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Welcome to Tube Dreams!
Posted on June 1st, 2008 by Simon.
Categories: * Home *.
Tube Dreams specializes in high-end tube audio gear, both new and used. We are an authorized dealer for Cary Audio Design tube and solid state electronics as well as Totem Acoustic and Usher Audio speakers.
We also usually have some select used items, currently including a Shanling CD-T100A tube CD player ($1195), Audio Electronic Supply AE-25 Super Amp ($895), and Epos M-15.2 speakers ($895).
For those on a tighter budget, we frequently have restored vintage equipment including Dynaco power amps and preamps. We currently have a restored Shure M65 Phono Preamp ($259 with new pair of Chinese 12AX7 tubes) and a restored pair of Dynaco Mark III 60W monoblocks with Hovland MusiCaps ($1195 SOLD). We also repair and restore vintage tube audio gear.
Please call to make an appointment and get directions. Tube Dreams is located in South Austin near Oltorf and Lamar in the colorful 78704 neighborhood (more than a zip code, a way of life). We can be reached by phone at 512-736-6601.
Summer Demo Sale
Posted on June 1st, 2008 by Simon.
Categories: * Home *, Amplifiers, CD Players, Preamplifiers, Speakers, Modern Tube, Solid State, Cary, Usher.
Tube Dreams currently has a number Cary Audio Design Classic Series (tube) and Concept Series (solid state) demos available at 20% off MSRP:
- CD 303/300 CD Player $3200 ($4000 MSRP)
- SLP 03 Stereo Tube Preamplifier $2400 ($3000 MSRP)
- Concept Series CDP 1 CD Player $1600 ($2000 MSRP)
- Concept Series CPA 1 Preamplifier $1200 ($1500 MSRP)
- Concept Series CAA 1 Power Amp $1200 ($1500 MSRP)
We also have one pair of Usher V-Series floor-standing speakers and matching center channel in Golden Birch finish for 20% off list price or 25% off list price if purchased together:
- Usher V-602 mid-size floorstander (pair) - $829 ($1040 MSRP)
- Usher V-603 Center Channel - $495 ($620 MSRP)
- Usher V-602 and V-603 together - $1245 ($1660 MSRP)
All demos include full manufacturer’s warranty. Call 512-736-6601 to make an appointment to audition or to purchase any of these demos, separately or together!
AES AE-25 Super Amp with Oil Caps - $895
Posted on March 5th, 2008 by Simon.
Categories: * Home *, Amplifiers, Modern Tube, AES.
This Audio Electronic Supply AE-25 Superamp is a great starter power amp with the best sounding vintage tubes for a great price. This unit has been completely serviced and retubed. It has Audio 1 oil caps, new Cardas RCA jacks and new Cardas binding posts. The tube complement includes :
- 2 NOS Raytheon 6CG7
- 2 NOS JAN Philips 6DJ8
- New matched quad of JJ/Tesla 6L6GC tubes
For those not familiar with the Superamp, the beauty of this self-biasing amp is the wide range of output tubes which can be used in it: 6550, KT88, KT77, KT66, EL37, EL34, 6L6, and 6V6. Here are the manufacturer’s specs:
| Power output (RMS) | 15W RMS in triode mode into 8 ohms |
| Frequency response | 15Hz-20kHz +/- 0.5dB |
| Gain | -91dB |
| Input impedance | 150K ohms |
| Sensitivity | 1.5V |
| Power requirements | 165W maximum, 80W stand-by |
As for the service history, there was a hum in the right channel of this kit-built Superamp when I first got it. When I inspected it, I found that while the builder had done an extremely professional job, there were some wire misroutings which put wires carrying 120V AC too close to signal wires. There was also one cold solder. Once these problems were corrected, the hum was gone.
Cosmetically, the amp is in great shape, with the only real defect being a slight scrape of the top layer of paint just above the right speaker binding posts.
