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REVIEW: Head-Direct EF1 Desktop Tube Hybrid Amp (not EF-1) - Page 4

post #46 of 59
5/13/09 at 6:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by K_19 View Post
Well, what do you know? I come home from work, and on my desk is the EF-1!

Had my first go with the Sylvania tube and man... these definitely take the K701 to the next level. Great extension on both ends and good soundstage. Although they do seem a tad sibliant... is it just the SQ of the tube itself or the general amp? Haven't tried the RCA yet but I find Sylvania to be good for now.

Time to look up some Mullards.
sylvania's are sibilant ??? I'm guessing they are post-75 ... no ???
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post #47 of 59
5/13/09 at 6:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bergman2 View Post
sylvania's are sibilant ??? I'm guessing they are post-75 ... no ???
I'm not exactly sure. The tube came with a westinghouse tube box (but the former owner labelled it on the box "Sylvania 12AU7 B.P... not sure what B.P means) and the tube isn't clearly labelled. It's the grey top though, if that helps at all.

I think it's my ears adjusting to the sound actually. I DID just come off wearing the SE530's for a while. lol. My ears do tend to be somewhat sensitive to highs also.

BTW, the tubes are not supposed to go ALL the way in, right? I've put it partway in and it sounds fine, but just wanted to make sure since I'm a Tube-noob.
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post #48 of 59
5/13/09 at 7:17pm
bp should stand for black plate...however there are variations in shades of black with some looking grey....i've always left a little play in the tube seat so the base isn't flush with the socket but thats my personal preference....its probably also advisable not to seat it flush as the top cover on the ef-1 won't give you enuf room to grab it once you want to swap out the valve...it is recommended to grab a tube by the base when removing it
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post #49 of 59
5/13/09 at 7:44pm
Not picking on you, Bergman2, but I can't see that it matters where you grab the tube - you want to gently rock/roll it while removing or inserting it, not just push/pull.

I do think it's important to have the tube fully flush with the socket, though - you want a very good connection there.
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post #50 of 59
5/13/09 at 8:01pm
the lower you grab it the better --- less chance of slippage, despoiling the pins and/or the socket .... sort of like pulling a spark plug out of the cylinder head ... I used to seat them full flush but then there is a possibility, however slight, of microphonics rattling the base of the tube against the socket (all i'm talking about is backing it off the base a micron or so)
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post #51 of 59
5/13/09 at 9:25pm
Well, it's not that I don't want to push it flush down, it's that I CAN'T. I've tried the rocking motion trying to squeeze the connectors in, and it's just not going in any further than maybe 1/3 of all the way. It feels like if I force it further, I'm going to break the pins or damage the connectors... is it supposed to be that tight of a fit?
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post #52 of 59
5/13/09 at 9:43pm
there's plenty of contact area on the pin to properly mate with the pin boss in the socket without having to jam it all the way home ... are you using deoxit/pro gold ??? this both increases pin life/conductivity and decreases resistance
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post #53 of 59
5/13/09 at 10:10pm
Thanks for review
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post #54 of 59
5/13/09 at 10:24pm
Thread Starter 
Hey, I've got this brand new Rohr Siemens ECC82 (E82CC) 12AU7 still in the shrink wrap that I don't think I will use after all. It was $53.09 shipped 3 weeks ago, and if any of you EF1 peeps want it for $40 shipped PM me.
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post #55 of 59
5/13/09 at 11:30pm
Well, after many hours of listening, I definitely like the RCA cleartop better with the K701. Highs don't extend as much as Sylvania (which I kinda prefer) and the bass weight is much better. Mids and soundstage is inferior to Sylvania but since K701 is already good in those areas to begin with, it's not that much of a hit. Overall, it's less fatiguing to me. Will Mullards be a sure improvement on these? How about the tubes that Larry talked about? Would be interested in knowing the general SQ of those.

But I DO love the Sylvania with my D1001's... wow, I've never heard the D1001 mids as forward as it was, plus loved the massive soundstage boost it gave. I've read about good synergys with Denons and EF-1 and it even extends to the D1001 which has been mighty picky with any of my other amps... damn.

I've found the Synergy with these and Total Bithead as DAC a bit disappointing. TB is the weak link I guess.

Very happy with the purchase overall.
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post #56 of 59
6/23/09 at 11:49am
Wrong thread
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post #57 of 59
10/6/09 at 10:56pm
ok with christmas coming up...i am thinking of getting a ef1 amp. But i am curious if will be a signficant upgrade from the cute beyond i currently own. Or would it better to save the money towards a better amp??
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post #58 of 59
10/6/09 at 11:47pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by abellaw View Post
ok with christmas coming up...i am thinking of getting a ef1 amp. But i am curious if will be a signficant upgrade from the cute beyond i currently own. Or would it better to save the money towards a better amp??
It will be an upgrade but not a huge one. If you didn't already have the Cute Beyond and it was between those two, I'd say get the EF1. In this particular case you may want to save up for a Woo WA6 to get a more noticeable upgrade.
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post #59 of 59
10/7/09 at 12:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict View Post
It will be an upgrade but not a huge one. If you didn't already have the Cute Beyond and it was between those two, I'd say get the EF1. In this particular case you may want to save up for a Woo WA6 to get a more noticeable upgrade.
Thanks for the advice...that is the next amp i was looking at. Well i guess i better start the saving lol
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