Aesthetix IO vs. Manley Steelhead vs. The Groove

Well -- odd experience, I left for work (just a half day today), and left the Io turned on. Got back 4 or 5 hours later, put on a record, and no sound. No hum, no music audible even with the volume cranked. Same through my headphone amp. All the tubes in the Io and power supply were glowing fine.

So I switched back to the Rogue phono stage and got music. Next step: fuses. Checked the two on the back of the Aesthetix power supply, and the B+ fuse is melted about halfway down with a burn mark. It's one of those slo-blo fuses that look like a spring wrapped around a wire, and the spring has separated (though the wire inside hasn't).

I'm going to get a new fuse tomorrow, but I wonder what made it blow (if blown it is). Power surge? Maybe when I turned off the amp or took off the needle before I left?

Also, it seems odd that all the tubes in both units would have stayed glowing given that the B+ fuse was blown...

Frank, I am certain that the Dyna is the source of the tubby bass - looking forward to hearing what it sounds like when I try a different amp. Maybe I'll switch my Aleph 3 back in for fun (though its bass is not stellar either). I have my eye on some C-J Premier 12s.

Patrick

Hello,

I've had my Io signature w/ volume controls for a few weeks now. The bass on this unit is not tubby or "tubey". Can't say why your fuse blew...do you have your Io connected to any power shaping device etc?... If the the fuse blew I would check the el34 tubes first for falilure as they do the most work and they may have had infant mortality. The Io should be plugged directly into a wall. I'm still learning about mine and have had zero RF problems in an area that has given me major problems in the past. So far delighted with the performance of mine. I've yet to substitute the stash of NOS tubes on hand as I'm still breaking mine in..... Good luck and keep us posted on your efforts to revive your unit.

AJ

AJ and Frank - I guess I should clarify. I'm a big believer in system synergy. I have no doubt that the tubby or tubey bass is coming from the Dynaco - I could hear that when I switched the amp in a few months ago. That bass compensated for a certain leanness in the Rogue phono stage that made listening to music easy.

Now that I have a fuller - read more accurate - sound from the Io, the tubby bass of the Dynaco is unacceptably audible - and for this reason I plan to replace my amp.

Will report on the fuse issue later today after I buy a replacement. I did indeed have the Io plugged into my Audio Magic Stealth, so maybe this was the problem!

Patrick

Yes, Patrick, system synergy is EVERYTHING AFAIK. I have an Audio Magic Matrix (for my digital isolation) but agree with A.J., do not out your Io into it.

When you get an amp that mates well with the Io and in your system, look out, you will like what you hear on those black discs!!

What's the Audio Magic Matrix?