Lampizator Valve / Tube Rolling Review Thread

[2ndLiner]

Put in a Mullard ECC32 with Phillips P14’s. WOW! Far and away the best musical presentation in my system to date. I think I am pausing with this setup

 

[Powerman]

I just added ECC32s to my Baltic 4 and they are definitely staying. Fantastic tube.

 

[plasmod3]

Haha amazing!!! Don't stop though as more goodies lie ahead. What rectifier are you using atm?

 

[highstream]

It was bound to happen reading the pages here at WBF,. My curiosity thread got pulled and the tube rolling commenced. Currently in my Pacific I’m enjoying a NOS Valvo G2504 rectifier, NOS Tungsol 5687 driver, and Takatsuki 300b output. Very musical & engaging with plenty of dynamics!

I have a GG2/3. What type tube/voltage setting would the 2504 use?

 

[2ndLiner]

I have a GG2/3. What type tube/voltage setting would the 2504 use?

For you, Ian @plasmod3

 

[plasmod3]

For you, Ian @plasmod3

Ahh the 2504 is rectifier voltage is set by the adaptor not by the setting at the back. The back setting is for the power triodes

 

[highstream]

Ahh the 2504 is rectifier voltage is set by the adaptor not by the setting at the back. The back setting is for the power triodes

Ah, what was I thinking...

 

[highstream]

I have a GG 2/3 and am just finishing the burn in of a Telefunken AZ1, replacing a Sophia 274B Aqua version I. While the AZ1 has lots of appealing characteristics that better the Sophia considerably, it lacks tht touch of warmth I like, leaving me watching rather than listening. Are the RGN 2004 and 2054 similar in that characteristic? Steve W's glowing descriptions of the latter's mesh tubes on the Horizon tube thread don't explicitly speak to that.

 

[plasmod3]

I have a GG 2/3 and am just finishing the burn in of a Telefunken AZ1, replacing a Sophia 274B Aqua version I. While the AZ1 has lots of appealing characteristics that better the Sophia considerably, it lacks tht touch of warmth I like, leaving me watching rather than listening. Are the RGN 2004 and 2054 similar in that characteristic? Steve W's glowing descriptions of the latter's mesh tubes on the Horizon tube thread don't explicitly speak to

Perhaps if you go the we 274b engraved base. But not the 2504 or 2004. 2504 and 2004 gives realism and atmosphere

 

[highstream]

Perhaps if you go the we 274b engraved base. But not the 2504 or 2004. 2504 and 2004 gives realism and atmosphere

The engraved seem to go for $5K-25K. Notions of realism aside, I am aiming a lot lower, especially going blind (I've tried a lot of NOS and more recent rectis over the past several years). I've been offered a money back arrangement to audition the upgraded Sophia 274B Aqua II. Then there's their 274B Mesh, which I’m told is warm, but I don't know if it will work with the GG (capacitance) or would fit my tastes. Don't need or want lush or romantic warmth, just a touch on that side of the line. Tone aside, just how much the AZ1 mesh provided over the Sophia I makes me want to poke around. I should add that the power(?) tubes are current WE300B (fried a pair of Lampi Anniversary EML 45’s with the wrong voltage setting).

 

[Powerman]

The engraved seem to go for $5K-25K. Notions of realism aside, I am aiming a lot lower, especially going blind (I've tried a lot of NOS and more recent rectis over the past several years). I've been offered a money back arrangement to audition the upgraded Sophia 274B Aqua II. Then there's their 274B Mesh, which I’m told is warm, but I don't know if it will work with the GG (capacitance) or would fit my tastes. Don't need or want lush or romantic warmth, just a touch on that side of the line. Tone aside, just how much the AZ1 mesh provided over the Sophia I makes me want to poke around. I should add that the power(?) tubes are current WE300B (fried a pair of Lampi Anniversary EML 45’s with the wrong voltage setting).

Do you know what the Aqua 2s are supposed to be upgraded? I have a 274B mesh in my B4 and I didn't find it warm. I got the mesh instead of an aqua for that reason. I wasn't trying to color warm, just like you I just want on the warm side of neutral. However, I don't have a lot of experience with a lot of rectus. Came from a RCA JAN 5UA4.

