LampizatOr Golden Atlantic + TRP

[AMR / iFi audio]

Someone must really like EL34. 365 pages? That is more than The Great Gatsby and The Old Man and The Sea together.

If you already thought there were quite a few different tubes you could use in this DAC, I've just received a 365 page book just on all the different EL34 variations

View attachment 72249

 

[Shredder]

I am a TRP balanced owner (Golden upgrade arrives Friday). keep reading (in this thread and elsewhere) that many people love the Psvane 6ca7 and the Tesla El 51. Not much detail about their traits, however. I would love a description of the two if anyone haas a minute.

FWIW, I use TS 5881s w/ the RK rectifier. I have tried and still occasionally use the GL KT 66 and 77, and the EH 6ca7. if anyone can compare the Tesla and Psvane to these that would be great.

Thanks much.

 

[perfusionist]

I am a TRP balanced owner (Golden upgrade arrives Friday). keep reading (in this thread and elsewhere) that many people love the Psvane 6ca7 and the Tesla El 51. Not much detail about their traits, however. I would love a description of the two if anyone haas a minute.

FWIW, I use TS 5881s w/ the RK rectifier. I have tried and still occasionally use the GL KT 66 and 77, and the EH 6ca7. if anyone can compare the Tesla and Psvane to these that would be great.

Thanks much.

I have a single ended TRP. I compared the Tesla EL51 to the Psvane 6ca7. My rectifier tube is a USAF 596. For me, hands down the Tesla EL51 was much better than 6ca7. My music is mostly jazz and female vocal jazz (Kat Edmonson, Norah Jones, Chantal Chamberland, Diana Krall) The mid range on the Tesla was fluid and very organic. The voices were ethereal.

However, if there is one tube that I felt was better than the Tesla EL51, it was the GEC KT66 NOS tube.

 

[leftside]

I have a single ended TRP. I compared the Tesla EL51 to the Psvane 6ca7. My rectifier tube is a USAF 596. For me, hands down the Tesla EL51 was much better than 6ca7. My music is mostly jazz and female vocal jazz (Kat Edmonson, Norah Jones, Chantal Chamberland, Diana Krall) The mid range on the Tesla was fluid and very organic. The voices were ethereal.

However, if there is one tube that I felt was better than the Tesla EL51, it was the GEC KT66 NOS tube.

I agree with all that. As the EL34 is famous for it's mids, and the EL51 is a predecessor, this is not surprising.

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

That's a very detailed family tree chart. Is that from Russo's?

 

[leftside]

That's a very detailed family tree chart. Is that from Russo's?

It's from here. Just open in Google Chrome, and Chrome will translate to English:

Die EL-34-Story

The above link admits that the above diagram is actually far from complete. For example, it discusses the EL11 and EL12 tubes, which are some of my favourite tubes with the TRP, but doesn't show them on the above diagram.

Russo's book is amazing. I'm currently reading it now. Also contains "general" tube information such as the below:

 

[Phon@ix]

Serious advice - use Deoxit spray to clean tube pins and beside that they get lubed which massively makes rolling easier and saves sockets on top

This Dexit spray is great

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

It's from here. Just open in Google Chrome, and Chrome will translate to English:

Die EL-34-Story

The above link admits that the above diagram is actually far from complete. For example, it discusses the EL11 and EL12 tubes, which are some of my favourite tubes with the TRP, but doesn't show them on the above diagram.

Russo's book is amazing. I'm currently reading it now. Also contains "general" tube information such as the below:

View attachment 72293

Karl Marx was a maternal cousin of Gerard Phillips? That is indeed a really interesting fact. I wonder if they got along.

 

[highstream]

Karl Marx was a maternal cousin of Gerard Phillips? That is indeed a really interesting fact. I wonder if they got along.

Unlikely they ever met. Philips was born in 1858 and I believe Marx lived in London from 1850 onward until his death in 1883.

 

[perfusionist]

Hi guys, what’s the difference between the GEC KT66 black tubes and the transparent (white) tubes? Are the transparent tubes as good as the black ones ?

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

Unlikely they ever met. Philips was born in 1858 and I believe Marx lived in London from 1850 onward until his death in 1883.

That depends on how pushy the aunt was in bringing everybody together for Sunday dinners.

 

[LampiNA]

I used to hot swap all the tubes in my Lampi DACs before but I do that now only with the recti as it is completely harmless and safe.
With the output tubes I muted the preamp and hot swapped but I stopped doing that.

For the change of the output tubes, I stop the stream to fully release the USB connection, then I switch off the DAC, change the hot tubes carefully not to bang them anywhere when I place them to cool off.
Then I insert the other output tubes and restart the DAC and continue listening.

I do ALL the tube swapping with a fresh and dry dishcloth not to leave fingerprints on the tubes (that could burn into the glass) and also not burn my hands with hot tubes.

This is good policy. Although we can get away with it on the Dacs with digital tube heaters, Lukasz specifically told me not to hot swap the outputs on the TRP, so I have not questioned it and shut down the dac when these changes need to be made.

Best,

Fred A.

 

[highstream]

I read that the best way to remove tubes and minimize socket wear is by holding the base and rocking gently.

 

[christoph]

Lukasz specifically told me not to hot swap the outputs on the TRP, so I have not questioned it and shut down the dac when these changes need to be made.

I shut down all Lampi DACs now when changing the Output tubes, not only the TRP but also and especially the Pacific.
For the rectifier it is hot swap with all my Lampi DACs

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

It is definitely a safer strategy.

 

[findog]

I've been feeling a bit nostalgic and decided to go back to the CV717 5R4G NOS Haltron Twin Disc Getters rectifier from the Psvane ACME 274B. So far it's quite visceral and upfront. Anyone else use the Haltron Twin? If so how does it stack up in your system?

 

[christoph]

I've been feeling a bit nostalgic and decided to go back to the CV717 5R4G NOS Haltron Twin Disc Getters rectifier from the Psvane ACME 274B. So far it's quite visceral and upfront. Anyone else use the Haltron Twin? If so how does it stack up in your system?

I have a Haltron twin disc getter recti but it did not get any playtime for more than 2 years now
It is a "polite" recti IME but easily bested by my go to recties in my systems
What are your other recties besides the ACME and what output tubes do you combine them with?

 

[Alrainbow]

To me the el51 and the ps vane are both very good tubes
but the recti used effects greatly the total outcome. Having that recti and many others my feeling is frankie makes for a close up stage
the el51 is a big bolder stage. So this combo in a way contradicts said results over all. The gz 480 is a more air bigger stage and this brings out more on the ps vane tube. any given system benefits from certain combos.
this is why I feel Lampi is the best choice in digital as it allows us to tailor sound

 

[findog]

I have a Haltron twin disc getter recti but it did not get any playtime for more than 2 years now
It is a "polite" recti IME but easily bested by my go to recties in my systems
What are your other recties besides the ACME and what output tubes do you combine them with?

I have the Shuguang GZ 480, KR5U4G Rectifier (stock), and RCA CRC-5R4-GY.
Output tubes: Siemens EL34 (stock), Gen Gold Note KT66 (new), Gen Gold Note KT77 (new), EH 6CA7 (new), EH 6CA7 (new).

 

[christoph]

I have the Shuguang GZ 480, KR5U4G Rectifier (stock), and RCA CRC-5R4-GY.
Output tubes: Siemens EL34 (stock), Gen Gold Note KT66 (new), Gen Gold Note KT77 (new), EH 6CA7 (new), EH 6CA7 (new).

And which is your favorite combo and why?