Lampizator Valve / Tube Rolling Review Thread

keithc

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Dec 31, 2022
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I have two spare pairs of the Phillips PT14 tubes (it's actually a matched quad), but only 2 adapters for the DHT Lampi dacs.
These were used for about 3 months, and were originally tested on a Funke W19S showing Ia = 26mA which is better than new. Since then both pairs have been tested on a Pacific and confirmed to be fully functional.

Let me know if interested. Priced low since tubes have been used but can give you a good idea if you like the PT14 sound.

IMG_3795.jpg
 

Zero000

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Jul 28, 2014
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I spent a very long time being really fond of the Sylvania VT-52 when I bought one of the first Big 7 DACs from Lampizator.

With the internals of that DAC easily thrown away due to the use of a particularly shitty set of cheap toroids and an excellent re-build by some really good hardware engineers, that valve doesn't work well any more.

But what has taken my grip with no valve rolls for 2+ months now is the Sylvania VT-25.

It's not high gain. Quite medium on the low side I would say. It has a radioactive filament, though, much like 211s did or do.

As an analogy, if you like OLEDs for their ability to pick out detail, this is an audio equivalent.

I am not recommending this to owners of factory produced Laminator products. Because they aren't compatible with any I know of. However, even if they aren't supported and won't run optimally in said DACs, my advice is to try and find anything thoriated that you can try in your Lampi product, especially if produced from the 1940s upwards, when nuclear was the way.

Don't want to die via a nuke, but radioactive filaments are fucking cool.
 
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Carlsbad

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Dec 11, 2022
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@Zero000 As you say, thoriated tungsten was used as a filament in the 1940s and before. I'm not sure why they stopped. I'd like to know more. Thoriated tungsten is still used widely as an electrode in welding, both machine and manual. many places have banned thoriated tungsten welding electrodes as a safety concern--not for welding but for grinding. Weld electrodes need a shart tip and welders generally grind their own ports. Breathing the radioactive dust is considered a hazard.

There is no danger to the user from thoriated tungsten tubes...but if anyone still has concerns, let me know what you have for sale.

Jerry
 

RockinBob

New Member
Jan 19, 2024
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Italy
@Zero000 As you say, thoriated tungsten was used as a filament in the 1940s and before. I'm not sure why they stopped. I'd like to know more. Thoriated tungsten is still used widely as an electrode in welding, both machine and manual. many places have banned thoriated tungsten welding electrodes as a safety concern--not for welding but for grinding. Weld electrodes need a shart tip and welders generally grind their own ports. Breathing the radioactive dust is considered a hazard.

There is no danger to the user from thoriated tungsten tubes...but if anyone still has concerns, let me know what you have for sale.

Jerry
Hello Jerry
You said : thoriated tungsten was used as a filament in the 1940s and before. I'm not sure why they stopped. Yes they did mate! it would have not be possible to make valves in the 80s with the same care they did in the 1940s or 50s. Filament was pure back those days. Anyway on my intro I have posted a link of my site you can visit with many tubes or valves.
Have a nice day
Bob
 

bonzo75

Member Sponsor
Feb 26, 2014
22,649
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London
I spent a very long time being really fond of the Sylvania VT-52 when I bought one of the first Big 7 DACs from Lampizator.

With the internals of that DAC easily thrown away due to the use of a particularly shitty set of cheap toroids and an excellent re-build by some really good hardware engineers, that valve doesn't work well any more.

But what has taken my grip with no valve rolls for 2+ months now is the Sylvania VT-25.

It's not high gain. Quite medium on the low side I would say. It has a radioactive filament, though, much like 211s did or do.

As an analogy, if you like OLEDs for their ability to pick out detail, this is an audio equivalent.

I am not recommending this to owners of factory produced Laminator products. Because they aren't compatible with any I know of. However, even if they aren't supported and won't run optimally in said DACs, my advice is to try and find anything thoriated that you can try in your Lampi product, especially if produced from the 1940s upwards, when nuclear was the way.

Don't want to die via a nuke, but radioactive filaments are fucking cool.

VT25/10y can be used by using a Thomas Mayer preamp. For Lampi there are other thoriated tungsten tubes like the TM 300b
 

Golum

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Jun 7, 2018
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VT25/10y can be used by using a Thomas Mayer preamp. For Lampi there are other thoriated tungsten tubes like the TM 300b
Or Tobian preamp where I'm happily using VT25/10y/801 ;) :cool:
 
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Golum

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Jun 7, 2018
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Hello Jerry
You said : thoriated tungsten was used as a filament in the 1940s and before. I'm not sure why they stopped. Yes they did mate! it would have not be possible to make valves in the 80s with the same care they did in the 1940s or 50s. Filament was pure back those days. Anyway on my intro I have posted a link of my site you can visit with many tubes or valves.
Have a nice day
Bob
Not sure why you say stopped making the tubes with thoriated tungsten. Majority of Elrog tubes are done with thoriated tungsten as well as current production of 845 and 211...
 
