Lampizator Valve / Tube Rolling Review Thread

Alrainbow

Well-Known Member
Dec 11, 2013
3,189
1,387
450
Well well well, after exactly two months of waiting for adapters to arrive (PX25 to UX4) from China, today was that special day and yes it turned out to be very special, as I was finally been able to listen to high power version of PX25 tube Tesla RD27AS.
I did one cycle of burning them in with actually not listening them at all and later on, had a nice session giving a spin to several tracks I like to listen when inserting new tubes or gear into system.
Conclusion in this case is super easy and straight forward - best tube I heard in Lampi by nice margin. Brutal monster. Killer. Period.
Yes I have Tesla ad1n and Philips miniwatt 4883 waiting to be heard, but this was so impressive that I'm super sure they can't beat this one.
What was special - just everything - 242 on steroids (positive ones) - scale, dynamic, details, darkness between notes, extensions both hi and low but keeping the seductive mids, control...was shocked what was coming out of my speakers...
Just phenomenal...over & out.
By the way, gain level is around 242 one.

P.S. With ACME 274b, after listening to KR242RK. Might soon try with WE422A & WE274b (but not sure I'll bother - its anyhow too good already) :)
View attachment 63195 View attachment 63197 View attachment 63198
Don’t bother with a we 422a it’s just not a good tube. We 274b is a good tube over all. The tak version is a bit heavey over the real one. ps vane makes a goid we274b too For me the gz480 is a worthwhile try
 

Zero000

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2014
2,985
1,139
478
Well well well, after exactly two months of waiting for adapters to arrive (PX25 to UX4) from China, today was that special day and yes it turned out to be very special, as I was finally been able to listen to high power version of PX25 tube Tesla RD27AS.
I did one cycle of burning them in with actually not listening them at all and later on, had a nice session giving a spin to several tracks I like to listen when inserting new tubes or gear into system.
Conclusion in this case is super easy and straight forward - best tube I heard in Lampi by nice margin. Brutal monster. Killer. Period.
Yes I have Tesla ad1n and Philips miniwatt 4883 waiting to be heard, but this was so impressive that I'm super sure they can't beat this one.
What was special - just everything - 242 on steroids (positive ones) - scale, dynamic, details, darkness between notes, extensions both hi and low but keeping the seductive mids, control...was shocked what was coming out of my speakers...
Just phenomenal...over & out.
By the way, gain level is around 242 one.

P.S. With ACME 274b, after listening to KR242RK. Might soon try with WE422A & WE274b (but not sure I'll bother - its anyhow too good already) :)
View attachment 63195 View attachment 63197 View attachment 63198

I did say I thought it might be a smidge better than AD1.

TBH I have always found Telsa to be the pinnacle. Unsure why so many of their range over the years are sonically so good but they are.

Check with Lucasz if he thinks it's OK to run in a Pac for extended periods Golum at 9.2 Watts.

Glad you like it.

Sell all that KR/EML stuff and sit back and enjoy!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Golum

Golum

Well-Known Member
Jun 7, 2018
1,806
2,553
405
Lausanne, CH
Thanks Justin! Spoke with L and he said it’s ok to run it.
Won’t sell the other stuff as one day it will be considered as NOS and grandkids might benefit from them:) (in case we don’t end up in planet of the apes scenario).

Be well!
 

Zero000

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2014
2,985
1,139
478
No I won't sell either. Good to roll them in every now and then but after AD1 I find they don't last long in.

What switch position are you running it in?

Also, in time very interested in how it compares with Tesla AD1.

I am very rarely envious of much in life. But I am envious of RD27AS.

Go figure...;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: wisnon and Golum

Golum

Well-Known Member
Jun 7, 2018
1,806
2,553
405
Lausanne, CH
What switch position are you running it in?

Also, in time very interested in how it compares with Tesla AD1.

101d/PX25 Position on dial
Still waiting for that adapter but I'll try for sure as I have two versions of AD1 (AD1n & 4883) both matched and measured above 100%
 

Zero000

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2014
2,985
1,139
478
RD27AS won't be a great all rounder due to the very high heater and very high gain.

I'd describe Tesla AD1 as normal gain yet it still sounds more dynamic than 242 or PX25 whose gain is too high for some preamps in some Lampis without a volume control.

I know my Luxman pre will take very high input levels without issue but the RD27AS really is scarce. Your seller said he would get some more but he never did. I am not holding out much hope for a pair. For what you paid you did amazingly well.

Be interesting when my DAC comes back to properly drive AD1 as I know it wasn't optimal by any means yet it still came out on top by a very good margin.
 

Golum

Well-Known Member
Jun 7, 2018
1,806
2,553
405
Lausanne, CH
RD27AS won't be a great all rounder due to the very high heater and very high gain.

I'd describe Tesla AD1 as normal gain yet it still sounds more dynamic than 242 or PX25 whose gain is too high for some preamps in some Lampis without a volume control.
Justin actually gain is around the 242 level - would not say its bigger at all.
Norm had a same comment about AD1 ie gain being lower then 242/PX25...
 

wisnon

Well-Known Member
Dec 12, 2011
3,525
635
1,200
It would low to normal gain for AD1n in 101d slot...ie 4.5v/1amp position. AD1n is 4v so the excess voltage give headroom for the extra amps needed.
 
