Telefunken AD1 triode

denimhunter

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Can anyone share their experience with AD1 valve/tube, ‘queen of european triode‘? Is the sound signature similar to 45 or 2A3? How does the EML AD1 compare to the early Telefunken AD1?
Very few amps use this valve/tube, except for Yamamoto Soundcraft A06-3. Anyone with experience withAD1 amps?
 

bonzo75

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Can anyone share their experience with AD1 valve/tube, ‘queen of european triode‘? Is the sound signature similar to 45 or 2A3? How does the EML AD1 compare to the early Telefunken AD1?
Very few amps use this valve/tube, except for Yamamoto Soundcraft A06-3. Anyone with experience withAD1 amps?

There are a lot of notes on this on DIY audio and old threads of audio asylum.

Some will describe to you a sonic difference while some will simply say how well the amplifier for that valve is made makes more difference than the tube.

I have heard both yamamoto A06 and A08. I prefer the 08 that I heard with the globe EML 45, but that could be because those valves are such good 45s. We didn't have telefunken AD1.

6 moons has notes on these as well. His friend prefers the A10 the most, which has VT 52.

I think if your speaker works with such small amps, you should simply try out different ones over time, these are very amp quality specific, valve quality specific, and speaker match dependent
 

adamaley

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Keep an eye out on the Lampizator Tube Rolling thread. Folks have started exploring the AD1 and it's virtues. Thanks to @User211. No Telefunken yet, but other variants have been in play.
 

bonzo75

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Keep an eye out on the Lampizator Tube Rolling thread. Folks have started exploring the AD1 and it's virtues. Thanks to @User211. No Telefunken yet, but other variants have been in play.

Those are not same effect as on amps
 

denimhunter

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Thanks.
I have Lampi big 7, didn’t know AD1, 4v tube, can be used (with adaptor) as output.
I also have a pair of WE VT52, was considering the A10 fr Yamamoto. I presume the VT52 sounds like 45 on stereoids.
 
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bonzo75

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Thanks.
I have Lampi big 7, didn’t know AD1, 4v tube, can be used (with adaptor) as output.
I also have a pair of WE VT52, was considering the A10 fr Yamamoto. I presume the VT52 sounds like 45 on stereoids.

If you have the Lampi, you can use AD1, 45, PX4, PX25 in amps or Lampi and have fun. I have tried the KR 45, EML globe solid plate and EML globe mesh plate in the same system in Lampi, KR preamp, and yamamoto power amp. The UK distributor G point owns the yamamoto and had KR pre as well. Effect of valves is different in all three and one cannot be used to judge what effect the valve will have in the other.
 

bonzo75

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Thanks.
I have Lampi big 7, didn’t know AD1, 4v tube, can be used (with adaptor) as output.
I also have a pair of WE VT52, was considering the A10 fr Yamamoto. I presume the VT52 sounds like 45 on stereoids.

Which tamura transformer are you using? And what are your speakers?
 
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Zero000

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Keep an eye out on the Lampi tube rolling thread.

In a week or two when I know Tesla AD1 versus NOS Marconi Osram PX25 versus Tesla RD27AS really well I will post a fairly detailed review.
 

denimhunter

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I am using old globe 45 and type 80 rectifier with the Lampi, my preferred combo so far. The good thing about the tube rolling in the Lampi is because u canhear the tone and character of the tube since it’s not really being used to ‘drive’ load.
I am using Voxativ Ampeggio, full range back loaded horn, 99db. My current 300b amp uses Tamura f2004 output and Tango nc10 interstage with 6em7 driver, u52 rectifier tube
 
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bonzo75

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I am using old globe 45 and type 80 rectifier with the Lampi, my preferred combo so far. The good thing about the tube rolling in the Lampi is because u canhear the tone and character of the tube since it’s not really being used to ‘drive’ load.
I am using Voxativ Ampeggio, full range back loaded horn, 99db. My current 300b amp uses Tamura f2004 output and Tango nc10 interstage with 6em7 driver, u52 rectifier tube

Yes when you roll tubes in Lampi you are keeping Lampi constant. But with amps you will be changing the amp with the tube, and some amps are also more voiced to work with certain tubes, so it makes tube compares there quite different and difficult.
 

denimhunter

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Keep an eye out on the Lampi tube rolling thread.

