Lampizator Valve / Tube Rolling Review Thread
- Thread starter Zero000
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Yeah. Might take a month or two but it will. And will almost certainly be in CZ.
Just don't swoop in and grab the next pair available...
Promised.
I ordered some tubes from "Best 300b" about 3 weeks ago. It's been 3 weeks with no communication as to tracking, etc. I was only told by Frank that they would ship out 3/27. Are they usually reliable?
On the same day, I also ordered a recti from a Chinese company: EECTECH. They are providing absolutely no communication as to shipping, tracking-- only a auto generated email saying your order "has shipped." Has anyone dealt with EECTECH. Has anyone dealt with this company? Thanks
On the same day, I also ordered a recti from a Chinese company: EECTECH. They are providing absolutely no communication as to shipping, tracking-- only a auto generated email saying your order "has shipped." Has anyone dealt with EECTECH. Has anyone dealt with this company? Thanks
The Chinese company is coming through with tracking info.
"Best 300b": Radio Silence. One heck of a way to run a business -- take the money, promise a shipping date and ignore the customer. I guess I can file a claim with Paypal...
Impending apocalyptic battle.
With luck my Lampi should be back today. But given the lockdown maybe a few more days yet.
With luck my Lampi should be back today. But given the lockdown maybe a few more days yet.
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Bravo - respect...can't wait to hear the result of the battle...
Osram looks amazing as well!!!
How would you rate the thickness of glass Tesla vs Osram?
Osram looks amazing as well!!!
How would you rate the thickness of glass Tesla vs Osram?
I would say it's approximately the same.
I would also say the Marconi/Osram valves are the most beautiful triodes I own. Considering they are 20s or 30s they are phenomenal in terms of construction quality. I have a large collection of valves, not just for the Lampizator. I would say they are the top of the list. They really are extraordinary.
That said, RD27AS is excellent too. Obviously very well made, but just not as pretty.
Tap tests tell me microphony should be low with both of these. The Tesla's have a lower pitched tap test noise. Nice and dead sounding for sure. Always a good sign.
I would also say the Marconi/Osram valves are the most beautiful triodes I own. Considering they are 20s or 30s they are phenomenal in terms of construction quality. I have a large collection of valves, not just for the Lampizator. I would say they are the top of the list. They really are extraordinary.
That said, RD27AS is excellent too. Obviously very well made, but just not as pretty.
Tap tests tell me microphony should be low with both of these. The Tesla's have a lower pitched tap test noise. Nice and dead sounding for sure. Always a good sign.
Tap test an EML AD1, EML Globe Mesh 45 or even an RK 300B and you know they just don't make the grade either of these do. Though the RKs were better than the EMLs, when put together right. I had to return the first pair, as they weren't
What's left of the cross swords marking on a 100% Tesla AD1.
BTW Goran the RDs are the 75% ones. 100% still to come. I expect the 75% ones to sound slightly softer than the 100%.
Back to the Marconi/Osram glass. Whoever did the glass blowing for them was a complete master of the art. They are almost exactly the same size/proportion. I can't really tell them apart. Not so the RDs which are a different size. Maybe the next pair will be better.
BTW Goran the RDs are the 75% ones. 100% still to come. I expect the 75% ones to sound slightly softer than the 100%.
Back to the Marconi/Osram glass. Whoever did the glass blowing for them was a complete master of the art. They are almost exactly the same size/proportion. I can't really tell them apart. Not so the RDs which are a different size. Maybe the next pair will be better.
Well here's my latest to go with my KR242's, I've picked up a PSVane ACME 274b and a Mullard (Holland) metal base GZ34 (second iteration). The PSVane is well known here, having an expansive soundstage, great dynamics and a very clean sound. The GZ34 I think is a bit more unusual.
So here's thoughts on the GZ. The output of this valve means a lower volume going into my pre-amp (ARC Ref 3). It is possible that if your preamp can't quite handle the 242's this may help. The stereo image isn't as expansive as the PSVane, it simply doesn't go as wide. Bass is thicker (perhaps not quite so tight), but it is very deep. I have almost full range JM Labs Scala Utopia so I'm talking the bottom octaves. On to the good piece, this is far less hifi than he PSVane, it has some sort of warmth in the midrange that makes kick drums and vocals sound superb. The stereo image is pushed back a little compared to the PSVane but not by too much. Treble extension is as good as the PSVane, it is not lacking in that frequency and upper octaves are clean. All in all it is underpinned with an amazing ability on bass drums and vocals, it has a strangely haunting quality, summing up the reason we buy valves over solid state. I'm quite amazed by this valve. I've got a lot of others that are on the cheaper side, Westinghouse 1940's 5u4g, Philips 5R4GYS, Haltron 5R4GY. All of these aren't really worth listening to compared to the GZ34 and PSVane. They are lagging far behind.
So to summarise if you're after a clean almost hifi sound with little warmth run the PSVane, if you are looking for some magic try a GZ34. The metal base version is key here, the newer ones aren't as good.
Cheers, Tim
So here's thoughts on the GZ. The output of this valve means a lower volume going into my pre-amp (ARC Ref 3). It is possible that if your preamp can't quite handle the 242's this may help. The stereo image isn't as expansive as the PSVane, it simply doesn't go as wide. Bass is thicker (perhaps not quite so tight), but it is very deep. I have almost full range JM Labs Scala Utopia so I'm talking the bottom octaves. On to the good piece, this is far less hifi than he PSVane, it has some sort of warmth in the midrange that makes kick drums and vocals sound superb. The stereo image is pushed back a little compared to the PSVane but not by too much. Treble extension is as good as the PSVane, it is not lacking in that frequency and upper octaves are clean. All in all it is underpinned with an amazing ability on bass drums and vocals, it has a strangely haunting quality, summing up the reason we buy valves over solid state. I'm quite amazed by this valve. I've got a lot of others that are on the cheaper side, Westinghouse 1940's 5u4g, Philips 5R4GYS, Haltron 5R4GY. All of these aren't really worth listening to compared to the GZ34 and PSVane. They are lagging far behind.
So to summarise if you're after a clean almost hifi sound with little warmth run the PSVane, if you are looking for some magic try a GZ34. The metal base version is key here, the newer ones aren't as good.
Cheers, Tim
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