Psvane HiFi 300B in my Lampizator Big 7 balanced.....

wyan said:
I used Elrog 300B on my Lampizator Big 7 before and one tube failed on it. The replacement tube also failed on Big 7 as well. I ended up returning both pairs. That said, the sound was way better than Psvane 101D replica. I didnot even need to A/B to know the huge difference. It has the HF/LF extension as 101D yet with fuller and clearer sound. I think Elrog is like a bigger 101D, with the extention, clarity and fluence of later and reproduce more details.

My system:

Auralic Aries -> Big 7 -> First Watt J2 / Coincident Frankenstein 300B amp -> Voxativ Fullrange.

Voxativ drivers are very revealing and I am sure that tubes easily demonstrate their characteristics through the system.

I therefore purchased a pair of Takatsuki 300B and one single Takatsuki 274B. The rectifiers goes with Big 7 (with 101D replica) and the 300B power tubes go with Frankenstein amps (with Mullar GZ37 rectifier). This combo produce the best treble I've ever heard. The flute sounds so good that I feel it is un-real! I cannot judge everthing else right now since my Voxativ drivers have developed a voice coil rubbing problem and there are noises when playing low strings of guitars and I am sending them in for service.

I haven't tried Takatsuki 300B on Big 7 yet. I need to purchase and put a pair of cheap 300B on Big 7 first to make sure that the Elrog failure is Elrog's problem (which is now reported at forums). But I do believe that they will sound great on Big 7.

I feel that the best 300Bs extend to both HF and LF, and meanwhile provide more and more information in mid range. I think that is the right direction towards a great system. 2 cents.
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I appreciate this post... Just a few quick comments...

1) The Elrog 300B tubes are glorious - without question the best 300B I have heard yet in my Lampizator. Having said this... I sold 3 of my 4 pairs as I had 2 pairs fail. Having said this, the dealer stood by me and replaced them. This experience was really unfortunate.

2) My friend BruceLet has the Elrog 300B he uses in his Lampizator. He has had no issues whatsoever with his pair. I also have one pair - no issues (yet)...

3) Numerous times I have compared the Elrog 300B to the Takasuki 300B in the Lampizator. The sound of the Elrog is slightly more full and rich than the Takasuki. The Takasuki is slightly fast and lean, detailed... Really wonderful. Personally I prefer the EML 45 tubes and therefore prefer the Takasuki 300B. But...again...the Elrog tubes are lush and rich. Glorious especially for female jazz vocalist pieces, etc. Takasuki perhaps attuned to orchestral and rock etc.

4) I have also tried Sophia Electric Royal Princess 300B and KR Balloon 300B in the Lampizator. Neither have the effect of the Takasuki or the Elrog. Interestingly I had 2 of the KR Balloon 300B fail on me recently...just like the Elrog. Only having a dealer Stateside is a bit easier in getting support. Still you should know and keep in mind any tube can fail - not just Elrog.

5) I use a quad of Elrog 845's in my customized Cary 211 FE monoblocks. I listen to these everyday and use them hard. They now have had many hours of good playtime and they are glorious. No issues whatsoever. Again, take this with a grain of salt and for what it is worth but suffice to say I am very pleased with their performance to date.

Hope this helps you all...

Andy


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Andy,


Thanks. Finally I was courageous enough to try Taka 300B on Lampizator. Not as impressive as Elrog. The improvement from 101D to Elrog was drastic yet the difference between 101D and Taka is only subtle. I am now sticking to 101D.

That said, I know others trying Elrog recently on Lampizator and are happy. Maybe I will return to Elrog someday. I really miss its sound on Big 7.

My system is in transit stage and I am selling my amps off and my Voxativ AC-2.5 drivers to upgrade to Voxativ field coil (limited buget :( ). After the transit is settled, I will give it a try again. Hopefully I will be luckier and hopefully Elorg would fix the issue then. Cheers.


WYAN
 
Yes I can see how you hear the Takasuki 300B to be similar in character to the WE Replica 101D's...

Best of luck as you work thru your transition... You are certainly on the right track. One last comment... Do not underestimate the importance of the rectifier tube. Try the 101D's or even 45's with a Western Electric 274B (if you can manage it) or even a 422A... Also great is the metal base GZ34 Mullard (Philips Miniwatt). Best ones were produced in the late 50's.


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La Dolce Vita said:
Yes I can see how you hear the Takasuki 300B to be similar in character to the WE Replica 101D's...

Best of luck as you work thru your transition... You are certainly on the right track. One last comment... Do not underestimate the importance of the rectifier tube. Try the 101D's or even 45's with a Western Electric 274B (if you can manage it) or even a 422A... Also great is the metal base GZ34 Mullard (Philips Miniwatt). Best ones were produced in the late 50's.


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Hi, Andy,


Thanks. I will report back once I settle with system and get Elrog back.

