From rockkey@sbcglobal.net Sat Dec 15 17:04:09 2012
Subject:Re: Art Tube with a Korg CX3 (latest and last version)

I didn't see a price either but these types are usually $1000 plus. Reasonable price to me might be $400 or $500, maybe cheaper, but it's amazing what a mfg can do with scales of economy.

Cine-Mag makes the least expensive, decent looking speced mic xformer I've come across for about $60 a pop (might be other less expensive, IDK). That seems to be the big nut. It seems that the market will not bear that price so if they just stick a tube in a pre and on the name somewhere, the market will bite.

I've looked into designing my own (mainly copying classic designs, nothing really new) just for fun. I've actually got part of a prototype pcb up and running on the bench minus the input transformer (for economy, my design eliminates the OT at the cost of the unit driving only a 10K load max, not the most versatile but fairly practical). I just have not gotten around to plunking cash down for the mic xformers yet. So I've given the parts cost part of the equation some thought. I've got bigger fish to fry, but one of these days...

I really have not listened to many so I really don't know how they all sound, it's just that the "vintage style" or "classic style", all tube/transformer path somehow resonates with my sensibilities but maybe that's just snake oil?

Cheers,
Rock