Speaking of GEC KT66's, most of the grey covered ones show a code such as KB/Z, the Z being for the military. I came across a KB/T, the T standing for Tungsram, which was the British factory of the Hungarian company of the same name. They ended UK production in 1952. What I haven't found is any mention of the Tungsram version in relation to the GEC/Osram/Marconi umbrella in terms of design or audio quality. Anyone know about that?
LampizatOr Golden Atlantic + TRP
- Thread starter Golum
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And speaking of rectifier tubes, given mention of 596's recently, I found a site with a couple of WWII Osram and Marconi/Osram (GEC) U52's being sold at decent prices at Mullard Magic (mullard.org). It's considered one of the very best around. Btw, if it hasn't been mentioned here, there was a rectifier comparison/review posted several years ago on head-fi: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/dub...mparison-rectifer-tube-rolling-thread.694525/
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I finally received the Atlantic TRP yesterday and am about to set it up (lots of rearranging for cord lengths). One thing I didn't expect was the large Stillpoints style feet. Is that something Lampi provides and, if so, any information about them? (I bought the Atlantic used and it was shipped directly to Poland, so this is the first time I'm seeing it).
StillPoints are quite different, are multiple pieces and use ceramic ballbearings for isolation/vibration control. Pretty sure those are just solid steel. But, yes, I believe most “Atlantic family” DACs, at least, have these footers now.
I like them too, but a great —and cheap— isolation trick for Lampi w/ these footers is to use isoAcoustics isoPucks directly under each footer, as opposed to as advertised coupled to the chassis. ‘Floating’ the unit from these footers does great IME.
I like them too, but a great —and cheap— isolation trick for Lampi w/ these footers is to use isoAcoustics isoPucks directly under each footer, as opposed to as advertised coupled to the chassis. ‘Floating’ the unit from these footers does great IME.
I meant Stillpoints looking, not style. I wondered their origin and if they are simply what they look like, solid steel, which presumably is going to translate vibrations. I actually picked up a second hand set of Stillpoints in anticipation of the dac, although I'm watching for a good deal on a Star Sound platform, which is reportedly better. For my other components, I've used the large IsoNode feet with success.
Those are high end footers manufactured for us by Stacore.
Congrats on the DAC! So which are the lucky tubes to open the season?
These are heavy solid steel footers as specified by Lukasz. For ultimate vibration isolation we recommend any of our pneumatic platforms (which work great with Lampi equipment) + our CLD footers for best coupling to the platform.
Cheers,
An hour in, I put the Stillpoints under the three Stacores and the difference was substantial: the breath of trumpet and singers appeared. That was a little quick for it just to be the burnin process. The dac is situated on the bottom shelf of a Salamander Designs real wood cabinet, which is a little off a carpeted floor.
To get a baseline, I'm starting with a total burn in, including the Siemens and Svetlana that were included. Both of those are well reputed and sound good. A GEC U52 and 596 are on the way, and someone is checking their stored stock for a special pair of GECs KT66s. Otherwise, I'll continue to be patient with the market. Btw, I wonder to what degree the results being reported with the 596 are adapter dependent. I suspect not much, but I'm not familiar with tube adapters, just cable ones.
I've got a Volume nob question for anyone familiar with it and using the remote as their main control: What have you found about where to set it in the trade off between any noise introduced by the knob and practicality of using the remote? It's in the middle for now. I saw turning it up high introduced a lot of noise (with nothing playing). Thanks,
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Whoops - strong start with the rectifiers
...596 adapter wise - i have the crapy Chinese one and friend of mine who had the same one, few weeks ago got himself the Woo audio one (not cheap) and he told me that for him improvement was massive - not certain why so much but still...at least it looks fantastic
Whoops - strong start with the rectifiers
596 adapter wise - i have the crapy Chinese one and friend of mine who had the same one, few weeks ago got himself the Woo audio one (not cheap) and he told me that for him improvement was massive - not certain why so much but still...at least it looks fantastic
I have been using Chinese adaptors for NOS valves like the Marconi PX4 in my DAC for a long time.
