One nice thing about the EL 509 tubes is that they are not very pricey, compared to the exorbitant amount you have to pay for KT150 tubes (particularly if you buy direct from ARC).
Thoughts on hearing a Wilson XVX Chronosonic System at Evolution Hifi
- Thread starter Lee
- Start date
Cool pics.
The spades need to fit straight onto the speaker terminals. The spades appear wide enough to fit fully on the speaker binding posts of your amplifier- so no need to offset them. You want maximum contact surface area. And tighten those speaker terminal nuts down to the torque specified by the amp manufacturer for a good, gas tight connection. In this case the manufacturer states 1/4 turn with a wrench beyond finger tight. I'd prefer a torque value myself.
The spades need to fit straight onto the speaker terminals. The spades appear wide enough to fit fully on the speaker binding posts of your amplifier- so no need to offset them. You want maximum contact surface area. And tighten those speaker terminal nuts down to the torque specified by the amp manufacturer for a good, gas tight connection. In this case the manufacturer states 1/4 turn with a wrench beyond finger tight. I'd prefer a torque value myself.
Elliot G.
Industry Expert
Sometimes this website and forums make me laugh, Guys want to argue about every little possible thing but then on the other hand good enough is ok. Sorry good enough is not ok when you are trying to get the best you can from a system.
If good enough is ok for you thats your choice but when one is trying to get music in your home everything matters. A great audio system is like trying to win a race. The race could be cars or running etc. but the result, measured in little time increments is won or lost by little tiny increments.
Audio is IMO the same , everything you dont do corectly looses something. Audio isnt about gaining its always about what you loose. It can never be better than where you begin. So if you don't do everything the best possible you loose, and loose and loose information and then your result is well just good enough.
The little things make all the difference between good enough, good, very good and WOW.
the devil is always in the details
If good enough is ok for you thats your choice but when one is trying to get music in your home everything matters. A great audio system is like trying to win a race. The race could be cars or running etc. but the result, measured in little time increments is won or lost by little tiny increments.
Audio is IMO the same , everything you dont do corectly looses something. Audio isnt about gaining its always about what you loose. It can never be better than where you begin. So if you don't do everything the best possible you loose, and loose and loose information and then your result is well just good enough.
The little things make all the difference between good enough, good, very good and WOW.
the devil is always in the details
The green labeled EL509S sells for 128 dollars purchased from McIntosh. If anyone owns a 3500 MKII, I suggest using these tubes, because the failure rate is very low compared to regular 509's.
I believe it's a question of the surface area needed to effect a perfect and reproducible connection between the spade lug and the amp. I stick the end of the lug through the eyehole all the way and tighten it down snugly. The "feel" is excellent. My impression is that the contact is superb and that Mac has done their homework. Thankfully, the AQ WEL Signature lug is a perfect fit, as you can see, to the binding posts of my XVX.
I just think it interesting, Mac's "eyehole connection" solution to the problem of non reproducibility that is similar to the RCA connector. How many times have I wondered, "Is this slightly less snug RCA connection adequate?" When is snug, snug enough? That's why I use balanced IC's whenever possible. This is why I like the RCA connector that you can screw down but there is still the issue of snugness and many manufacturers don't use this approach. Even if you believe there is inadequate surface area, the Mac eyehole solution provides a 100% reproducible very tight/snug spade lug connection between the amp and speaker. This is not debatable. What is debatable is whether there is adequate surface area. I trust McIntosh engineering that there is, for their amplifiers.
I just think it interesting, Mac's "eyehole connection" solution to the problem of non reproducibility that is similar to the RCA connector. How many times have I wondered, "Is this slightly less snug RCA connection adequate?" When is snug, snug enough? That's why I use balanced IC's whenever possible. This is why I like the RCA connector that you can screw down but there is still the issue of snugness and many manufacturers don't use this approach. Even if you believe there is inadequate surface area, the Mac eyehole solution provides a 100% reproducible very tight/snug spade lug connection between the amp and speaker. This is not debatable. What is debatable is whether there is adequate surface area. I trust McIntosh engineering that there is, for their amplifiers.
...it's not only about the snugness, or the reproduce-ability of the fit. Finally, it's a square peg in a round hole. There are always minute eddy currents on cables/wires, and anything less than tight and flush is "almost as good" as best practice.
I have no dog in this fight (she's at doggy day care today) and your system sounds fine from my house. But if one is making the case that this is a good practice, it is not. It's a work-around. Carry on with those fine tunes.
I have no dog in this fight (she's at doggy day care today) and your system sounds fine from my house. But if one is making the case that this is a good practice, it is not. It's a work-around. Carry on with those fine tunes.
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