Last edited:

Zero000

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2014
2,985
1,139
478
Justin actually gain is around the 242 level - would not say its bigger at all.
Norm had a same comment about AD1 ie gain being lower then 242/PX25...

OK. 242 is very high gain but good to know Tesla isn't appreciably higher.

Norm AD1n needs two amps at 4V to be on spec. More than EML or Telefunken AD1.
 

dminches

Well-Known Member
Oct 22, 2011
3,411
2,794
1,410
Don’t bother with a we 422a it’s just not a good tube. We 274b is a good tube over all. The tak version is a bit heavey over the real one. ps vane makes a goid we274b too For me the gz480 is a worthwhile try

Do you like the GZ480 more than the Tak or Acme 274b?
 

Golum

Well-Known Member
Jun 7, 2018
1,806
2,553
405
Lausanne, CH

Zero000

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2014
2,985
1,139
478
Russian stuff mate Russian stuff ;)

STC made some great valves. Their molybdenum 211 (4242) is supposedly amazing. Silbatone had some at Munich a few years back. PQ of Audio Note basically thought it was the best 211 after compares.

Scarce though. Or I'd own a quad.

Never been keen on Russian stuff. Reliability is very high though I have always found. Just rarely the best for SQ in my book. But I won't deny there could be exceptions and I suspect there are.
 
Last edited:

wisnon

Well-Known Member
Dec 12, 2011
3,525
635
1,200
OK. 242 is very high gain but good to know Tesla isn't appreciably higher.

Norm AD1n needs two amps at 4V to be on spec. More than EML or Telefunken AD1.
i know. its why I say the extra amps needed.
 

adamaley

Well-Known Member
Apr 15, 2016
581
541
228
Minnetonka, MN
So, seeing as I had issues with the gain of the 242s in my system, and to a lesser extent, the PX25s, would you good folks say bypassing the RD27AS and sticking with the Tesla/Telefunken AD1s should be the way to go? Any idea how the AD1s compare in gain to 300Bs?

Also, where are folks sourcing the AD1s, and are Telefunkens considered sonically better than the Teslas?
 

adamaley

Well-Known Member
Apr 15, 2016
581
541
228
Minnetonka, MN
My DAC is a Golden Gate 2, which was modified to cater to the 242, but I still had issues with even the PX25. It passes signal on to a Misho Myronov Preamp, then on to a Line Magnetic 508ia running in amp only mode. The issue lies with the fact that the Line Magnetic amp, even in bypass mode has the preamp tubes adding gain to the signal. Also, since the Misho Myronov preamp doesn't have a remote, I rely on the full Lampi volume pot for attenuation.

However, I am not looking to change anything component wise as I am extremely happy with the sound I have now with the Acme 300Bs. I'm tempted to try another output tube with similar gain attributes as the 300B, or close to it.
 

Jbs

Well-Known Member
Nov 25, 2016
17
12
110
Seattle
Hi - I am new to this site and to this particular forum. I had a few questions about tube rolling in my GG2. Currently I have the EL 45 anniversary mesh and a EL 5U4G Rect. I want to experiment with different tubes and it sounds like after reading here the PX-25's are the answer next or the 242's? The tempertaure selector switch on the rear of my deck has "45" at the top and on the bottom 300B/101D /PX4 except 300B and 101D are crossed over with a black marking pen... something from the factory I guess?
 

Golum

Well-Known Member
Jun 7, 2018
1,806
2,553
405
Lausanne, CH
So, seeing as I had issues with the gain of the 242s in my system, and to a lesser extent, the PX25s, would you good folks say bypassing the RD27AS and sticking with the Tesla/Telefunken AD1s should be the way to go? Any idea how the AD1s compare in gain to 300Bs?

Also, where are folks sourcing the AD1s, and are Telefunkens considered sonically better than the Teslas?
Adam if you had issues with 242 gain then i’m not sure RD is a way to go for you but based on info i have from Norman and Justin AD1 might be the way to get a different flavour. Personally i’m yet to try those and here you have few options as you mentioned - Telefunken ad1, Tesla ad1n but as well Phillips MiniWatt 4883. Both Norman and myself we have at hand two second mantioned pairs and Justin i believe has Telefunken and Tesla.
With ad1 as with RD you need adapters in order to use them so bare that in mind as well.
Sourcing of those is hm...tricky...at least...but rewarding if found :cool:
Gain wise Norm told me they are lower then PX25 so I assume you’ll be more then fine.
 
  • Like
Reactions: adamaley

Golum

Well-Known Member
Jun 7, 2018
1,806
2,553
405
Lausanne, CH
Those are all three options...
2DF49179-7A53-4B90-9CF1-A467AA4FF6D7.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: adamaley

About us

  • What’s Best Forum is THE forum for high end audio, product reviews, advice and sharing experiences on the best of everything else. This is THE place where audiophiles and audio companies discuss vintage, contemporary and new audio products, music servers, music streamers, computer audio, digital-to-analog converters, turntables, phono stages, cartridges, reel-to-reel tape machines, speakers, headphones and tube and solid-state amplification. Founded in 2010 What’s Best Forum invites intelligent and courteous people of all interests and backgrounds to describe and discuss the best of everything. From beginners to life-long hobbyists to industry professionals, we enjoy learning about new things and meeting new people, and participating in spirited debates.

Quick Navigation

User Menu

Steve Williams
Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator
Ron Resnick
Site Co-Owner | Administrator
Julian (The Fixer)
Website Build | Marketing Managersing