I only have two types. But one is obviously excellent. Solid brass outside with a Teflon core within which the pin receptors are located. They weigh a lot. And they were very cheap for the quality.
The poor quality ones have a black almost bakelite quality to them. Super cheap and definitely avoid. One broke a while ago when it's pin receptor came out with the valve.
But that's more Big 7 / GG / Pacific relevant. Just saying some Chinese stuff really is surprisingly nice.
Could I hear a sonic difference between the two? Not really. And I am pretty sensitive to any valve rolling.
There's a guy in Bulgaria who makes really nice adapters of pretty much any kind you can ask for,at a reasonable rate. He's quite active in the Glenn Studios thread on Head-Fi. His user name is Deyan. I have his eBay info as well. PM me if you or anyone is interested. Not sure if its cool to post his eBay info here or not.
Good to hear of people taking a gamble on different rectifiers. I just ordered a Marconi RK60, which also requires an adapter. A few folks on the Dubstep girl rectifier thread prefer it to the 596, and considering that the 596 is thus far my preferred rectifier, it's worth a punt especially at the $45 price for the tube and $15 for the adapter.
I'm also intrigued by the U52 rectifier. It was my favorite back when I had a DNA Stratus headphone amp and I know a friend with the Golden Gate who prefers it over his RK 5U4G.
I'm also intrigued by the U52 rectifier. It was my favorite back when I had a DNA Stratus headphone amp and I know a friend with the Golden Gate who prefers it over his RK 5U4G.
I have the 4 volt version of the U52,the 18/20. I dont dare use it in the TRP,but in my OTL amp its a fantastic sounding rectifier,a clear cut above the highly touted Sittard made Mullard GZ34.
Fred advised me not to try it in the TRP,and seeing as how I dont want to blow up my DAC,nor my tube I havent tried it. Perhaps he can chime in.
From the web:
"The GEC U18/20 was introduced in 1939 to replace the U18 and U20. With respect to the U18, it appears that the primary electrical difference is a significant reduction in the required heater current. This tube was manufactured in December, 1963, at Hammersmith, and to my eyes, it looks identical to the 5-volt GEC U52. And I am inclined to believe that, except for the heater and the base, it is the same tube. As I do not own a U52, I can’t be sure, but I can say the sound is very similar to the GEC 6AS7 and B65.
It appears that Mullard, Cossor and GEC modified their respective 4-volt rectifiers — FW4-500, 45IU and U18/20 -- to operate in 5-volt circuits largely as a result of the Lend-Lease Act of 1941. The US transferred equipment, supplies and munitions worth about $31.4 billion (equivalent to $418 billion today) to Britain, including ships, aircraft and land vehicles, in support of the British war effort. As the associated electronics were all American-made, it was incumbent on Britain to be able to locally provide replacement vacuum tubes, such as rectifiers, to keep the American electronics operating. And all that was necessary was to swap out the heaters and bases, as otherwise, these rectifiers were close enough to substitute for a 5U4G in many applications. And thus we see Mullard 5U4G, Cossor 53KU and GEC U52.
At the conclusion of the war, America’s military and economic dominance established the octal base and 5-volt rectifiers as world standards. Of course, it was still necessary to produce 4-volt rectifiers to keep the existing old European equipment operating, but the future was 5-volt. And further, with the economies of Europe in tatters, Philips turned its eye toward the vast and booming American market. In fairly short order, Philips released a number of 5-volt octal rectifiers, including the GZ32, GZ33 and GZ37, developed by Mullard, and the GZ34, developed in Eindhoven, Holland. "
Maybe it’s related to voltage as Lampi should use 5V rectifiers
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I’ve been listening yesterday, but with two kids around it was just a casual listening so there were no conclusions above the fact that it works and looks/glows amazing.
If you mean this one than i did
. I’ve been listening yesterday, but with two kids around it was just a casual listening so there were no conclusions above the fact that it works and looks/glows amazing.
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