 

[plasmod3]

Do you know what the Aqua 2s are supposed to be upgraded? I have a 274B mesh in my B4 and I didn't find it warm. I got the mesh instead of an aqua for that reason. I wasn't trying to color warm, just like you I just want on the warm side of neutral. However, I don't have a lot of experience with a lot of rectus. Came from a RCA JAN 5UA4.

Get a Svetlana 5u4g equivalent. Best bang for the buck period and you will get your warmth. It loses details though

 

[Steve Williams]

I have a GG 2/3 and am just finishing the burn in of a Telefunken AZ1, replacing a Sophia 274B Aqua version I. While the AZ1 has lots of appealing characteristics that better the Sophia considerably, it lacks tht touch of warmth I like, leaving me watching rather than listening. Are the RGN 2004 and 2054 similar in that characteristic? Steve W's glowing descriptions of the latter's mesh tubes on the Horizon tube thread don't explicitly speak to that.

the TFKN RGN 2004 is a beautiful tube that does impart emotion and warmth. The G2504 in my system which is 32 wpm Pure class A imparts far more realistic dynamics which was a better fit for my room. Having said that I have several sets of each rectifier

 

[Sablon Audio]

Of the different TFK rectifers I own, the german made silver mesh az1, rgn1064 and rgn2004 are the less warm (but more detailed and structured) however the Milan built RGN2004 aka WE52 mesh was quite sweet. The solid plate versions give a slightly denser and more macro dynamic presentation than their mesh siblings, with a small loss of ‘air’.

I find the equivalent models from Valvo to be sweeter, denser and more musically involving than those from TFK. The earlier observation of mesh v solid plate also applies.

As an alternative, the Tungsram pv200/600 is a great option for little outlay.

 

[Steve Williams]

For my ears I personally favor TFKN RGN2004 Klangfilm circa 1934 with mesh plate and Valvo G2504 solid plate which is much more dynamic

 

[plasmod3]

Of the different TFK rectifers I own, the german made silver mesh az1, rgn1064 and rgn2004 are the less warm (but more detailed and structured) however the Milan built RGN2004 aka WE52 mesh was quite sweet. The solid plate versions give a slightly denser and more macro dynamic presentation than their mesh siblings, with a small loss of ‘air’.

I find the equivalent models from Valvo to be sweeter, denser and more musically involving than those from TFK. The earlier observation of mesh v solid plate also applies.

As an alternative, the Tungsram pv200/600 is a great option for little outlay.

Valvo is German Phillips, perhaps we all like the dutch much better than the germans hahaha Time and again holland tubes are the bees knees. We have no idea unless marked though which valvo tubes are made in holland - can only imagine some of the hollandish knowhow filtered through even into the teutonic production line

 

[highstream]

the TFKN RGN 2004 is a beautiful tube that does impart emotion and warmth. The G2504 in my system which is 32 wpm Pure class A imparts far more realistic dynamics which was a better fit for my room. Having said that I have several sets of each rectifier

That’s how I understood your comments on the Horizon tube thread. Blake, who got me the TFKN AZ1, says the solid plate TFKN 2504 has no warmth.

Is the Valvo G2504 solid plate similar to the TFKN in this way?

 

[Steve Williams]

That’s how I understood your comments on the Horizon tube thread. Blake, who got me the TFKN AZ1, says the solid plate TFKN 2504 has no warmth.

Is the Valvo G2504 solid plate similar to the TFKN in this way?

Good question. In my room and to my ears the TFKN RGN 2004 mesh plate is warmer than the Valvo solid plate G2504. I have no experience with TFKN RGN 2504 solid plate. This is not to say there is no warmth with the Valvo as there is. The Valvo G2504 is like the RGN 2004 on steroids. I use the Valvo now exclusively BUT I love the RGN 2004. so much so that I still have 2 mint ones that I won’t let go. so also am I keeping a quad if OS1 as the tube also is magnificent. I use SRS 551 as pentodes also for the better dynamics

The big question now that people are pondering is how the TFKN c3gs compares to the Mullard brown base ECC32

 

[Blake]

The big question now that people are pondering is how the TFKN c3gs compares to the Mullard brown base ECC32

Agreed, and I am also curious about the sonic delta between the TFKN C3g and TFKN C3gs, given the absolutely massive difference in price.

 

[Steve Williams]

I’ve heard from those tha have….out of the box the c3g easily beat the ECC32 which I really like. I think there is some truth to the fact that a balloon shaped tube seems to sound better in every way.but the c3g as I understand it is a pentode used in underwater cables