Bloodlemons-  Great info even for a STR-104er.  Interesting you like the smaller tubes that can be used in the STR-104.  You got me very curious how the STR-1002 compares in SQ to the STR-104 using the same set of tubes.  I still keep wondering if I made a mistake and should have purchased the 1002 even though I am extremely happy with my 104.  Maybe you could compare them using the same 5v tubes when the 104 arrives if it's not  too much of a hassle.

The 866a are my favorites paired with other tubes  or together but I do like running  2-3B28’s in an adapter with 1 300b.

Other combo’s that I like are: 1 Type 83 and 1 300b, 2-3B22 and 1 type 83, 2-3B22 and 1 300b, 2- 3B22 (stock set)

I haven’t really found that any of my regular 5 volt rectifiers sound  as good as the above combos. I seem to prefer the Mercury and Xeon gas tubes and 300b so far.  Time will tell with more hours of use.  Fun tinker toy!

So this morning I listened again to the 845/211 combo, now with 100+ hours and it continues to improve. Then I put the 805As back in for the first time since my initial listening, and they win. Just a bigger, better and overall nicer sound. And it seems like after a week of almost continuous use some of the extra warmth has cooked out of the STR so they actually sound even better than I remember. I think I'm done rolling for a while and am just going to enjoy the 805As.

After several incidences of forgetting to check tube voltage or turn components on/off in the correct order, I decided to have some more-explicit switchplates made to help curb my general haste and stupity.


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I am also concerned that a visitor to my home might be intrigued be the hi-fi and start poking around. So I whipped up some safety precaution plates and decals.



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I made enough for the imminent STR-104 as well. It might be overkill, but I feel a little better knowing that curious fingers should be on notice that this is not your typical Sony integrated amp. As for the instruction plates, hopefully they'll catch my eye a little more often before I start flipping switches and swapping things around.

I have four extra of the mercury decals if anyone wants one. 6 was the minimum order.

I love the mercury vapor warning! I want one just for the aesthetics, but in California you'd need a Prop 65 warning as well and I don't want to get in trouble with the heat.