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HIFIMAN EF-5 Tube rolling Thread

post #1 of 7
5/30/10 at 5:44pm
Thread Starter 

This is a thread solely dedicated to describing different tube sounds available with the HIFIMAN EF- 5 amps via tube rolling

 

I would like to keep this thread simple and clean if there is such a thing on head-fi ;-)

 

describe the type of tubes you have ACTUALLY TRIED in your EF5, and describe the way they flavored the sound.

 

Also include the Headphones you use.

 

Thanks

 

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post #2 of 7
10/27/11 at 6:13pm

Would like to see some...

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post #3 of 7
11/5/11 at 6:08am

Id also like to see some comments on this. I'd like to try some different tubes out on my EF-5. Just not sure what to get.

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post #4 of 7
11/6/11 at 9:18am

Not to change the subject, but you can roll the opamp as well.  L3000.gif

 

But back on topic, I have 4 tubes besides the stock Full Music I can roll with (includes 1 12BH7, which I've read work as well).  Will try to spend some time on this and post my impressions within the next few days.

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post #5 of 7
11/26/11 at 9:43am

     Quote:

Originally Posted by dryvah View Post

Id also like to see some comments on this. I'd like to try some different tubes out on my EF-5. Just not sure what to get.



I'm in the same boat so I'd definitely like to hear others chime in. I found this review over at headfonia where the reviewer did some tube and opamp rolling. Good read.

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post #6 of 7
5/19/12 at 11:04pm

Hmm, not much activity here.

 

Well I've tried two NOS tubes-- the RCA "clear top" and the German-made RFT. I haven't used the stock tube, so hard to make comparisons to that. The impression I get from the RCA "clear top" is warm and a glowing midrange. With my somewhat dark Audeze LCD-2 (rev 2) headphones, unfortunately it can lack some treble sparkle. The RFT sounds completely different -- a bright and lean tube. Normally I would not like that, but the treble on the RFT is just gorgeous. I can listen forever. (The downsize is lean tonal balance and thin bass.)

 

Neither tube is good enough all-around, so I continue the hunt.

 

Mike

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post #7 of 7
5/20/12 at 2:15pm
I eventually will get around to comparing tubes like I said I would. Will use my 5LE's which are pretty revealing. May not happen for a few weeks though - need a reasonable block of time to do a proper comparison.
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