Lion 12AU7 which came in. Sounds dry and too SSy, fresh out of the box though, and I don't have time for burn in.

I've now had pm's from people regarding this character including some guys in India who say that he plagues other forums over there too.

Without being too nasty, they have also had enough of the incessant questions and daft comparisons on other forums by him so my advice is avoid or ignore.

One fella in India even apoloised for him, feeling quite embarassed.

Until he learns to listen, for me he is off bounds and the next time, he's gone. I will ban him.

Once the rope is long enough, that's it. 3 strikes and out for good.

Seriously Dave, we're not the only ones. It seems that a few Indian audio and games sites have also had enough.

For me, the end was me being accused of bullying by him. That was the end of any form of friendship as far as I'm concerned. Until that point, I just thought he was a bit weird but then, once that came out, then that was the end for me.

I think he means well but lacks listening skills and takes offence if he's being questioned. I was listening on the same speakers!! I borrowed them from a friend and wondered what on earth he was going on about.

Then he started up about his golden ears etc. Yeah...... sure.

So, one more piece of stupidity and he leaves. Ya. Thanks.

Well, Headfi have now banned this character so he's now on thin ice here as well. I noticed from the log he is still around. I told him he was unwelcome here on the Headfi forum following his accusations regarding myself and Jude has taken him out.

Very thin ice here now so I won't hesitate next time. Just need one little reason and it will happen unless he stops the stupid incessant questions.

Then we will have had the magic three offences so I can't be accused of being impatient!!

Oh, I see. I have some Russian tubes here. I always get the numbers confused but I think the ones I have are 6n23eb. (Or is it 6h23eb - all very confusing) Very good. I had them in the three MF amps that I have. (V1, V2 and V8) All of my MF amps were rebuilt by Pink Floyd and modded and Little Pinkie supplies added. Part of the changes were the tubes and he also swears by the Russian tubes.

On my Ember I'm using an Orange labelled tube by Amperex which is excellent. The numbers seem to rub away quite easily but this one seemed slightly more open at the top for me. I have troubles with tubes since you see them going in and then 'expect' big improvements. I settled with the Amperex in the end but as you say, I found the eb's, solid in the bass but more so in the Ember than the MF' s so I swapped them for something that I think is a tad lighter.

It feeds a modded T40 with an active filter made, modded and measured by Solderdude who got it to the point where I tend to rest as far as tonality goes.

The Orange labelled tube seems a good match with the T40 which doesn't need too much added in the lower region since it does go very deep and for me, the eb's added a bit too much with that headphone, which shows differences pretty well!!

I'm quite keen on trying to get a good match between amp and headphone rather than put an amp in and condemn or praise it on whatever headphone I happen to be using. I try to look for good matches and the nice thing is that the Ember is SO configurable plus the idea of matching a tube with headphone that the chances of success with many headphones is much higher.

I really like the configurability and design of the amp a lot.