Maybe whimsical, maybe traumatic, maybe even devastating. I decided I wanted more volume in the family room, 801s are wonderful, but tired of having to turn the volume up to 11. Room too big, too dead. Concrete/brick lower family room.
Pushed them aside for now,would like to move them upstairs at some point. Need help.(See the New Years resolutions in the previous post.
Anyway,bored,so I reassembled my way more complicated biamped home brew concoction Altec Manta Ray horn/ JBL pro woofer (22 something) in Altec cabinets with a TDL custom active outboard crossover.(Whew!).
Yes, that is as complicated as it sounds, but not new, I have done this before.
Worked great for a few nights, the last couple my system was dead. I don't mean dead dead, everything lit up, just no sound. Did the usual switch sources, eliminate this, swap that, loose interest.
Go upstairs and eat. The next night, same again.
Decided yesterday to get serious, and became convinced the culprit was the 5AR4 rectifier tube in my FAP V-1 preamp. Didn't look lit, felt cold, all the other tubes were lit. Didn't think this possible, as the rectifier is part of the power supply, how could the other tubes be lit? Oh, well.
The culprit?
Thus began my quest.
At work on a Saturday, crazy busy, a limited time if at all to run out and grab a tube.Closest obviously would be best.
My first thought- My buddy Joe. He would surely have one and he is right around the corner. Whoops! He is on a cruise until the end of the month.
Next- The Guitar Center. These rectifiers are commonly used in guitar amps as well. "Sorry, we are out of stock but I can order it for you (Groove Tubes, $30!).
Rowe, a couple of a/v specialty stores in Henrietta, The Stereo Shop, no one within a few miles had a 5AR4.
Finally felt some promise from a music store on South Ave, called them as soon as they opened at 11. "Sure, probably, but I need to wait until someone else gets in to look for it, I am all alone in the store". He took my number and promised to call me back.
Three hours went buy, I called back and the guy had left. "He went home because he worked 6 days this week and needs to watch his niece blah blah blah. He will call you Monday".
Explained that I wanted to get one this weekend and he got all defensive!
"Well, when you call two hours from closing on a Saturday blah blah blah!".
Explained that I didn't, called right at 11 when they opened.
So number two promised he would try to help me, also took my number.
Another couple of hours went by, no call, so I tried a third time.
"Yeah, I am looking right now, I'll call you back in a couple of minutes".
Got home at 6:30 Saturday night and had a message- "Sorry I really did try". Anyway, Sound Source will have one of these, just didn't have a chance to run over there.
Curiosity got the best of me, and I pulled the tube out and tested it.
Fine.
Don't know if it wasn't seated properly or what, but it turns out I didn't need a tube at all.
Demons?
Yeah, but at least I don't have to call the idiots on South Ave. anymore.
