More fun rolling with premium quality NOS ECC83 tubes...

[Marco]

Guys,

Having recently played with some very nice NOS 1960s Tungsram ECC83s:

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/2104/7162v.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/213/7162v.jpg/)

And some equally lovely 1960s Mazda Chrome plates:


http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/4045/mazda12ax7c66581zoom.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/442/mazda12ax7c66581zoom.jpg/)


I've now purloined some very nice early 1960s Mullard CV4035/M8214s:


http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/8446/2050m2.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/43/2050m2.jpg/)


...which should arrive soon from the States. The only CV4004 types I've tried before were some 1980s Mullards, which I got from Langrex, and whilst they were good, they weren't quite to my taste. I usually always find 70s/80s NOS ECC83s as being inferior to the best ones from the 50s and 60s.

Therefore, I'm hoping that these vintage CV4035s will be rather special. As you can see from the photo, they are fitted with custom valve bases (as they'd originally had 'flying leads'), designed to optimise connection quality and make them 'plug & play'. Full report to follow when they arrive! :cool:

Marco.

[goraman]

Which one is you favorite?

[Riislingen]

Ohhh, the CV4004 looks like the ones from "The Monger" - is it ?

I´m using that one in my Croft linestage. Best ECC83 I´ve ever used..

[Marco]

Hi Jeff,


Which one is you favorite?

Dunno yet, as the Mullards haven't arrived. However, between the Tungsram and Mazda chrome plates, the Tungsram wins!

I also rate Tesla ECC803Ss, which I've got (shown on the left, next to some nice 1950s Mullard box-plate CV4004s):


http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/4431/imgp0001b.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/819/imgp0001b.jpg/)


Marco.

[Marco]

Hi Mikkel,


Ohhh, the CV4004 looks like the ones from "The Monger" - is it ?


Not sure what "The Monger" is... Could you enlighten me? :)


I´m using that one in my Croft linestage. Best ECC83 I´ve ever used..

By that, do you mean you're using one of the CV4035s that I've ordered (and shown in my opening post)?

Marco.

[Ammonite Audio]

Having tried quite a few ECC83 tubes in my Paul Hynes Veron Concert phono amp, including new Electro Harmonix bought from Marco, Sovtek, Shuguang, Psvane, I finally took the plunge and bought a NOS diamond base Telefunken (for nearly £100), to go with the ECC82 Telefunken that I already had. Both these tubes are by far the best that I've tried, being particularly vibrant and colourful in character, and well worth the lofty price tag.

[Marco]

Teles are nice, Hugo, although in *some* circuits their sonic presentation can be a little too 'matter of fact'. I guess it's a German thing. However, tube-rolling is all about achieving synergy! :)

Marco.

[Riislingen]

Hi Mikkel,



Not sure what "The Monger" is... Could you enlighten me? :)



By that, do you mean you're using one of the CV4035s that I've ordered (and shown in my opening post)?

Marco.

Sorry, went into tube euphoria here.

"The Monger" would be: http://www.tubemonger.com/

Yes to the CV4035/M8214, I use that exact one in my Charisma - it´s outstanding. I bought it from "The Monger" last year and haven´t switched since. I believe he invented that bakelit socket they are mounted on - normally the M8214 is a "flying leads" long life version of the regular CV4004 Box Plate.

You should definetely look forward to receiving them regardless :D

[Marco]

Hi Mikkel,

Lol - yes, it was "The Monger" I bought them from. I've bought lots of NOS tubes from him, and they're always top-notch!

I didn't know that you had a Charisma - nice one. Have you modded it at all, or is it stock?

Good to know that the CV4035s are special; I thought they might be! :cool:

Marco.

[Riislingen]

Hi Mikkel,

Lol - yes, it was "The Monger" I bought them from. I've bought lots of NOS tubes from him, and they're always top-notch!

I didn't know that you had a Charisma - nice one. Have you modded it at all, or is it stock?

Good to know that the CV4035s are special; I thought they might be! :cool:

Marco.

Hi Marco,

Yes, I have one of the earlier ones. A Charisma Elite.

It just came back from being fettled at Glenns 2 weeks ago. Dual valve regulation, dual tranformers and what else..

I posted pictures in the "Gallery" section I believe - go have a look :eek:

What can I say, I´m a Croft-aholic. Having had an old Micro, new Micro 25 (now sold to Andrew E on this forum), an old 5 series, a Vista and now a newer Series V with the Charisma Elite.

I did try the Series 7 regular about 1,5 years ago, but didn´t go for it. Curious about the 7R I must say.

[northwest]

Marco, are you using these in your Croft pre amp? If you are, what are you trying to achieve if you don't mind me asking?
Thanks

[Marco]

Hi Graham,

Yes I'm using them (well, one in the power supply section) of my Croft preamp.

What am I trying to achieve? Even better sound quality, of course! Tube-rolling, in a suitably revealing amp, always makes a significant difference.

Marco.

[Marco]

Hi Marco,

Yes, I have one of the earlier ones. A Charisma Elite.

