Analog Warmth

[Detlof]

I am in the process of having my Rowland model 8 upgraded and repaired by Jeff. One of the things that I was discussing today with a fellow a'phile was if he should consider a new amp that was a) very light weight --resulting in virtually no real shipping costs if the amp ever needs repairs ...this was brought up after I told him of the cost and hassle to ship the model 8 around
and b) an amp that gives off very little, if any, heat...therefore probably a class D design. The value of both of these aspects...low weight and low heat output was extremely interesting to my friend. It has really got me thinking as well. Do we really have to opt for a product that not only takes up a lot of space, but also acts as a spaceheater and is a major pain in the.... to move around and/or have serviced.
For now, I am living with the heat and the weight penalties..as I believe the sound is the most important thing..BUT once (if) those small class D amps can compete with the best tube or ss A/AB amps...I'm sold. ( Just so there are no conflicts, I do know that some on this forum greatly admire the current Class D N core amps, unfortunately I still have not heard one that does it for me.)

I just don't understand whay you guys are complaining about. Heat? Weight? Entreqs which will connect you to ground and have you sliced up a bit? All this is nothing compared to WAF. It costs more than getting air conditioning, it cannot be met with by muscle training and getting your entreqs might even force you to fall on your knees even before you have a chance to fall over them. WAF is expensive, but the good thing about it again is the fact that it makes us highly inventive to minimise its costs and also in ensuring that we don't get too much heat.

 

[JVS]

I am in the process of having my Rowland model 8 upgraded and repaired by Jeff. One of the things that I was discussing today with a fellow a'phile was if he should consider a new amp that was a) very light weight --resulting in virtually no real shipping costs if the amp ever needs repairs ...this was brought up after I told him of the cost and hassle to ship the model 8 around
and b) an amp that gives off very little, if any, heat...therefore probably a class D design. The value of both of these aspects...low weight and low heat output was extremely interesting to my friend. It has really got me thinking as well. Do we really have to opt for a product that not only takes up a lot of space, but also acts as a spaceheater and is a major pain in the.... to move around and/or have serviced.
For now, I am living with the heat and the weight penalties..as I believe the sound is the most important thing..BUT once (if) those small class D amps can compete with the best tube or ss A/AB amps...I'm sold. ( Just so there are no conflicts, I do know that some on this forum greatly admire the current Class D N core amps, unfortunately I still have not heard one that does it for me.)

As you most probably know, Jeff used to manufacture a range of compact (fairly) lightweight, cool running class D amps - 201, 501 etc. These did not sell too well so he reverted back to far bigger chassis, then dropped the class D alltogether.

I agree with you, but maybe the JR buyers don't?

 

[Argonaut]

Er, W/a quad of 211s (when unmolested LOL) in my Nats.

Now that does sound painful !

 

[Detlof]

I am still trying to get a "spazmatronish"-english dictionary but could not find it!

There isn't one so far. Spaz only recently teleported in from Alpha Centauri. But I am working on one, BH permitting and when my MA2 don't generate too much heat. So it will take some time.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Hmm, my GF manages an arts/graphics shop, and the paper cuts she gets are really painful.
It's quite something to do what I did.
I pretty much got away w/it - could have trashed the tt/cart or one of my Zus. Given the choice, I'd have taken trashing the tube/amp HT circuit.
Anyhow, off to the repair shop.
My GF will be mortified I've lost my boyish good looks, my thighs were my fortune !

 

[JVS]

my thighs were my fortune !

why, do you own a chain of fried chicken shops or something?

 

[spiritofmusic]

why, do you own a chain of fried chicken shops or something?

Now that's an idea.
Anyhow I think I've become immune to the heat of those 211s in my room, but I tend to listen alone, noone to ask me to get out of the sauna.

 

[Purite Audio]

Remind me not to accept beverages from you.
Keith.

 

[Detlof]

i used tubes and hot class A, i would listen alone in my pool of sweat on my leather sofa.. all was well.
then one day my mother in law came round, promptly sat on my leather sofa drinking her tea, completly oblivious to the toxic nature of what she was amongst.

i felt bad, the amps were replaced by class a/b and the sofa was cleaned... now when my mother in law comes round i just spit in her tea instead

Thankfully you use only saliva. Thinking of all my past mother in laws I would have used much worse.
Seems you are a true gentleman.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Gentlemen, it's come to a pretty pass when we're discussing mothers-in-law on the forum
Let's get down to it, just what did our women think when they experienced the environment we're discussing for the first time?
Do tubes/Class A get them in the mood? Or do they need to stick their heads out of the window/have a cold shower/lie in an ice bath?

 

[Detlof]

Gentlemen, it's come to a pretty pass when we're discussing mothers-in-law on the forum
Let's get down to it, just what did our women think when they experienced the environment we're discussing for the first time?
Do tubes/Class A get them in the mood? Or do they need to stick their heads out of the window/have a cold shower/lie in an ice bath?

Pretty pass? Hardly. We are finaly abandoning the grounds of audiophele refuge and illusion to face the harsh facts of reality.
1. The do not need to get in the mood by ANY environment if and when they are in the mood.
2. However heat and good rythms might make them do Salome's dance. You might lose your head in the process. Its all at your own risk.
3. Some will ask how much did all that stuff cost you. If alarm bells don't ring, the consequences are generally dire.
4. If they adoringly tell you, that you are a genius, see under point 3.
5. If they tell you that the upper registers sound harsh, they are probably right. Better tweak them or the system. Preferably both.
6. If she complains about electro smog and reminds you of your responsibility to the environment it is time for you to take a cold shower or stick you head out of the window to a wintry sky.