The original MSRP for this amp with oil caps was $1500 assembled. You have to hear this amp to believe the musicality of their sound!
Here are the pictures:
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NOS tubes
Posted on January 2nd, 2008 by Simon.
Categories: * Home *.
Recently, I’ve been doing some buying and have the following New Old Stock tubes available. Call 512-736-6601 for pricing and further information:
- NOS RCA VT-229 (6SL7GT) (two pair left)
- NOS Tung Sol 6SL7GT round plates w/black glass (one pair left)
- NOS GE ’60s 6SN7GTB (two pair left, one Motorola branded)
- used GE ’50s 6SN7GTB (two pair left)
- NIB Sylvania ’50s 6SN7GTB “chrome domes” (one pair left)
- NOS RCA 12AU7 cleartops
- NOS RCA 5963 (12AU7 substitute)
- NOS Philips 12AX7 (one pair left)
- NOS Sylvania JAN UHS CHS 5U4GB (pair)
More are coming in daily so check back often. I also have a variety of used vintage tubes. I recommend used tubes for new tuberollers as you can try more types of tubes for around half the price of new tubes. All my used tubes have plenty of life left in them!
Newsflash: the Usher Audio Be-718s are IN!
Posted on November 14th, 2007 by Simon.
Categories: * Home *, Speakers, Usher.
Tube Dreams is pleased to announce that our Usher Audio Be-718 “Tiny Dancer” demos are IN!
These mini-monitors have been getting rave reviews: from John Potis on 6moons.com, Doug Schneider on SoundStage and Robert Hawley in the November 2007 issue of The Absolute Sound, who said:
“A tremendous sense of speed, precision, and clarity that many big speakers don’t deliver, Easy to forget you’re listening to a reproduction rather than to music itself. The Be-718 get out of the music’s way to a degree that is unprecedented in a loudspeaker of this price, in my experience.”
Call Simon at 736-6601 to make an appointment to audition the Tiny Dancers today!
Cary CD 303/300 CD Player
Posted on September 14th, 2007 by Simon.
Categories: * Home *, CD Players, Modern Tube, Solid State, Cary.
The Cary CD 303/300 is an HDCD decoding, single CD playback at 44.1, 96, 192, 384, 512 or 768 kHz sample rates, remotely selectable with the remote control handset or with a front panel button. Digital buffer stage to eliminate jitter! 24 bit Burr Brown 1792 DAC chips used for D/A conversion, C-core power transformer, fully regulated power supplies, and fully shielded drive mechanism. The vacuum tube outputs have a removable panel above them for tube exchange or ‘tube rolling’ without opening the chassis. Received the “2005 Product of the Year” award from Electronic House magazine.
MSRP: $4000 (demo unit available at 20% off MSRP)
Cary SLI 80
Posted on September 13th, 2007 by Simon.
Categories: * Home *, Amplifiers, Modern Tube, Cary.
The Cary SLI 80 is an 80 watts per channel in Class A/B ultra-linear mode, push pull amplifier design, 40 Watts per channel in Class A Triode mode, stereo integrated amplifier, 3 stereo input pairs, sub woofer preamp output, black steel chassis, KT88 or 6550 output tubes. Standard with remote volume control, has 4 or 8 ohm speaker impedance switches, headphone jack, triode or ultra-linear mode switches and oil filled capacitors. Black anodized aluminum front panel.
MSRP: $3500
Dynaco Stereo 70 (ST-70)
Posted on April 15th, 2007 by Simon.
Categories: * Home *, Amplifiers, Vintage Tube, Dynaco.
The Dynaco Stereo 70 is ‘’the'’ classic Dynaco stereo amplifier. The tube complement is four EL34s, two 7199s and a GZ34 rectifier tube. The early models are prized for their very high quality American-made output transformers with cloth leads. These are the only models that Tube Dreams restores. If you’re interested, you’ll find the specifications below.
