[HAL]

The EL-84's arrived in fine condition. 

Once my amp arrives will be giving them a try! 

[doctorcilantro]

Hi Doc,
I got the EL-84's and they sound great.  It's early, but in my Carina amp they seem to be in the same league as my favorites... Amperex "D" getters. 

Thanks for the tubes and your trouble,
Henry

Awesome! Any mods on that Carina? I've heard good things about it either way.

[doctorcilantro]

The EL-84's arrived in fine condition. 

Once my amp arrives will be giving them a try! 

Let us know Hal.

[doctorcilantro]

Update:

Looks like I'm back on the original timeline. We had some really grisly stuff happen in our neighborhood, on Friday I think, it's a blur. It's pretty much the last straw and we're planning on selling our house (in this terrible market).

White boxes are in and I'm working to get you all the EL34s by the end of this week. I feel better about shipping in boxes anyway.

Sorry for the delay but I'll just say we woke up with police and dogs (scouring the neighborhood) in OUR backyard and a Police chopper flying over our house from 3AM on. It was not a good way to start the weekend.

best,
Jon

[mjosef]

we woke up with police and dogs (scouring the neighborhood) in OUR backyard and a Police chopper flying over our house from 3AM on

Do you live in East LA?

[doctorcilantro]

Sometimes I wonder. I literally just finished a letter to the Mayor.

Got my mini-Torii amp today but no PC or DVD player to use as a source. No time to set up the tuner right now either. Gotta get you all these tubes.

 I try not to live in fear, but my family's safety is paramount. At some point, you have to be pragmatic and ask...is it really worth it? We are already looking at renting our home out and renting something for ourselves.

Sorry for the delay! I was heartened to hear Hal? Dburna? positive review of the EL84. The Genalex re-issues are keepers.

DC

[ohenry]

Awesome! Any mods on that Carina? I've heard good things about it either way.

The only mod is that I bypassed the volume control and use Ed Schilling's Truth preamp.  It's a passive buffered photo-cell volume controlled wonder.

I heard the mini-Torii last year and it was a wonderful little amp.  It seemed to change dramatically for the good once it warmed up.  With all the tube options, you should have lots of fun.

Thanks again for the tubes... very fine!

[doctorcilantro]

I just put the Torii on the shelf. No time to set that up either. I did put all the tubes I plan to use in it, and I have been staring at it. I remember Steve has said it does take about 30 minutes for the regulators to stabilize.

Glad you dig the tubes in the Carina.

DC

[dburna]

'Twasn't I who commented on the N709's, but I'll do so now.  I have had these tubes in my amp (Brenneman Stereo 30) for a couple days now.  I did a visual inspection of these versus some other supposedly "super Russian" EL84s I had in the amp previously.  Couldn't see any major construction differences between the two, but then again, I hardly no what to look for.

Then I put the Golden Lions in play.  After a little burn-in, the best I can say is that these tubes are "a bit better" than my previous ones.....a bit better in just about every way.  They are smoother, lower distortion, more spacious, and just a tad more dynamic.  I wouldn't say there is a single area in which they blow doors off my other tubes, but they offer a noticeable improvement across-the-board, and that adds up to a big improvement overall.  This Golden Lion is a winner.

Thanks to the good Doctor C. for his efforts on behalf of AC members.  Despite living in a Jack Bauer/"24" war zone, he managed to get these out to folks in a very timely manner.  I am quite happy with my new tubes and the service I have received.  For anyone considering taking the plunge, I would say "do it" -- I doubt you'll be disappointed.

-dB (listening to lots of ECM jazz and alt.country right now on his 'new'-sounding rig)

[doctorcilantro]

Thanks for the kind words.

I'm just sorry for the KT77 delay; mainly due to the unexpected "no-box" issue.

Things are looking up in many ways already, and I'm going to shipping soon.

I'm interested in that new 6L6GC tube from New Sensor too; I can roll 6L6 in the Torii. I'll have to try them sometime, and post a report.

DC

[doctorcilantro]

Little update:

Should be on track to get quads out this weekend and work on octets.

Got home last night and it seems my "D" octal socket needed attention from over-use; none of the tubes would test correctly so I had to adjust the socket with a few tools.

I went through (2) KT77 testing with 0% emission before I knew something was up.

Anyway, I also wanted to mention the new power tube on the seen, the Tung Sol KT-120 (from New Sensor).

This could be the next group buy!

In September of 1950 Tung-Sol introduced the 5881, an uprated and industrial version of the 6L6GA with a 23.5 watt plate dissipation, opening the doors to the hi-fi movement of the 1950s. This rugged tube also found a home in the '59 Fender Bassman and servo amplifiers used in B-52 bombers. In 1955 Tung-Sol raised the bar of high fidelity with the introduction of the 35 watt 6550, which could deliver 100 watts with a pair in push-pull configuration. This tube was used in the Dynaco Mark III and Sunn amplifers.

