Aesthetix Io Users Group

[Salectric]

Thank you @jjhf1234.

 

[Lagonda]

Nice, i first thought those EL 34 were about to go nuclear !

 

[Lagonda]

Correct, only transformers in the power supply. The new, larger transformers are labeled Aesthetix now. The smaller are still Mercury branded.

Apologies for the semi blurry photo, was dark in my room and the iPhone used the longer exposure function which really needs a tripod or steady hand - makes for a nice tube glow though.
View attachment 148308

Did the old ones fail before you had the new ones installed ?

 

[jjhf1234]

Did the old ones fail before you had the new ones installed ?

No failures or issues in 15 years of IO use, ~5 years with IO Sig and 10 with IO Eclipse.

Downsized and simplified the system in 2022 and had the IO Eclipse boxed up in the garage when the new transformers came out. Just figured getting it updated, checked out, and new tubes installed would be best before using it again. Very good experience with all Aesthetix products I’ve used over the years.

 

[oldvinyl]

After hearing many credible reports like these, on this IO upgrade, I certainly wish they offered their own home-spun transformers for my Rhea Eclipse. I would pull the trigger faster than John Wesley Harden! Perhaps some day down the road it could be an option…

You might contact them and ask ... they might be able to do it.

 

[thekong]

No failures or issues in 15 years of IO use, ~5 years with IO Sig and 10 with IO Eclipse.

Downsized and simplified the system in 2022 and had the IO Eclipse boxed up in the garage when the new transformers came out. Just figured getting it updated, checked out, and new tubes installed would be best before using it again. Very good experience with all Aesthetix products I’ve used over the years.

Hi jjhf1234, thank you for the report on the transformer upgrade; the Io is still the best sounding phono to my ears! One quick question, where are you located, and is your Io the 110V version?

Thanks!

 

[jjhf1234]

Hi jjhf1234, thank you for the report on the transformer upgrade; the Io is still the best sounding phono to my ears! One quick question, where are you located, and is your Io the 110V version?

Thanks!

You’re welcome, was something I put off for way too long and very thankful to have it back in the system now. It’s certainly the best sounding I’ve used as well, and now even better with the updates/new tubes.

I’m in the Portland, Oregon area, running at 117v

 

[Johan K]

Did you get your's working without noise again Ron ? Mine has been running smoothly for about a month now, never had noise issues though.

So Milan… is your IO up and running again?

/ Jk

 

[Lagonda]

So Milan… is your IO up and running again?

/ Jk

Yes, and sounding wonderful. It is the best sounding phono i have heard. I lowered the voltage on incoming power to the Io with a transformer, running 220 V instead of house 235 V. Connected the separate lines in my system to the same fuse outlet and phase as a precaution and cross myself before and after i turn it on/off. Some of it might work.

 

[bonzo75]

Yes, and sounding wonderful. It is the best sounding phono i have heard. I lowered the voltage on incoming power to the Io with a transformer, running 220 V instead of house 235 V. Connected the separate lines in my system to the same fuse outlet and phase as a precaution and cross myself before and after i turn it on/off. Some of it might work.

So your divorce with tubes is over

 

[Lagonda]

So your divorce with tubes is over

Not completely divorced , good friends with benefits status. Let's see if she is more faithful this time around. If she makes it 6 months i will be perfectly satisfied, she is a difficult girl but a good ride.

 

[Johan K]

Not completely divorced , good friends with benefits status. Let's see if she is more faithful this time around. If she makes it 6 months i will be perfectly satisfied, she is a difficult girl but a good ride.

You have crossed fingers from me !
I’m happy for you it’s working again.

””she is a difficult girl but a good ride”” LOL..!!!

-sometimes NO means YES!! Just ride the bullet my danish friend ha ha!!

/ Jk

 

[audioquest4life]

ECC 83 S ? They sound wailed in my Io, i prefer the J.J E83 CC in standard or gold pins. I prefer the E83 CC to the Phillips miniwatt i also own a bunch of. Sovtek LPS sounds good in the first stage.

