Tube Dreams

Welcome to Tube Dreams!

Simon — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 16:31:15 +0000

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

Simon — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 05:00:40 +0000

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

Simon — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:23:26 +0000

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:

NOS tubes

Simon — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 14:28:04 +0000

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!

Simon — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 21:43:21 +0000

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

Simon — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:57:39 +0000

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 SLP 98 Stereo Preamplifer

Simon — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:53:12 +0000

The Cary SLP 98P is a full feature, hand wired, vacuum tube preamplifier featuring (4) 6SN7, (2) 12AX7, and (2) 12AU7 tubes. MM phono amplifier section built in. Large heavy duty external power supply. Standard with remote volume. Jaguar Carnival Red chassis with clear coat finish. ZERO feedback design. SLP 98L has the same specification as above, but with line stage only.

MSRP: $4000 (line stage only), $4500 (with phono stage)

Cary SLP 03 Stereo Preamplifier

Simon — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:52:10 +0000

The Cary SLP 03 is a balanced vacuum tube preamplifier with dual 12AU7 vacuum tubes. It features full remote control for input switching and volume control. The front panel has a readout display for selected functions and current settings. The SLP 03 has 4 RCA stereo input pairs, one XLR input pair, a tape monitor loop and mute switching. Black or silver anodized aluminum faceplates. It has one set of XLR balanced outputs and dual RCA stereo outputs.

MSRP: $3000 (demo unit available at 20% off MSRP)

Cary CAD 120S - NEW!

Simon — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:50:29 +0000

The Cary CAD 120S is rated at 60 watts per channel in triode mode and 120 watts per channel in ultralinear mode into an 8 ohm speaker load. Full rated output power is from 17 Hz to 23 kHz with less than 1% total harmonic distortion. The output stage may be switched ‘on the fly’ from triode mode to ultralinear mode by using a front panel selector button.

MSRP: $5500

Cary SLI 80

Simon — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 15:25:10 +0000

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