Thanks. I'm also interested in the difference in tone, as in degree of warmth the 274b imparts (I'm getting a sense of the RK, but it's still early).
LampizatOr Golden Atlantic + TRP
- Thread starter Golum
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I would call neither of them warm and (overly) tubey.
They are both neutral and transparent.
I think it was someone in the PSvane thread who noted that transparency and emotional involvement don’t typically run together, which is my experience as well. For me, the question now is how - or is it possible - to take advantage of the RK’s or 274b’s strengths over the U50 while getting some modest warmth into the system. Right now, as the RK I just got opens up and shows its transparency and smoothness and other good qualities, so far it hasn’t tonally offered diplomatic recognition to the sound of a major key or chord. Perhaps the supposedly warmer Mullards coming will help it along.
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Highstream,
In my system, the 274b is forward sounding and tends to be “in your face” a bit but not on all types of music. The RK KR provides a degree more soundstage, depth increases and less of that forward shouting. Now these are just very small differences but the KR for me adds up To more emotional involvement. Now keep in mind that I only have about 80 hours of play time with the KR, a few hundred on my 274b. So there may be other changes on the horizon. Last night it was a bit more analytical than usual, for some reason. This kind of surprised me. Time will tell I guess.
With either recti, when I switch from KT77 to KT66 the warmth increases but I lose some articulation and detail. Sort of smoothed over type of sound. Definitely prefer the Gold Lion KT77’s over most of what I have tried (only a short list). I’ll be trying other tubes later. This has all been a lot of fun so far. So I look forward to more of everyone’s findings. Cheers!
Ed
I should add to my comments earlier today about the RK recti's tonal balance, based on what it sounded like late last night, that I'm using an SR Orange fuse in the Lampi and a Paul Hynes LPS that is in the path between Oppo and dac. The fuses and dac's new boards are only a week burned in. Unlike the SR Blue, the Orange has nice warmth and today that's starting to show through. Last month I put an Orange in a PrimaLuna preamp and it took 400+ hours to truly blossom. I remember one day everything just sounded very different.
Which gets me to the subject of aftermarket power fuses, something I don't recall being mentioned here. I don't want to start a big debate. If you've found that power cords make a difference, then think of a fuse in the same light, just as an extension of the cord on the way to the component's power supply. Among the best in the States, at least, are the Orange, the Audio Magic Ultimate beeswax (and now Premier Ultimate beeswax), which I have in ATC actives and a PS Audio regenerator, and supposedly the Audio Horizons Reference, which I haven't heard.
Ed_K, thanks for you comment. It's interesting that much of what you describe is the opposite for the KR RK and 274b from what some others do. It points to the fact that each of our systems is different. To me, KR RK is not particularly forward. In fact, often some instruments seem so soft and back that it makes me wonder what the frequency curve looks like. Of course, we'll have to see what shakes out from the burn in process. Sometimes I think people make final judgments without leaving enough time. In this game, obsession (or immediate gratification) and patience are often at odds.
Which gets me to the subject of aftermarket power fuses, something I don't recall being mentioned here. I don't want to start a big debate. If you've found that power cords make a difference, then think of a fuse in the same light, just as an extension of the cord on the way to the component's power supply. Among the best in the States, at least, are the Orange, the Audio Magic Ultimate beeswax (and now Premier Ultimate beeswax), which I have in ATC actives and a PS Audio regenerator, and supposedly the Audio Horizons Reference, which I haven't heard.
Ed_K, thanks for you comment. It's interesting that much of what you describe is the opposite for the KR RK and 274b from what some others do. It points to the fact that each of our systems is different. To me, KR RK is not particularly forward. In fact, often some instruments seem so soft and back that it makes me wonder what the frequency curve looks like. Of course, we'll have to see what shakes out from the burn in process. Sometimes I think people make final judgments without leaving enough time. In this game, obsession (or immediate gratification) and patience are often at odds.
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Well, it seems I was on the wrong page re bonzo's desire for a 596.
In any event, if someone is interested in a NOS 596, I have one used for a day or two -- the adapter wiring broke -- along with a new adapter for sale. PM me if interested.
In any event, if someone is interested in a NOS 596, I have one used for a day or two -- the adapter wiring broke -- along with a new adapter for sale. PM me if interested.
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Dave -- I wrote that because I thought bonzo posted today. But looking back now, it seems I was on the wrong page at the time. I take it back and will edit accordingly. Sorry...
Highstream, your second comment about the KR RK not being particularly forward, is also evident in my system. The 274B is very much so forward. Thx for your next comment about the soft and back. That is a good way to describe it. Sometimes I have difficulty with putting words to what I hear and that is a good description as to what I’m hearing. FYI, I no longer use a preamp. Feeding the TRP directly into Pass Xa monos. This could account for some differences also.
Originally, I got the TRP with a volume knob to run straight into ATC actives. Then everyone, except Taurus the tech of Lampi NA, said that adding a preamp really helps. So I picked up a used PrimaLuna to find out. The advice was confirmed, at which point I ordered a Supratek, which is in the queue somewhere. Since receiving the TRP back last week, I haven't yet tried the straight run into the speakers.
I guess it would depend upon the preamp? If I had just one source, I'd probably skip the preamp.
Well obviously. No one was suggesting adding the latest bargain basement preamp. But not top of the market either. The PrimaLuna Dialogue goes for around three bills, though I got it for a lot less used, and the Supratek Chardonnay goes for two. The TRP, which I picked up used and upgraded, still came to a lot more, and the Directstream before that, again used and upgraded, was no slouch on its own, but considerably improved with the PL.
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I had a Pass XP30. To me it made everything sound the same. There was very little difference between the TRP and my Meitner. Took it out and dynamics increased, things were more alive. Sold the Meitner and Pass. Really like where things are right now. Working on room improvements
For what it’s worth. A recti allows us to pick the seats per say. It also varies the level of impact to. Air is also part but the air is elusive in that any given recti air is a combo of the output tubes.
Since my setup is large speakers I tend to like tubes that throw a smaller stage less upfront as I sit back at 8 feet on four towers each about 8 feet tall. Your mileage may vary. Has anyone asked yoda or tried a SS recti yet ?
Since my setup is large speakers I tend to like tubes that throw a smaller stage less upfront as I sit back at 8 feet on four towers each about 8 feet tall. Your mileage may vary. Has anyone asked yoda or tried a SS recti yet ?
Wow. Congrats on your sound improvements while saving some SERIOUS coin
That is quite a statement
Christoph, Alrainbow, I'm probably the odd ball out there. The Pass was a good pre but when I went direct into the Pass XA monos with the TRP, it was a whole different ball game. It just makes me feel good. I'm more connected to the music. Needless to say, every system is not the same and this may not work for everyone. But got to tell you, it has me seriously considering moving to a GG2 or Pacific. Call me crazy!
A preamp in an ideal concept does little in sound of its own. The trp direct can be great but inconsistent for all due to output impedance variance. A preamp also adds a gain stage and this alone should increase dynamics. If I may ask do you have any other preamps to try out of curiosity?
No I do not. FWIW, my speakers are about 100db sensitivity. It doesn't take a lot of gain/power to make them react. I've never had to think about increasing dynamics.
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