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Golum

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Jun 7, 2018
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Someone with GG3/Pac should try this:
“Company name is Stradi. It is vacuum tube manufacturer in Korea. This new tubes are based on Eb but heater voltage is set to 5V and made to be compatible with 300B tube. So, its name is S300B.”
straditube.com”
Also highly highly positively rated by Lukasz (theiir tubes overall)
IMG_2449.jpeg IMG_2448.jpeg IMG_2447.jpeg
 

andy79

Member
Dec 21, 2023
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Poland
As someone who has used a lot of tubes over the years, I have to say that the AVVT MESH are a cut above the rest... maybe it's like with cars... older is better... :D

I recently listened to the new Pacific on the latest engine "eleven" with ESS sabre chip... my GG2 R2R suits me better :)

with these two AVVT beauties tubes... here now I'm having an analog dream.
 

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Golum

Well-Known Member
Jun 7, 2018
1,814
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. my GG2 R2R suits me better :)

with these two AVVT beauties tubes....
I can understand this statement - actually both of them :)
 

Carlsbad

Well-Known Member
Dec 11, 2022
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Carlsbad, CA USA
As someone who has used a lot of tubes over the years, I have to say that the AVVT MESH are a cut above the rest... maybe it's like with cars... older is better... :D

I recently listened to the new Pacific on the latest engine "eleven" with ESS sabre chip... my GG2 R2R suits me better :)

with these two AVVT beauties tubes... here now I'm having an analog dream.
Which AVVT tubes are these?

Jerry
 

Golum

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Jun 7, 2018
1,814
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cpcat

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Jun 20, 2016
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South Carolina
New toys- PT14

Might have finally found my “best“ on PX4 heater setting.

Just initially evaluating- nice and open and punchy -similar to 242.

Very quiet (close to ambient) in my max volume-no-signal noise testing- very nice.

Gain is PX25ish.

Thanks so much to @keithc and @2ndLiner for hooking me up with these!

So nice to be a member of WBF,

IMG_4657.jpeg
 
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highstream

VIP/Donor
Nov 16, 2013
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New toys- PT14

Might have finally found my “best“ on PX4 heater setting.

Just initially evaluating- nice and open and punchy -similar to 242.

Very quiet (close to ambient) in my max volume-no-signal noise testing- very nice.

Gain is PX25ish.

Thanks so much to @keithc and @2ndLiner for hooking me up with these!

So nice to be a member of WBF,

View attachment 124202

Those look like the Italian made adapters. The TP’s are a nice step up.

You’re lucky re noise. I’ve had considerably increased noise through the (active) speakers since replacing the WE300B’s with the PT-14’s and playing around with some of the higher class rectis discussed on the Lampi related threads. With the addition of a Wyred DC snipping power supply feeding a PSA Regenerator about a year ago, the noise was considerably reduced. Trying again to isolate it.
 
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keithc

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cpcat

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Jun 20, 2016
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Those look like the Italian made adapters. The TP’s are a nice step up.

You’re lucky re noise. I’ve had considerably increased noise through the (active) speakers since replacing the WE300B’s with the PT-14’s and playing around with some of the higher class rectis discussed on the Lampi related threads. With the addition of a Wyred DC snipping power supply feeding a PSA Regenerator about a year ago, the noise was considerably reduced. Trying again to isolate it.
As @keithc said the adapters are from the same TP manufacturer in Hungary. I have the TP adapters on tap next -but first I will get another quad of these because they are great tubes!

I don’t know if you are running balanced or not, but the advantage I have found with balanced Lampi is that you can experiment with different tube locations to get the best overall noise performance. This is the first thing I do when I get new tubes..…plus balanced is just quieter by design. The trade off obviously is you need quads.

Thanks to @takacs75 and @2ndLiner and @keithc
 
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highstream

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No quads. Dealing with three tubes plus a couple in the preamp is difficult enough.
 
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cpcat

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Jun 20, 2016
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South Carolina
The TP’s are a nice step up.
Yes I have heard - on my list.

Just to follow up- PT 14s are da’bomb!

These tubes provide a combination of dynamics of 242 and organics of 300 B which I have not experienced before.

To quote @2ndLiner who I was fortunate enough to buy adapters from:

Me too, Charles, I find them to have the power and dynamics of KR 242's but with more soulfulness and emotional engagement...
 
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