Lampizator Valve / Tube Rolling Review Thread

[Zero000]

I've said before I rate Marconi/Osram PX25 with acoustic music very highly. This was just staggering earlier, so much so I had to try and get it across.

Of course it's a fail. But hey.

The speed and clarity was just uterrly mind numbing.

Rectifier STC 5R4GY. Much better choice with PX25 than Westinghouse VU71, which is too warm and rounded for PX25.

The room is a mess a real dumping ground at the moment but it will get sorted out.

Shot on a OnePlus 6 mobile phone.

 

[Zero000]

That video might be blocked in your country

 

[Zero000]

Using my VPN it appears to have been blocked in a lot of countries. It was OK in the US for a while, then wasn't. Problem is it was a track off Amazon Music. YouTube videos of copyrighted music don't get blocked in a lot of cases.

Talk about inconsistent. Unlucky in this case. It was a Rodrigo Y Gabriela track.

 

[highstream]

What is the difference between the STC 5R4GY and the Brimar version, if any? I've read Brimar was part of STC prior to 1960, but don't know the relationship in the branding or construction. I picked up the pictured undated Brimar NOS dual O getter from that eBay seller in India who seems to have a ton of tubes, although this one w/o markings (says they rubbed off). But any doubts about its origin seem to disappear in playback: It's the quietist and in some ways most addictive recti I've come across (being used in a Supratek preamp). Not quite as (modestly) warm as I normally favor, but not unpleasantly far off either.

 

[dminches]

I just got a pair of 01As. Before I use them I would like to clean the glass which is pretty crusty with dried dirt. What should I use? Soap and water? Isopropyl alcohol?

 

[Golum]

I just got a pair of 01As. Before I use them I would like to clean the glass which is pretty crusty with dried dirt. What should I use? Soap and water? Isopropyl alcohol?

Hahaha - i just did exactly that yesterday - some water on paper towel and gently removed the dirt. Looked like new...and thoriated tungsteen is beautiful and they sound beautiful..

 

[dminches]

Hahaha - i just did exactly that yesterday - some water on paper towel and gently removed the dirt. Looked like new...and thoriated tungsteen is beautiful and they sound beautiful..

Excellent. They are usable without any adapters, correct? Just checking because my tube tester had a weird note about the shorting pin.

 

[Golum]

Yes - plug and play on 300b setting (5v heater)..
Which ones you got?

 

[dminches]

RCA 01A - ST bottle shape

 

[Golum]

Same as mine

 

[dminches]

This RCA 01A is a sweet sounding tube. It will take me a while to get a good feel for it but I like what I am hearing.

What’s the difference between a 01A and 201A?

<edit> It looks like “2” meant RCA and “3” meant Cunningham. Not sure if only RCA made 01As.

 

[Golum]

This RCA 01A is a sweet sounding tube. It will take me a while to get a good feel for it but I like what I am hearing.

What’s the difference between a 01A and 201A?

<edit> It looks like “2” meant RCA and “3” meant Cunningham. Not sure if only RCA made 01As.

No idea honestly but i know who knows (Shawn F.)

 

[RDSChicago]

This RCA 01A is a sweet sounding tube. It will take me a while to get a good feel for it but I like what I am hearing.

What’s the difference between a 01A and 201A?

<edit> It looks like “2” meant RCA and “3” meant Cunningham. Not sure if only RCA made 01As.

Just picked up a pair of 01a’s (Cunningham) and they sound great. Good recommendation, Goran!

 

[RDSChicago]

I have a few 845 tubes. Can they be used in the Big 7?

 

[Golum]

I have a few 845 tubes. Can they be used in the Big 7?

No no - please don’t do that...

 

[RDSChicago]

No no - please don’t do that...

Good to know! They are wonderful in my amp! ;-)

 

[Zero000]

Good to know! They are wonderful in my amp! ;-)

I wouldn't worry you couldn't have put them in the UX4 sockets in the Lampi anyway!

 

[Zero000]

I'm constantly asking myself if I am doing the right thing running these Marconi/Osram PX25s, I am almost emblasoned with guilt.

But the filaments now look far more consistently lit than they did a few months ago after probably 30 hours use running at spec voltage. There was a part of the filament in one valve that was far to brightly lit but usage is seriously correcting that. And transfering from KR PX4 to the aforementioned does not bode well for KR. In fact they are so far behind it's a joke.

Hey, ho. Apologies for being brutally honest.

 

[RDSChicago]

Just purchased a NOS CRC-5R4GY JAN 1940s dark brownbase RCA, double D bottom getters at "V" angles from Brent Jesse. Here’s what he has to say: “New Old Stock White Box, ST "coke bottle" shape, military spec tubes. Not to be confused with the later JAN RCA version of this tube, that only has a single bottom getter. These are the first production 1940s World War II type, with the double D bottom getters set at angles to each other in the bottom of each tube ("V" shape), hanging filaments (top "fishing pole" filament supports) long dull black plates, extra support rods, very dark brown base and circular top mica. Clients are raving about this amazing tube (see below)! This tube will rival if not outperform the famed 274B Western Electric, and they are just as scarce. Save $800 over the 274B and we guarantee you will agree this is the best! All have the early type dark brown micanol base with the military markings. Tested for low noise and perfect internal matching. This is the rectifier people are talking about, no one else has this early version of this incredible tube!”

Has anyone tried this one? For a Big 7.

 

[highstream]

Just purchased a NOS CRC-5R4GY JAN 1940s dark brownbase RCA, double D bottom getters at "V" angles from Brent Jesse. Here’s what he has to say: “New Old Stock White Box, ST "coke bottle" shape, military spec tubes. Not to be confused with the later JAN RCA version of this tube, that only has a single bottom getter. These are the first production 1940s World War II type, with the double D bottom getters set at angles to each other in the bottom of each tube ("V" shape), hanging filaments (top "fishing pole" filament supports) long dull black plates, extra support rods, very dark brown base and circular top mica. Clients are raving about this amazing tube (see below)! This tube will rival if not outperform the famed 274B Western Electric, and they are just as scarce. Save $800 over the 274B and we guarantee you will agree this is the best! All have the early type dark brown micanol base with the military markings. Tested for low noise and perfect internal matching. This is the rectifier people are talking about, no one else has this early version of this incredible tube!”

Has anyone tried this one? For a Big 7.

Be interested on your thoughts after it has a chance to burn in. I have an early 1950s version. Although I like a modestly warm sound, I found it overly euphonic, like some of the life was being drained out of the music. RCA tubes have the reputation for being in that direction, so I wonder if the early 1940 ones are enough less so to get the kind of praise Jessee gives.