In a week or two when I know Tesla AD1 versus NOS Marconi Osram PX25 versus Tesla RD27AS really well I will post a fairly detailed review.
Ok. is the AD1 a drop in, with adapter, to Lampi output in lieu of 45 or PX25? 300-B. They have different
filament and plate voltage
 

Carlos269

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Yes when you roll tubes in Lampi you are keeping Lampi constant. But with amps you will be changing the amp with the tube, and some amps are also more voiced to work with certain tubes, so it makes tube compares there quite different and difficult.

I agree that the sound of the AD1 tube in the LampizatOr may or may not be representative of its sonic qualities as the output tubes on an optimized Single Ended Direct Heated Triode amplifier, such as my custom AD1 SET DHT amplifier:

38306754-5410-424E-B662-3C35AC6E7B52.jpeg

E29F213C-4C85-4485-8CA8-17712ADCC8D0.jpeg

6FE31FC9-9F0C-4E6A-9192-24B5E6993422.jpeg

09D94F51-144F-4CA3-8C67-21DDE0736CAC.jpeg

I will be using my AD1 amplifier as part of a quad amplified high efficiency horn system that I’m putting together:

C9539132-8017-42DB-91EB-0780EA08C7C2.jpeg

This system will feature AD1’s, 2A3’s, 46’s and 300B’s or 801A’s SET DHT amplifiers, actively crossovered, directly powering the drivers.

My new custom spherical horns based speakers are in Canada, so it will be a few more weeks before they are delivered.

Once the system is in place, I will be listening to each amplifier, including the 45’s and 801A’s SET DHT amps currently in use in my other systems, to assess each amplifier’s tone, sonic strengths and weaknesses in order to assign an optimal frequency range to each amplifier in my new active quad amped horn system. At that point, I will be able to provide more insightful information with respect to the AD1’s “sound” compared to 45’s, 46’s, 2A3’s, 801A’s and 300B’s.

The obvious thing to remember is the scarcity of vintage AD1 tubes, as not many were produced, when considering an AD1 tube based amplifiers; although Emission Labs (EML) has modern AD1 tubes in new production.
 
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Carlos269

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@Carlos269
looks v cool! Are u using c3a as driver tubes? AZ1 or AZ4 rectifier?
I have a pair of telefunken AD1 and also Phillips 4683.

The driver tubes are C3M not C3A and the rectifier is a AZ4. Wow that is cool that you have a pair of Telefunken AD1 and Philips 4683 tubes; let me know if you ever decide to part with them.
 

Joao@altheamusica

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The AD1 from EML are far away from the Original AD1 manufactured in the past, as well as the EMl / KR45 are... speaking for the old production types: the sound is different to the 45s, they can do 2 octaves with exceptional bass and a phantastic midrange (and the Telefunken are wellknown for the silky sound) - like a alto voice. The 45s are like a soprano, very detailed and brilliant - choosing the wrong driver tube will give a worse sound quality. And when younread the data sheet, for the AD1 using of an extra filament transformer is mentioned. All this tubes should be adapted to the best output transformers you can get and the original having it's price, if someone is not willing to spend this money.... only the originals will gave you the original sound, copies are only copies and you mean you have the feeling of using an original device, but you don't.
 

Zero000

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I like your point about copies. That's how I feel too.

Indeed the Tesla AD1 is superior to the EML version I agree and as I documented in the Lampi thread a while back.

In fact it is occurring to me that NOS 4V 2A tubes are seeming to represent the absolute pinnacle of what you can put in a Lampizator DAC.
 

Joao@altheamusica

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I like your point about copies. That's how I feel too.
Indeed the Tesla AD1 is superior to the EML version I agree and as I documented in the Lampi thread a while back.
In fact it is occurring to me that NOS 4V 2A tubes are seeming to represent the absolute pinnacle of what you can put in a Lampizator DAC.

Thanks for the flowers...
Sorry, but I think my statement wasn't clear enough. Reading the datasheets mean that it is not a good idea rolling tubes in the same amplifier / dac by only changing the filament voltage. Everey tube owning it's specific operating points. When you change the tubes this means that you must implement the correct operating point as well... plate load, bias (grid) voltage etc. The old genious engineers are knowing what they have developed and no one of them would come to the idea to rolling tubes - closing my eyes I can see my masters shaking the heads.

This is my last response here because I can see that no one is willing to learn basic things - thank you and good bye!
 

adamaley

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Those are not same effect as on amps
I know, just suspect that someone will eventually try the Telefunkens at this rate.

Edit: I see where you're coming from- the tubes will sound different in amps vs. in the DAC. I agree.
 
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