There is more of course, but my BH tell me to take out the garbage. I'd better do this quick, because my WAF is already dangerously low, because instead of listening to her, I listen to music or do my postings here.
Afterthought: When she sat in my listening chair for the first time, it was point 4 and I had no cause to doubt her of course.

 

[TBone]

You might lose your head in the process. Its all at your own risk.

Moons ago, in an old residence, pre moving in, my BH was quite clear that my "toy room" would either be the garage, or the smallest unused closet/bedroom. The garage seemed quite tempting at first, I'd certainly be left alone, it's much bigger, but also much colder, so the smallest bedroom became my refuge. After careful negotiation, she promised me that MY room would be all mine.

Well almost all mine, one evening I notice the room had been cleaned, along with the cartridge cantilever, which for some reason, no longer pointed north. Brave but very silly me, I decided to make her intrusion an issue over dinner, only to be TOLD! to stop making mountains out of molehills. I quickly realized that what I had here, was a classic case of failure to communicate ... so ... I decided to post a "No Girls Allowed" sign on my bedroom door for further clarification. The next night she retaliated, posting on our bedroom door ... "No Boys, Only Men allowed" sign. I reluctantly entered in defeat ...

 

[Detlof]

Moons ago, in an old residence, pre moving in, my BH was quite clear that my "toy room" would either be the garage, or the smallest unused closet/bedroom. The garage seemed quite tempting at first, I'd certainly be left alone, it's much bigger, but also much colder, so the smallest bedroom became my refuge. After careful negotiation, she promised me that MY room would be all mine.

Well almost all mine, one evening I notice the room had been cleaned, along with the cartridge cantilever, which for some reason, no longer pointed north. Brave but very silly me, I decided to make her intrusion an issue over dinner, only to be TOLD! to stop making mountains out of molehills. I quickly realized that what I had here, was a classic case of failure to communicate ... so ... I decided to post a "No Girls Allowed" sign on the bedroom door for further clarification. The next night she retaliated, posting on our bedroom door ... "No Boys, Only Men allowed" sign. I reluctantly entered in defeat ...

I feel for you, but it is generally better to let them "win", if one wants to continue to do ones own thing with as little upheaval as possible.

 

[Detlof]

its wierd i would think being bonkers and irrational (yes that all of us audio cracker jacks) would in fact mean you have more in common with the wife/gf... very strange they dont see it like that but thats because they are gloriously bonkers and irrational

You"ve got a point here . My experience has shown me, that more often than not, "they" are perfectly rational in fields where we are irrational (bonkers, as you say ) and they are bonkers in fields where we move more or less on safe ground. Bonkers we all are, the one half more analog, the other more digital and it takes quite a bit of tweaking the DAC as well as the ADC to get the music to play.......

 

[TBone]

I feel for you, but it is generally better to let them "win", if one wants to continue to do ones own thing with as little upheaval as possible.

In retrospect, should have made her sign Sheldon's roommate agreement ...

 

[DaveyF]

As you most probably know, Jeff used to manufacture a range of compact (fairly) lightweight, cool running class D amps - 201, 501 etc. These did not sell too well so he reverted back to far bigger chassis, then dropped the class D alltogether.

I agree with you, but maybe the JR buyers don't?

Actually, I believe that all of the current top level Rowland amps still use a class D N Core module(s).
I don't know how much the amps weigh, but I would suspect quite a lot, as the chassis/heat sinks are still very substantial.

 

[beaur]

Quick and easy solution would be to use her CC to charge the replacement cartridge and or retip without comment.

Moons ago, in an old residence, pre moving in, my BH was quite clear that my "toy room" would either be the garage, or the smallest unused closet/bedroom. The garage seemed quite tempting at first, I'd certainly be left alone, it's much bigger, but also much colder, so the smallest bedroom became my refuge. After careful negotiation, she promised me that MY room would be all mine.

Well almost all mine, one evening I notice the room had been cleaned, along with the cartridge cantilever, which for some reason, no longer pointed north. Brave but very silly me, I decided to make her intrusion an issue over dinner, only to be TOLD! to stop making mountains out of molehills. I quickly realized that what I had here, was a classic case of failure to communicate ... so ... I decided to post a "No Girls Allowed" sign on my bedroom door for further clarification. The next night she retaliated, posting on our bedroom door ... "No Boys, Only Men allowed" sign. I reluctantly entered in defeat ...

 

[spiritofmusic]

Beaur, are you writing an update to "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus"?

 

[Ron Resnick]

Moons ago, in an old residence, pre moving in, my BH was quite clear that my "toy room" would either be the garage, or the smallest unused closet/bedroom. The garage seemed quite tempting at first, I'd certainly be left alone, it's much bigger, but also much colder, so the smallest bedroom became my refuge. After careful negotiation, she promised me that MY room would be all mine.

Well almost all mine, one evening I notice the room had been cleaned, along with the cartridge cantilever, which for some reason, no longer pointed north. Brave but very silly me, I decided to make her intrusion an issue over dinner, only to be TOLD! to stop making mountains out of molehills. I quickly realized that what I had here, was a classic case of failure to communicate ... so ... I decided to post a "No Girls Allowed" sign on my bedroom door for further clarification. The next night she retaliated, posting on our bedroom door ... "No Boys, Only Men allowed" sign. I reluctantly entered in defeat ...

That is truly a sad story.

 

[Rodney Gold]

Perfect wife.. mine knocks on the door of my music room before entering (time hide the p0rn) and only does so to offer beverage , food or beg for marital service...when asking me how much something I have bought costs , replies "is that all?"