I am with you on the rectifier. The best I tried on Lampi is Takatsuki 274B. After that WE422a/Cossor 53KU fat bottle, and then Brimar 5Z4GY (amazing value for $30 a piece). I have tried others like PSVANE 274B replica, lots of U52, lots of GZ32, but no chance on WE274B (they come in pairs and cost arms and legs) or mullard metal base GZ34.


WYAN
 
That's great Wyan. I'd be curious to hear the Takasuki 274B myself. Haven't yet though. I have the Brimar too. Agreed - phenomenal value.

I have 2 metal base GZ34 if you want one we'll figure something out. The Western Electric 274B... Most grandiose soundstage EVER... Holy cow!!


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Hi, Andy, right now the only rectifier that interests me is WE274A/B. And only after the rest of the system settles. Thanks still. :)
 
Luaksz now has the Philips metal base GZ34. I wonder if he tried it yet?
It is very much flying under the radar…see my avatar.
 
It's a great rectifier tube indeed. Was my favorite bar none in the single ended GG paired with 45's... Now with the balanced GG, I prefer the WE 274B as the soundstage is massive. The balanced GG produces a weightier sound... The GZ34 tube does as well... This is why I feel it is a bit better suited to single ended Lampi's but it is a question of personal taste and music preference.


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La Dolce Vita said:
It's a great rectifier tube indeed. Was my favorite bar none in the single ended GG paired with 45's... Now with the balanced GG, I prefer the WE 274B as the soundstage is massive. The balanced GG produces a weightier sound... The GZ34 tube does as well... This is why I feel it is a bit better suited to single ended Lampi's but it is a question of personal taste and music preference.


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Interesting feedback Andy and I can easily buy into that.

Which Bal amps are you using?

Next time I get thru to Luk, I must ask him for feedback on the metal base, and see if it similar to ours.

On rectis, I take the Shawn approach...looking for the vintage needles in a haystack that dont cost an arm and a leg. LoL
 
Using Cary Audio 211 FE with upgraded resisters and caps...also bypassed the EL34 and went with Black Gate 100uf resister to further clean up the signal path...


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La Dolce Vita said:
It's a great rectifier tube indeed. Was my favorite bar none in the single ended GG paired with 45's... Now with the balanced GG, I prefer the WE 274B as the soundstage is massive. The balanced GG produces a weightier sound... The GZ34 tube does as well... This is why I feel it is a bit better suited to single ended Lampi's but it is a question of personal taste and music preference.


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What would you guys recommend for a SE Big 7 with Takatsuki's? I got a great deal on a used pair. Right now I have an RCA 5U4G that Fred gave me with my unit, and no other options. I like the sound really well, but not sure how that RCA would stack up against the Brimar, or the metal base you guys are referencing.
 
Hi! Great question. Without a doubt you would likely be better off with the GZ34 or even the Brimar. Metal
Base GZ34 would triumph... Here is why... The Takasuki 300B's are fast, crisp, detailed and clean for 300B tubes. Some even compare them to WE Replica 101Ds a bit - this is (mostly) true and accurate. By going with the GZ34 you will better balance


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Thanks for the feedback! I'll probably try to find a Brimar cheap and easy for now, and be on the lookout for the metal base - I don't assume those are easy to come by.
 
One more thing... I find many if not most all of the 5U4G tubes to be the crispest and brightest. I love them with the right tubes...but...the RCA you have is perhaps one of the more versatile and well rounded 5U4G's. Try a National Union and you will hear things you have never heard before but it is overkill with the Takasuki and Psvane WE 101Ds... Great with some other 300Bs however... Hope this hekps


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I have 2 metal base so if you want one I will consider selling it to you (but not looking to do so). They can be had but do not come cheap... Usually $500-$650 depending on whether NOS etc... Look for one stamped with "57"...denoting 1957 era...best sounding


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La Dolce Vita said:
One more thing... I find many if not most all of the 5U4G tubes to be the crispest and brightest. I love them with the right tubes...but...the RCA you have is perhaps one of the more versatile and well rounded 5U4G's. Try a National Union and you will hear things you have never heard before but it is overkill with the Takasuki and Psvane WE 101Ds... Great with some other 300Bs however... Hope this hekps


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I had National Union 6sn7's with my former TRL Dude preamp for a while - and I think I know what you mean by that. But yeah, I wouldn't quite want that level of warmth. I'm liking the sound already with the RCA. I'm running into an Aum passive pre and then into the amp stage of the Line Magnetic 518ia - using Psvane 845T tubes and with a Mullard 5AR4 rectification and some NOS Foton OTK driver tubes. Actually the Fotons were a shot of warmth when I put them in, so maybe that's giving me enough warmth at the moment. Anyway, between the Big 7 and Line Magnetic tube rolling options, you could say I have a few ways to tweak the sound one direction or another...
 
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