Currently available ST-70s
There are currently no ST-70s available. However, we would be glad to obtain and restore an ST-70 for you. Call Simon at 512-736-6601 for more information.
Tube Dreams restorations
There are several possible levels of restoration that can be done to make the Stereo 70 sing, along with several optional improvements. These prices include the amp itself. If you have an amp you would like restored, please call to discuss. Typically a basic restoration costs about $200 plus tubes. The audiophile restoration costs another $100 or more depending on precisely what is done.
Basic restoration
The basic restoration replaces the bare minimum of parts to ensure that the power supply is stable and that the original sound quality is restored. The multi-section can capacitor (the silver cylinder) is replaced with a new American-made replacement, the selenium rectifier is replaced with a modern diode, the bias capacitors are replaced with new Sprague Atoms, and the 1W resistors in the power supply are replaced with modern 3W metal film resistors for a quieter power supply.
To restore the sound quality, the six coupling capacitors on the circuit board are replaced with new Solen Fast Capacitors, a superior high purity metallized polypropylene film capacitor.
Optionally, the two-conductor line cord is replaced with a modern three-conductor cord, and the four-screw speaker terminals are replaced with modern binding posts wired for your speaker’s impedance. Another optional modification is to use a higher capacitance multi-section can which increases the bass response.
The restored Stereo 70 is then retubed with new SED (formerly Svetlana) EL34 tubes, Sovtek or JAN Philips 7199 tubes, and a JJ (formerly Tesla) or vintage Mullard GZ34 rectifier. The amp is then biased, broken in, and then rebiased for optimal sound and tube life.
Audiophile restoration
The audiophile restoration builds on the basic restoration by also replacing the whole circuit board with a new board stuffed with modern components. The resistors are primarily Vishay/Dale metal film resistors, one of the most respected resistors in the audio industry. Some of the plate resistors are increased from 1 watt to 3 watts. Higher power capacity resistors will run cooler—and less heat means less noise. Metal film resistors are quieter than vintage carbon composite resistors, so the resulting sound is much cleaner with more detail.
Full restoration
For the full restoration, the chassis is completely stripped and rechromed. The original transformers are remounted and the amplifier is completely rebuilt using new tube sockets and all new components. This includes all the upgrades described in the basic restoration and audiophile restoration sections.
Audiophile boards and rebuild kits
We also sell replacement boards and rebuild kits if you’d like to do-it-yourself.
Specifications
*Power Output: 35 watts continuous, 80 watts peak each channel.
*Frequency Response: ±.5 dB from 10 cps to 40 kc.
*Power Response: 20 cps to 20 kc within 1 dB of 35 watts at less than 1% distortion.
*Intermodulation Distortion: Less than 1% at 35 watts (normally about .5%). Less than .05% at 1 watt.
*Hum and Noise: Inaudible; better than 90 dB below rated power.
*Sensitivity: 1.3 volts rms input for 35 watts out.
*Output Impedances: 4, 8, and 16 ohms each channel.
*Damping Factor: 15.
*Minimum Channel Separation: 55 dB
*Power Consumption: 190 watts 50/60 cps
*Preamp Provision: Two power takeoffs with independent heater windings to eliminate interaction. Each 6.3 volts 1 amp, 350 volts dc 10 ma. Dynakit preamplifiers plug in directly without modification.
*Tube Complement: EL-34 (4), 7199 (2), GZ-34.
*Size: 13″ by 9-1/2″ by 6-1/2″ high.
*Weight: 32 pounds.
*Finish: Chassis and bottom plate bright nickel plated. Cover finished in charcoal brown vinyl paint.
*Designed by: Ed Laurent, Bob Tucker
*Year Introduced: 1959
Dynaco Stereo 70 Audiophile Boards
Posted on February 22nd, 2007 by Simon.
Categories: * Home *, Dynaco.
We now have Dynaco Stereo 70 Audiophile grade circuit boards available. with prices ranging from $100 to $400 depending on the brand of coupling capacitor.
