Doctor's Orders-Part Two-The New Listening Room Of Steve Williams

[highstream]

you live in one of my favorite states

At some point, you might be interested in trying the NOS Brimar 5R4GY recti. I suspect it’s in the same ballpark as the Philco. It’s unfortunately a touch dry for my tastes, missing a degree of sweetness that the United Electronics USAF 596 provides. However, it’s the quietist tube I’ve had in my system, which makes the clarity that comes with that hard to set aside. I got mine from the India seller on eBay who seems to have an enormous stock of old British era tubes.

 

[Steve Williams]

At some point, you might be interested in trying the NOS Brimar 5R4GY recti. I suspect it’s in the same ballpark as the Philco. It’s unfortunately a touch dry for my tastes, missing a degree of sweetness that the United Electronics USAF 596 provides. However, it’s the quietist tube I’ve had in my system, which makes the clarity that comes with that hard to set aside. I got mine from the India seller on eBay who seems to have an enormous stock of old British era tubes.

as I said, I am not a tube roller and my system has been alll tubes for well over 20 years. The only other interest I have is to compare the Philco to the Shuguang gz480. As for warmth the Philco has it but not to exaggerated amounts.

 

[Edward Pong]

Interesting thread... many points of view.
My sense is natural is the perfect word to describe a sound, when one has arrived there.
My reference is the sound of the live concerts we put on. Certainly live sound, is "just there" nothing sticks out. Of course, the room acoustics plays a large part of what we "hear".
When we can capture the essence of that live event, it's "natural".... (nothing in audio can absolutely really EQUAL live - our ears are just too sensitive...)
That is the real beauty of tape, it can capture "all" (most) of all the sounds, from a whisper to a roar, in a linear fashion, with nothing "sticking out"
My 2c on "natural"... I love that term!

Ed

 

[highstream]

as I said, I am not a tube roller and my system has been alll tubes for well over 20 years. The only other interest I have is to compare the Philco to the Shuguang gz480. As for warmth the Philco has it but not to exaggerated amounts.

Is your Philco a straight or bottle shape, and what does the date code look like? I believe Philco tubes in 1946 were still being made by Sylvania (since the early 1930s). Some of the Sylvania Philcos had Sylvania code. I don't recall ever trying a Sylvania rectifier, but their 6F8G VT-99 was warm -- I use a pair in my preamp -- while shortie versions of its successor 6SN7, 1948 and 1951 production, which were very clear but not particularly warm. I've got a Chinese merchant checking on the GZ480 for me. Thanks,

 

[Steve Williams]

Here is a photo.....

 

[highstream]

Thanks. What's the date code on the base? I'm guessing it's a letter and number.

 

[dbdb]

Hi Steve, I stumbled across your thread in my quest to learn more about acoustics for smaller rooms. I was very quickly hooked and have now read it all.
Congratulations on your fine system and room. I admire the approach you’ve taken to get the fundamentals right and then tune.
It’s great to read the stories of others enjoying your system (and company) too.
WBF seems like a great community.

Cheers, Dan.

 

[Steve Williams]

Hi Steve, I stumbled across your thread in my quest to learn more about acoustics for smaller rooms. I was very quickly hooked and have now read it all.
Congratulations on your fine system and room. I admire the approach you’ve taken to get the fundamentals right and then tune.
It’s great to read the stories of others enjoying your system (and company) too.
WBF seems like a great community.

Cheers, Dan.

Thanks Dan. It’s been a labor of love and a lifelong project

 

[Steve Williams]

FWIW my New ShuGuang gz480 has shipped and should be here hopefully end of next week

 

[rbbert]

as I said, I am not a tube roller and my system has been alll tubes for well over 20 years. The only other interest I have is to compare the Philco to the Shuguang gz480. As for warmth the Philco has it but not to exaggerated amounts.

How can you own a Lampizator and not be a tube roller??

 

[Steve Williams]

FWIW I do get a new Shuguang gz480 this week

 

[Steve Williams]

The Shuguang gz480 has landed...

This is one beast of a looking tube. Much heavier than my other 5u4g tubes.

Packaged beautifully. From its size and weight I am betting on a longer break in before it opens up

 

[Steve Williams]

 

[Steve Williams]

 

[Steve Williams]

 

[Steve Williams]

 

[Steve Williams]

 

[Steve Williams]

as a result of the gz480 I washable to get photos of the Philco NOS 1946

 

[Steve Williams]

 

[Steve Williams]