New Sensor now announces the Tung-Sol KT120, which has a plate dissipation of 60 watts, making it the most powerful tube in the 6550/KT88/KT90 family. A pair of these tubes in push-pull configuration can deliver power levels of 150 or more watts. When used at the parameters found in existing 6550/KT88/KT90 circuits, the Tung-Sol KT120 is impervious to overload, delivering peak power with extreme reliability and long tube life. However, taking advantage of the higher current handling capacity of these tubes, a very unique and super powerful and stable amp can be designed using the Tung-Sol KT-120.

DC

[bigjppop]

150 watts out of 2 of those things!?!?  You're going to need some SERIOUS output transformers in your amp.

They look very cool; do you have any further info on these tubes?

Little update:

Should be on track to get quads out this weekend and work on octets.

Got home last night and it seems my "D" octal socket needed attention from over-use; none of the tubes would test correctly so I had to adjust the socket with a few tools.

I went through (2) KT77 testing with 0% emission before I knew something was up.

Anyway, I also wanted to mention the new power tube on the seen, the Tung Sol KT-120 (from New Sensor).

This could be the next group buy!





DC

[doctorcilantro]

These will push the AT1000 to the max; still not sure they can be tested but checking.

[doctorcilantro]

Quads have shipped.

I'm working on the octets.

Bear with me as we have been unwilllingly moved out of our home to my in-laws due to a robbery Monday. My wife set the alarm and went to the store and they didn't have time to grab much; they walked RIGHT past the Amplitrex and took her laptop and the top drawer to an antique hutch which had half of her jewelry (the rest was hidden).

This was the last straw and we already found an apartment next to the University.

I'm really sad to be leaving this house (which we now need to rent or short sale) as my children grew up there and I had put SO much time and energy into it and just started to set up my new record player and amp. Monday afternoon after the police left I loaded 3/4 of stereo gear into the car (after my neighbor and I boarded up the back door window) and my wife refuses to sleep there again. It literally pains me to think about how good the acoustics were in that asymmetrical room too. I get so angry, my blood pressure rises, thinking about all the reasons I enjoy being a homeowner, and I was also about to prep the backyard for Summer with new grass and put in a gate and enjoy the local pool with my 2 young kids...grrrrr.

3 break-ins in 3 years, 2 shooting deaths within 200ft of the house in 6 months, shots fired on our street and at the park.

Yes, there is violence everywhere, but I truly believe we have an epidemic of violence in this once great nation of ours.

Please bear with me as I get these octets finished up guys; already got feedback from one happy quad owner via email.

DC

[Audioclyde]

J,

Sorry to hear about your situation; has to be huge stress on you and the wife.  Hope things go well with the move and with the rental/sale and that you land in a good spot.  Hang in there; we went thru something a little bit similar (although more of an isolated incident, but the concern about it happening again certainly was high).

Best,

Randy

[JoshK]

Sorry to hear about your situation!  Hang in there.  I believe there is a reason for everything.

On a better note, I got my tubes a Monday night.  Nice touch with the box labels!  I haven't tried them out yet, too many errands/taxes/stuff to do.  Will have to try them out Saturday.

Its a nice service you provide, keep up the good work!

[ton1313]

Got my Quad. They are sounding great, with limited burn-in. I can't wait to see what they sound like with some time on them. 

Thansk Again

[doctorcilantro]

Great, good to hear Todd.

We have moved! Signed lease today. I can't wait for 2 mortage/rent payments 

No joke: I was at the house yesterday after work by myself having a beer prior to packing and my neighbors (been there 50 years) came over and told me someone was shot and killed AT 2PM that very day (Wed.). Yet another home invasion. People are in complete disbelief and it does not feel safe even during the day.

That's 3 in one months and 2 deaths; 3rd one narrowly escaped with his life and was 71 years old. We had a big meeting and the chief of Tampa police was there tonight; my wife attended and I watched the kids at the in-laws.

I really feel a lot better about everything (deciding to move out after Monday's break-in) and the hum of the Amplitrex is soothing me right now. What a month!

Jon

[mjosef]

Missed the postman today but got the notice that my package is awaiting pickup at PO. Will pick up tomorrow and check them out when I get home in the evening.
Looking forward to hearing good things. SHould be better than the EH KT88 I am currently using (above 320Hz.)

Never knew Florida was that way (crimewise), but never been there, been just about everywhere else.
Family safety first man, no property can measure up to family. So good move. Hope things work out for you.

[doctorcilantro]

Good to hear Martin!

I found the time to download some songs on a list from Amazon; I have had the list for some time. It is a mix for my newborn daughter, but mainly my wife. I had some of the songs but being that my life is in boxes, I bought them as mp3s and burned the disc at work. So far it's a hit, and we realized just how stressed we have been. It's amazing how music affects your mood.

The title track is Loudon Wainwright's "Daughter" which is a damn good song.