Originally Posted by WESTLOWER
What valves does it use?
Don McCorleone
Location: Galashiels
Posts: 13,689
I'm inthescottishmafia.
What valves does it use?
“Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of fuel. Sentimental people call it inspiration, but what they really mean is fuel. I have always needed fuel. I am a serious consumer. On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio”
Hunter S Thompson
Senior Member
Location: Barnet, london UK
Posts: 2,146
I'm Adam.
6U8 / ECF82s
EF86 / 6J32P
"lack of passion is fatal"
Vinyl: Thorens TD-124mk2 / SME-312 Aluminium 'special' / SME M2-9R / STEREO: Etsuro Urushi Cobalt / Shure M3D / Ortofon SPU A95 / Cartridge Man Music Master / Shure - SC35C (US) / SAEC C3 MC MONO: Miyajima Zero B 0.7mil mono / Miyajima Premium 1.0 / Amps & SUTs: Radford STA25 mk3 / AD Audio 'Satchmo2' pre & LCR phono / Hashimoto HM-7 SUT / ETR-MONO SUT Digital: Audio Note 4.1 (with DAC5 upgrades) DAC / Roon / Tidal Speakers: Tannoy 12" MGs' in RFC custom 'Rutland' Cabinets with RFC crossovers / Tannoy ST-100 Super Tweeters Cables: LFD Grainless phono / RFC Mercury / Duelund DCA16GA tinned copper / Kimber 12TC / SW1X Audio Design USB-SPdif / Duelund DCA20GA interconnects / SW1X Audio SPDIF Aero 6 / Mains Power Conditioner / Box Furniture rack / Audiodesk Systeme Vinyl Cleaner / a very beautiful & understanding Wife!
Fount Master & Moderator
Location: Essex
Posts: 31,967
I'm openingabottleofwine.
I've just had a look at my STA15 III. The EF86s are Siemens and the ECF82s are Telefunken. I do have a complete set of Mullard valves for the amp as back up, but I came across the alternatives cheaply and just popped them in.
Can't say I've done any serious tube rolling - but as others have said, the Radfords sound great regardless of valve manufacturer; though based on the experience of the guys at Chelmer Valve Company (whose premises are not far from me), Chinese valves need to be carefully screened for quality, so I would tend to avoid them.
Barry
Don McCorleone
Location: Galashiels
Posts: 13,689
I'm inthescottishmafia.
I’d probably go with what Barry is using. I’ve not experience with either of those but any of the well known NOS makes will be worth trying. Some research would be a good idea imo.
“Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of fuel. Sentimental people call it inspiration, but what they really mean is fuel. I have always needed fuel. I am a serious consumer. On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio”
Hunter S Thompson
Senior Member
Location: Barnet, london UK
Posts: 2,146
I'm Adam.
Cheers chaps.
"lack of passion is fatal"
Vinyl: Thorens TD-124mk2 / SME-312 Aluminium 'special' / SME M2-9R / STEREO: Etsuro Urushi Cobalt / Shure M3D / Ortofon SPU A95 / Cartridge Man Music Master / Shure - SC35C (US) / SAEC C3 MC MONO: Miyajima Zero B 0.7mil mono / Miyajima Premium 1.0 / Amps & SUTs: Radford STA25 mk3 / AD Audio 'Satchmo2' pre & LCR phono / Hashimoto HM-7 SUT / ETR-MONO SUT Digital: Audio Note 4.1 (with DAC5 upgrades) DAC / Roon / Tidal Speakers: Tannoy 12" MGs' in RFC custom 'Rutland' Cabinets with RFC crossovers / Tannoy ST-100 Super Tweeters Cables: LFD Grainless phono / RFC Mercury / Duelund DCA16GA tinned copper / Kimber 12TC / SW1X Audio Design USB-SPdif / Duelund DCA20GA interconnects / SW1X Audio SPDIF Aero 6 / Mains Power Conditioner / Box Furniture rack / Audiodesk Systeme Vinyl Cleaner / a very beautiful & understanding Wife!
Senior Member
Location: Nottingham
Posts: 575
I'm Ian.
I certainly agree with the comment regarding signal valves having more influence on sound. I can't recommend these on the basis of comparison with other valves as I haven't 'rolled', having bought them on the basis of NOS at what I considered to be a reasonable cost, but all sounds mighty fine to me.....
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EF86-6267...53.m2749.l2649
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6U8A-GE-E...53.m2749.l2649
Anyway, just for your interest ;-)
Trade: Wakefield Turntables
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 9,321
I'm Andrew.
Interesting thread! I've just realised I'm in exactly the same position, I'm rolling EL34's in my Radford. I dug out my old STA25 and had a good listen. I couldn't remember what I'd plumbed in earlier but had a blind listening test. Several hours later and I'm very happy with my results, turns out they were Electroharmonix. I've been looking into vintage American valves and may even try some of the JJ's considering that they are an exact copy of the old Mullards. I do have some old Mullard 34's but I'm not sure how strong or matched they may be. JJ's have a good reputation, I liked the JJECC83's when I tried them in my Radford Pre, but ultimately went onto a batch of NOS Mullard ECC83 yellow labels (even though the JJ's were supposed to be an exact copy of the Mullards
). Oh, decisions, decisions!
SS
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