Certainly, but it will take a while, as I am taking down my system in preparation for a move to a new location.
Aesthetix Io Users Group
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Certainly, but it will take a while, as I am taking down my system in preparation for a move to a new location.
Good luck with the move. Hope you don’t have stuff in storage for a long time like I did. Nearly 2 years before reassembly of the system after moving.Certainly, but it will take a while, as I am taking down my system in preparation for a move to a new location.
A little update on my adventure with the Io. A local audiophile was offloading his large collection of audio toys, and I got myself another set of Io Eclipse with dual power supply and no volume. To my surprise, it is a 117V unit, so now I can experience myself whether the 117V units are more reliable. Hopefully this set can be as trouble free as many of those in the US.
I have a couple of questions for Io users in the US,
1. As shown in the photo, when given 117V, the output from the transformers (or are those chokes?) are 940V and 750V, do they look normal?
2. I was under the impression the US has 110V power, is that right?
Thanks ！
I have a couple of questions for Io users in the US,
1. As shown in the photo, when given 117V, the output from the transformers (or are those chokes?) are 940V and 750V, do they look normal?
2. I was under the impression the US has 110V power, is that right?
Thanks ！
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Thats filter chokes but who needs 940 volt for phono tubes (max~300volt) when you have 845 tube then I would understand that. head shaking greetings if that is really the real voltage.
2 x El34 tubes and 6 x 12AX7 tubes in each of the two power supplies.
As far as I know, the power supply delivers 600 volts DC. The tubes you mentioned are responsible for regulating the anode voltage. So measure the power supply's output voltages to see if that's correct.2 x El34 tubes and 6 x 12AX7 tubes in each of the two power supplies.
Do you want to hear my opinion on this power supply? I would remove the entire internals. Get a two transformer with 600 volts AC winding 100mA and 3amps heating winding, for two tube rectifiers PV 200/600 (200mA/600 volts, one per channel, anode voltage).
then two heating transformers with 9 volts AC/5 amps, one per channel for audio tubes and tentlabs modules.
Switch it on and enjoy it for 20years without failure.
And there are batteries of capacitors, both in the power-supply and main unit. My repair guy really hates the design choices made in the Io, he recommended doing something like what you are recommending and taking out a lot of the capacitors too. I am sure it would be much more stable, but how would it compare sound wise ? Hopefully these crazy design choices have a positive influence on the sound.As far as I know, the power supply delivers 600 volts DC. The tubes you mentioned are responsible for regulating the anode voltage. So measure the power supply's output voltages to see if that's correct.
Do you want to hear my opinion on this power supply? I would remove the entire internals. Get a two transformer with 600 volts AC winding 100mA and 3amps heating winding, for two tube rectifiers PV 200/600 (200mA/600 volts, one per channel, anode voltage).
then a CLC filter or If it is not stable, you can provide a regulation.
then two heating transformers with 9 volts AC/5 amps, one per channel for audio tubes and tentlabs modules.
Switch it on and enjoy it for 20years without failure.
Sure ... but equipment designers can't rely on NOS tubes for production quantities. They will design with current production tubes.As far as I know, the power supply delivers 600 volts DC. The tubes you mentioned are responsible for regulating the anode voltage. So measure the power supply's output voltages to see if that's correct.
Do you want to hear my opinion on this power supply? I would remove the entire internals. Get a two transformer with 600 volts AC winding 100mA and 3amps heating winding, for two tube rectifiers PV 200/600 (200mA/600 volts, one per channel, anode voltage).
then a CLC filter or If it is not stable, you can provide a regulation.
then two heating transformers with 9 volts AC/5 amps, one per channel for audio tubes and tentlabs modules.
Switch it on and enjoy it for 20years without failure.
Oh, there are several manufacturers that stockpile and install NOS tubes. That would only be two tubes, so I don't see any problems. And it saves you six tubes in the power supply. A win-win situation.
P.S
When demand for these tubes is huge, there are now manufacturers who jump on the bandwagon and produce new tubes. There are enough examples of this
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I don't know whether it sounds better to do without transformers; that's something everyone has to decide for themselves. I'm totally satisfied with the two-stage tube design with a 60-68dB gain. For high-impedance cartridges, I use a transistor phonostage; that suits my ears better.And there are batteries of capacitors, both in the power-supply and main unit. My repair guy really hates the design choices made in the Io, he recommended doing something like what you are recommending and taking out a lot of the capacitors too. I am sure it would be much more stable, but how would it compare sound wise ? Hopefully these crazy design choices have a positive influence on the sound.
Agreed - but as I am sure you are already aware - it depends on quantity. How many can I get and how fast will I use them.
Maybe those NOS tubes are available today. What about 10 years from now or 20 years from now? The Io has already been in production for almost 30 years.
counter question
Hi-fi is so fast-moving, who knows if you'll even still own the device in 10-20 years. Usually, only devices that achieve cult status survive.
or if the ears are still okay, whether they can even listen.
Of course..but I don't know if everyone sees it that way, for some it seems more like love-hate when you read hereWell ... I have had the Io for over 25 years now.
Did I fall into a cult?
.I also have a few things that I would never sell because they are cult.
I think the Io qualifies for "cult" status.
As far as I know it remains the only all-tube 86dB gain phono stage in the world.
As far as I know it remains the only all-tube 86dB gain phono stage in the world.
Perhaps those are occult status.Of course..but I don't know if everyone sees it that way, for some it seems more like love-hate when you read here
That's probably true. I don't think anyone uses the full 86dB. I've often read 12 o'clock - 2 o'clock volume knob, so more like max 65-70db gain when you use a line stage.
4 o'clock with the silver slagle transformer ahead of it and the etsuro gold. Quiet as a mouse.
probably 70 db
probably 70 db
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