It just came back from being fettled at Glenns 2 weeks ago. Dual valve regulation, dual tranformers and what else..

I posted pictures in the "Gallery" section I believe - go have a look :eek:

What can I say, I´m a Croft-aholic. Having had an old Micro, new Micro 25 (now sold to Andrew E on this forum), an old 5 series, a Vista and now a newer Series V with the Charisma Elite.

I did try the Series 7 regular about 1,5 years ago, but didn´t go for it. Curious about the 7R I must say.

I've just read the thread now, Mikkel. Very interesting! When I first looked at the pic I thought to myself 'My God, Glenn's now using Duelund caps in his upgrades!', but then I read the rest of what you'd written... ;)

Your Charisma is very different from mine, however. Mine has a totally different case and uses 6SL7 output tubes, and is hard-wired, point to point, throughout:


http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/8522/croft1.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/339/croft1.jpg/)


Not my actual amp, but mine looks identical, apart from the fact that it now has a huge off-board PSU, so the little toggle on-off switch at the front has now been removed.


http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3811/img6055gej.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/221/img6055gej.jpg/)


Pic above is a close-up of the line stage. You can see the green-coloured SCR Teflon coupling caps, which are superb!

However, I totally agree with you about Croft designs - they're very 'purist', but oh so musical sounding! :)

Marco.

[northwest]

Yes, if nothing else, the Croft is certainly a revealing amp. I am going to look into this.
As a total aside but on the subject of tube, how long do you think an amplifier can un before a tube replacement becomes necessary?

[Marco]

I didn't know you had a Croft, Graham - nice one :)

As for tube replacement, much depends on the tubes in question... Small signal valves, like ECC83s can be good for many 1000s of hours, whereas with large output tubes, such as for example, KT88s, it'll be considerably less, especially if they're being driven hard by the partnering amp.

The best bet to be sure what's going on, is to send your tubes to someone with a professional tester, where they can be properly measured to see if they still fall within the correct parameters. Then you'll know for sure if whether they need replaced or not.

Someone like Anthony TD here is your man :cool:

Marco.

[Ali Tait]

Good small NOS valves will give tens of thousands of hours.

[Marco]

Indeed :)

Marco.

[goraman]

Marco, I was fortunate years back to get alot of Ei's and Westinghouse and some old RCA's from the 50's and a hand full of old Mullards, the vintage stuff dose offer a little more depth to the music but I will give credit to new tube manufactures in Russia and China for improvements and encourage people to support them as they are tomorrows vintage for example the Gold Lions and TADS are very good along with the new Tungsol it's a big improvement over there stuff even 5 years ago as the metals,coatings and plating they are using continues to improve. Soon they will be the only game in town.
And they are closing the gap between the sound quality of the old stuff and what was modern tubes every year. Soon my hope is the reissues will get as good as the originals and we can all stock up. Anyone hear the reissue Mullards compared to the old ones I like my old Mullards and hope the reissue is getting closer.

[Marco]

Hi Jeff,

I'll comment more on tubes later, as I'm just off to listen to some choons, but when you're bored with your current avatar (which is superb, btw!), offer it to Barry, will ya?

I think he'll love it! :D

Marco.

[goraman]

Hi Jeff,

I'll comment more on tubes later, as I'm just off to listen to some choons, but when you're bored with your current avatar (which is superb, btw!), offer it to Barry, will ya?

I think he'll love it! :D

Marco.

Will do Marco,if he PM's with an email address it's his.
Nice lot of tubes you have there,I hope you didn't pay full retail as they are at least $100.00 each in the states, That's why I'm glad I got a butt load of tubes years back before people really started to value them. I wish I had bought a flat of Phillips from the early 60's ecc83's in 1989 $10.00 but I didn't have use for them then as I was on the look out for 6LQ6 at the time a 50 watt monster no longer obtainable today.

[goraman]

Marco, I would like to hear your impressions on reissues as I'm sure you have spent more time rolling different tubes than me.
The tubes I have tried. Reissue Ecc83 are Tungsol, Sove Tec LPS,Groove tube Chinese,Tad and Electro Harmonics.I have stayed with the Ei Ecc83 and Tungsol.
ecc81 I have tried reissue electro harmonics,groove tube chinese,Tad I liked the TAD in these tubes but my favorites are not reissues but Mullard CV4024 KQDD/K,1950 RCA black plates and Westinghouse.

[ccaks]

Guys, any comments on the EAT ECC83S Diamond valves?

[The Black Adder]

Curious about the 7R I must say.

Be curious... be very curious. :eyebrows:

I'm blown away with mine, a custom build to suit the Tannoys too.

[PLINIUS]

I use ECC83/12AX7s in my phono-stage & over the years I've tried just about every brand of NOS valves. Nothing sounds even close to late 60s Dutch Amperex Bugle Boys in my system.

[Riislingen]

Oh dear..the abuse :D



Be curious... be very curious. :eyebrows:

I'm blown away with mine, a custom build to suit the Tannoys too.