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Little Dot EF91 users

post #1 of 15
6/29/09 at 11:36pm
Thread Starter 
I am curious how many Little Dot MkII, III, IV, IV SE users out there use the EF91 w/o any of the distortions reported in the MkIII tube rolling thread.
That thread is too long to have any hope of having the question answered there.
Maybe it would be good to collect info about this tube here.

I use EF91 CV4014 KQDD/K 0621-5960-99-000-4014 tubes. (Non "blue glass")

They work without issues with my Sennheiser HD600 (300Ohm) and Denon D1001 (32Ohm).
They work with the stock power tubes and Sovtek 6H30Pi-EV.
The idea was that low impedance phones cause the distortion and high noise floor, my D1001 surprised me, so maybe we could compile the phones this tube does work with. (Or doesn't if you want to contribute confirmed negatives.)
Just that this thread does not have the negative effect of driving the prices up, adhere to Penchum's $8/tube rule, and i have not spent more than $4/tube in a few auctions.

Maybe we can learn something from this thread, or maybe you just want to stone me if you think the prices are still going to go up because of this.

If you why i start this thread if it is w/o merit to me, consider that i may be curious about other phones still and a phone that does not work with this tube is not worth touching
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post #2 of 15
6/30/09 at 2:34pm
Are you saying that you don't have a problem with the EF91 tubes? Then what is the point of the thread?

BTW, I don't have any problems either.
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post #3 of 15
6/30/09 at 3:09pm
Thread Starter 
To clear it up, see if there is a consistency with what phones it works and with which it doesn't.
HD600 and HD650 seem like a safe bet, but I'd like to condense it to something easily digestible with "more meat" than "Sennheiser seem safe"
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post #4 of 15
7/2/09 at 6:47am
I've got a few ef91's ...telefunken and mullards...both sound superb with my Senn 580 and they are one of my fav tubes with this headphone.
But with my Grado 225's and AKG 400 and 501 there is distortion. This is in both the LD III and IV.
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post #5 of 15
7/5/09 at 5:28am
I will post here when I get the ef91s Morfic. I'm gonna be using them with audio technica ad900s/ld mk II
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post #6 of 15
7/8/09 at 10:35pm
I have a pair of ediswan EF91s and I love them with my Grado's (325is) - no distortion at all.
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post #7 of 15
7/8/09 at 10:53pm
My three favorites in heavy rotation...Love the EF91 detail.....No distortion whatsoever and very clean sound....








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post #8 of 15
7/9/09 at 12:36am
have you heard the russian 6Zh1P-EV? Many Users seem to like them a lot and the prices seem to be rising. Ive heard they were supposed to be $4 each and now they are $24 for a pair available currently on Ebay... I am curious as to how they compare with the mullard ef91 since I'm getting those from Morfic
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post #9 of 15
7/9/09 at 1:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by donunus View Post
have you heard the russian 6Zh1P-EV? Many Users seem to like them a lot and the prices seem to be rising. Ive heard they were supposed to be $4 each and now they are $24 for a pair available currently on Ebay... I am curious as to how they compare with the mullard ef91 since I'm getting those from Morfic

I have some and they sound great. I do prefer the EF91 between the two, though. They are just a bit leaner than the EF91. Still detailed, but less low end. They were my first upgraded tubes with my SE.

Look here 6J1P-EV / EF95 / 6F32 / 6AK7 Tubes NIB TESTED 4 pcs - eBay (item 400058115751 end time Jul-25-09 11:42:46 PDT) or 6J1P-EV Equivalent - EF95 - 6F32 - 6AK7 Lot of 8 NEW - eBay (item 370220047101 end time Jul-24-09 10:11:15 PDT)


These are the ones I purchased from Yen ($24.00 pair)





These I purchased from the Ukraine ($18.00 for 8 pcs.)




They sound the same to me...

Honestly, I have not purchased from Yen in a long time. He has great tubes but there are many other options...Just takes a bit of patience...

Of course- YMMV
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post #10 of 15
7/9/09 at 2:10am
maybe I can get 2 of those from your 8 pack sometime
Anyway, as for the comparison. Is the ef91 dull or rolled off at all in comparison? How about dynamics? Thanks

sorry for the interview session. As you can tell, I'm excited about these tubes
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post #11 of 15
7/9/09 at 2:21am
How come those links dont say they are the 6zh1p and just 6j1p? Are these the same exact tube as the voshod 6zhip-ev you got?
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post #12 of 15
7/9/09 at 2:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by donunus View Post
maybe I can get 2 of those from your 8 pack sometime
Anyway, as for the comparison. Is the ef91 dull or rolled off at all in comparison? How about dynamics? Thanks

The EF91 is not dull or rolled off at all. Very dynamic tube. I'll take it over the 6Zh1P-EV. IMO the EF91 does everything better than the 6Zh1P-EV. Better in balance overall (mids, highs and lows) with great detail.
The other thing to note is, no matter what music I listen to, the EF91 does not disappoint. With the 6Zh1P-EV, I do not like them for house or trance. They sound great with rock, but IMO selective to music.
Don't get me wrong, I really like the 6Zh1P-EV, but the EF91 is a better allrounder. I have tried them with different phones and they never disappoint.

When I caught this thread, I was listening to Zep (IV) with my I+ -- Mullard EF91--S2 recabled Ultrasone HFI-680s.....


YGPM.....
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post #13 of 15
7/9/09 at 2:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by donunus View Post
How come those links dont say they are the 6zh1p and just 6j1p? Are these the same exact tube as the voshod 6zhip-ev you got?
The tubes in the pics are mine. The tubes in the links are different tubes....Just wanted to show you some differences.

Look 6Zh1P/6J1P/EF95/6F32 MATCHED PAIR TUBE VOSHOD 1966 Year - eBay (item 140327668204 end time Jul-17-09 06:42:16 PDT) Grey plate...Another variety...
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post #14 of 15
7/9/09 at 3:07am
Quote:
sorry for the interview session. As you can tell, I'm excited about these tubes
No prob...Discussing tubes is fun..

A very underrated tube IMO in the EF95 family is the 6096-CT....I grabbed a pair for $5.00....

These tube families, especially EF95 have some nice gems in them, it's just a matter of finding them....
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post #15 of 15
1/31/11 at 12:06pm

Also using a couple of Mullard EF91 with my Grado SR80 and no distortion at all.

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