Good point. A valve is just a tool, as is the amp it's in. The appearance is not really important.
Somebody will mention meters next! :rolleyes:
:D
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I don't use valves so perhaps I'm not the man to see the glow in the same light. I can understand though how seeing it calls all the emotional facets to mind: the gear, the music and the feet up!
New Owner of the Company (last couple of years) took over a troubled Company.
Elrog, at the outset decided to "reinvent" the 300B Valve and go better than the classic Western Electric.
Main guy from Telefunken went out on his own.
They did..but unfortunately due to varying MAYBE too much 300B specs reliability took a nosedive...as did Mr Telefunken unfortunately, and this was probably a factor.
Instability initially thought to be just with a particular collection of amps, they decided to press on.
Nope, still valve failures.
The main Distributor decided to buy the Company over and rejig manufacturing..he believed in the Company and wanted to make things right. Kudos to him.
The guy is genuinely a good guy and wants to let the company grow.
The Elrogs are absolutely next level sound quality...but reliability just wasn't there due to the new technology.
So:
Distributor bought over the Company, and invested his own money into upgrading manufacturing to GET IT RIGHT.
Absolutely to be commended.
Unfortunately in my case, whatever the actual reason, my amp and those valves dont get on.
Kudos to the guy, no complaints on his Customer Service...I know the failure rate since he took over is significantly less.
Refunded what I paid, no bad blood happy to speak good of the Company, the sound quality of his valves are stupendous.
Maybe still work in progress, who knows?
Good luck to the guy, he's doing us audiophiles a good turn.
Anyway, new KRs on their way. :)
Good luck to him. He is doing it the honourable way
Be interested to see what you think of the KRs.
Certainly their PX-4 is extraordinary in terms of dynamics and resolution. Seems to be the house sound. Because the KR 211s I tried a few weeks ago were like that.
Which does surprise me as I have never thought the top KR amps to be particularly dynamic at shows.
I had a non balloon KR 300B in my DAC for a bit too. Easier going that PX-4 but still very good.
The Elrogs in my 211 amp work great and have been very stable with wonderful sound. Maybe something special with the 300Bs?
More on the 300Bs here:
http://vinylsavor.blogspot.no/2017/0...anufaktur.html