Yep, I have a box of cryo treated ecc83's somewhere that World Designs sent me to listen to. Problem was the treated and untreated valves were clearly different types so it was a pointless comparison.
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Yep, I have a box of cryo treated ecc83's somewhere that World Designs sent me to listen to. Problem was the treated and untreated valves were clearly different types so it was a pointless comparison.
Does this mean I need to store my stash of valves in the freezer instead of in with the skivvies? (...somewhat serious question...)
Only if your freezer happens to be filled with liquid nitrogen ;) Well i'm assuming they use Nitrogen? :scratch:
Put it like this, you want to be somewhere below -150C :eyebrows:
So, I should put them in the bed. NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kidding... :lolsign:
I can see how cyro might improve solder joints but i dont understand its benefits in any other application.
There's a bunch of info on the Watford website that says it affects all metals on a molecular level or something. Some of the stuff I've read sounds like bollocks to me but if someone like AnthonyTD has said it works then that's good enough for me.
I got an email back from Watford saying that they don't cryo treat their Sovtek EL84M's because their cryo Harma vintage valves are the same thing. But it's those Harma's that apparently have "the highest mid-range distortion", so I've asked for their recommendation for Hi-Fi use. It can be tricky to separate the valves that are good for Hi-Fi from those that are more tailored for guitar amps.
I got another reply from Watford. I'd been looking at the wrong valves. It's THESE E84L Harma cryo valves that I've been recommended. The price is pretty good so I'll order a set of them soon.
Whilst it's always good to have matched push pull output pairs, changing the small signal valves always gives a more noticable change.
As well as the Harma's I'd recommend replacing the ECF80's with E80CF's
A couple of years ago I gave a mate of mine a pair of Philips Miniwatt's from the same batch as the one's in the pic below for his WAD amp. The improvement was astonishing. You also get the benefit of lower microphonics and a 10,000 hour lifespan.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...5/IMG_0922.jpg
Nice one, Dave - let us know how you get on :)Quote:
Originally Posted by HighFidelityGuy
Andy, those look nice!
Marco.
Thanks for the advice. I've read some good stuff about E80CF's so I'll definitely give some a try fairly soon. I decided to try some different output valves first as the input valves I have are already Mullard's, so they should be pretty good in comparison the EI's that come with the amp as standard. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by BTH K10A
Thanks, will do. :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco