Lampizator Valve / Tube Rolling Review Thread
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It's rated for 60 000 ft height, this is incredible. I'm still amazed by what people could achieve with vacuum tubes back in the day. Also, I really like the anode caps in tubes. Any other rectifiers like that you can use in Lampi?
Lets just say this recti is part of the "must have" recties in the Lampi world
If you are actually going to get one you can find the tube and adapter for less money elsewhere. The adapter may not be as nice but my Chinese adapters have been fine.
Nice. Still working on 242 tubes. The only ones online are from the best300B dudes, but others are reporting delays and lack of communication from them. I emailed. We’ll see if they respond…. If anyone has a quad of 242 RK tubes PM me
Chatham 5R4WGY. Rated to the same height, built like a mofo and dirt cheap.
I used the Sylvania VT-52 and can run it at the rated voltage in my very heavily modded Lampi.
It used to work in my original unmodified Lampi and it was for a while my fave tube, even though it did nothing special I just found it great for long listening sessions. It never did anything to piss me off. No idea how far off the rated heater voltage it was actually working at.
But now I can run it at exactly the rated voltage it sucks for some reason I really don't understand. Even if I under run it it still sucks. It just doesn't gel with my current DAC config.
WE VT-52 is on my list of must try.
Not sure why greater height is a challenge. You'd think less air pressure would be kinder to a tube holding vacuum.
Think about it. Air pressure drops as height rises. Easier on a vacuum tube than sea level, or at least it should be. Less pressure differential.
If it still works 20,000 leagues under the sea I really would be impressed. I bet the Chatham would work at greater depths than the USAF effort. That's like putting money on the roulette wheel but hey...
TBH though my bet is a guaranteed win under certain precisely stated conditions. LOL.
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A few things first a tube or most tubes are in a vacuum
so while rating on height above sea level I’m not sure how it pertains to audio. i think it means thinker class better seals
think as airpreasure lowers the vacuum is the same but glass
epoxy used matters
next i own a few Frankie’s and the mashers too. both have less air less presence
low noise floors
the masher has a really thick glass too. not a fav on some dacs but magic on amps
next I tried many recti it’s two fold first being the dac next system needs
so while rating on height above sea level I’m not sure how it pertains to audio. i think it means thinker class better seals
think as airpreasure lowers the vacuum is the same but glass
epoxy used matters
next i own a few Frankie’s and the mashers too. both have less air less presence
low noise floors
the masher has a really thick glass too. not a fav on some dacs but magic on amps
next I tried many recti it’s two fold first being the dac next system needs
Oh damn, they are. Great clue!
Bigger temperature difference, at that altitude it's colder than in the UK during summer. Also, vibration, when you think about it being on a plane. I believe that sturdier built is better in terms of microphonics. Which are not the case with rectifiers, just overall. Better vibration resistance also means tighter quality control and probably better materials. That's my take on it.
If you're interested there's some interesting prose in the PDF file downloadable from here: http://www.r-type.org/exhib/aaa0590.htm
I am fairly sure I remember reading the Chatham could take some ridiculously high G force figures but I didn't see anything about that in the link.
Thank you very much! Cool stuff, that tube can really pump some current. Four 300B in a Lampi should be no problem for it. I can only imagine how many more awesome tubes there are to be discovered. Every day less and less, sadly.
Just got my 596 USAF with Woo Audio adapter. Totally shocking how big of a difference the rectifier tube makes in Pacific…. Defies logic. Very different soundstage from the RK 5U4G…. Not sure there is a “better” here. Perhaps the RK works better with the other 4 RK power tubes I have in, but this 596 is special in its own way, More forward and wider soundstage, crisper & brighter by a tad.
Tube rolling is just plain fantastic. Often I find that upgraditis is just a craving for different and a nice tube change can satisfy the old itch like nothing else….
Tube rolling is just plain fantastic. Often I find that upgraditis is just a craving for different and a nice tube change can satisfy the old itch like nothing else….
You must now refer to the 596 USAF by its nom de guerre: Franki
Yessir, Franki rocking Europe 72 Hundred Year Hall near the 50 yr anniversary!! Bliss!
Hi if anyone wants to sell their KR (not RK) 242, PM me. Someone in EU that I know wants a pair, so you will have to post it directly to him and get paid from him. I will give you his contact. He also has a pair of RK 242 if you want to trade, but not compulsory to trade. They don't fit his Allnic phono so he wants the KR. If anyone independently wants to buy his RK let me know as well.
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