Shhhh, don’t let the secret out about he Sovtek LPs in the first stage. Those are the go to tubes for me dating way back to 2006. Interestingly, The Io came equipped with the LPS in the first stage way back then. Sometime later, QC from the Sovtek tube factory took a dump and Aesthetix had to source alternate tubes. Heute, today, the newer versions of the Sovtek LPS sound good. I always had good look with the LPS tubes. I think good dates are 2003-2005…at least that is from my recollection. It seems that JJ tubes are the new standard.

 

[Lagonda]

Shhhh, don’t let the secret out about he Sovtek LPs in the first stage. Those are the go to tubes for me dating way back to 2006. Interestingly, The Io came equipped with the LPS in the first stage way back then. Sometime later, QC from the Sovtek tube factory took a dump and Aesthetix had to source alternate tubes. Heute, today, the newer versions of the Sovtek LPS sound good. I always had good look with the LPS tubes. I think good dates are 2003-2005…at least that is from my recollection. It seems that JJ tubes are the new standard.

I wish i could use Sovtek LPS in all gain stages, but they are not recommended for the other positions, i guess they burn out fast there. I am not a fan of " tuby" sound, the LPS strike a nice balance of dimensionality and correct tonal balance, i don't need a tube to mask if something sounds shitty in the treble, i have cartridges that can mask that.

 

[DetroitVinylRob]

You might contact them and ask ... they might be able to do it.

Yeah, the last time I spoke with Glenn they had nothing in the works.

 

[jjhf1234]

ECC 83 S ? They sound wailed in my Io, i prefer the J.J E83 CC in standard or gold pins. I prefer the E83 CC to the Phillips miniwatt i also own a bunch of. Sovtek LPS sounds good in the first stage.

Just checked and they are indeed the ECC83S. Will look into a set of the JJ E83CCs you mentioned, and believe I have a set of old set of Sovtek LPs laying around to try.

Still have a couple handfuls of Telefunkens (my old fav) but few that are quiet enough to use in the IO. Really enjoyed the Genelex Gold Lion ECC83s in the past but had a couple develop noise in what I’d consider too short of time (~500-600 hours) so probably not going to try those again.

 

[Lagonda]

Just checked and they are indeed the ECC83S. Will look into a set of the JJ E83CCs you mentioned, and believe I have a set of old set of Sovtek LPs laying around to try.

Still have a couple handfuls of Telefunkens (my old fav) but few that are quiet enough to use in the IO. Really enjoyed the Genelex Gold Lion ECC83s in the past but had a couple develop noise in what I’d consider too short of time (~500-600 hours) so probably not going to try those again.

The Sovtek's need some time burning in before they sound good in the treble, so do the J.J's. Get a reverse RIAA circuit for the burn in. Set you CD player on repeat and let it play.

 

[jjhf1234]

The Sovtek's need some time burning in before they sound good in the treble, so do the J.J's. Get a reverse RIAA circuit for the burn in. Set you CD player on repeat and let it play.

Much agreed. Have used both the Cardas locked-groove pink noise/sweep LP as well as the Granite Audio phono burn-in CD successfully over the years

 

[DetroitVinylRob]

IMHO the current day 12AX7 Sovtek LPS that are selected/distributed by Aesthetix perform impeccably in my Rhea Eclipse phonostage, in that critical first gain stage V1-4, coming in second only to NOS Telefunken 12AX7 smooth plates over the last couple of decades, and I’ve tried a lot. This holds equally with a dear friends 3 box IO as well. These valves retain their character true in my Aesthetix Metis as well. Hopefully the NOS stash will get me through… happy hunting, but more importantly, happy listening!

Beyond the first gain stage, has anyone tried the RCA 7058s? I like them and they are relatively cheap and robust. These are a 12AX7 with a 13.8V filament voltage. Totally comparable with Aesthetix gear.
Any thoughts?

 

[DetroitVinylRob]

The Sovtek's need some time burning in before they sound good in the treble, so do the J.J's. Get a reverse RIAA circuit for the burn in. Set you CD player on repeat and let it play.

Jim Hagerman offers a nice inexpensive one. It does a high level or low level output. Used it for decades. Especially good for burning in a whole phonostage. He ships fast.
https://hagerman-audio-labs.myshopify.com/products/iriaa2-inverse-riaa-filter