[DavidA]

@UntilThen, as much as I want to get the Elise, I'm also thinking of saving even more funds ($500-600/month) for the next 6-8 months to get a used Liquid Glass from a friend of my good friend in Japan, I got to listen and roll some tubes with it when I was there last Nov and fell in love with it, but sadly it was way out of my price range back then and even now it will take quite a few months for me to save up for it.  The guy also said he will include all the tubes that he has acquired for them as well (16 pairs @ about $2100 is his estimate and I do know there were some nice Tung-Sol 6SN7GT (2 sets), WE JAN 6SN7GT VT231 (2 sets), and Melz 6SN7GT hole plate (2 sets)) for $3500, what he paid for the amp alone.  He wasn't looking to sell it but since I showed so much interest in it he just made me a quick deal on the spot and said that he would honor the deal until I buy it or tell him to let it go if he gets a great offer, so its been 8 months now that I've been thinking of the Liquid Glass and then I run in to this darn Elise thread.  I know they say good thing come to those who wait but damn, 6-8 months seems like a really long time now that I've already wasted 8 months.

 

[DecentLevi]

That's interesting, I've certaintly never noticed harsh highs on my Elise. I really don't see how an amp which does pure analogue amplification, especially in such a simplified way as the Elise does it, to be able to produce highs in this way. I would think that's something more to do with your DAC.
 
Also @DavidA so ... (EDIT: I guess you don't have the Elise to compare to the Bottlehead)

 

[HOWIE13]

  Hi Howie13,
 
Re the 6N7 variants, IMHO the best sounding ones are the 6N7G (ST = Shoulder Type - aka Coke Bottle) shaped tubes, and the favorites are the Visseaux and Mazda and perhaps other European makes.
 
The metal can 6N7 can be found very cheap - seems that no glass&glow does not have much appeal. I found that they sound very nice in combination with 6BL7/6BX7 as power tubes.
 
The straight glass 6N7GT (GT = Glass Tube) did not sound as good to me.
 
Hypnos1 made a suggestion that all the different ST type tubes are among the best sounding tubes as a rule, but there are always exceptions.....

Thanks Mordy
 
It's hard to find the coke bottle pairs but I've ordered a couple of the others. It's just as well they take a week or two to reach the UK from the States otherwise I would be changing tubes every day and never getting used to anything.
 
Have a good Sunday.

 

[DecentLevi]

I'll be interested to see how those 6N7's suit you. And per the 6J5 quartet + 6BL7 as powers setup you tried yesterday, I urge you to give it another go - this time with complex well mastered analogue recording and then see how impressive it is.
 
Not wanting to veer too much into politics - but how are you taking yesterday's UK 'shake up' - celebrating or loathing?

 

[HOWIE13]

  I'll be interested to see how those 6N7's suit you. And per the 6J5 quartet + 6BL7 as powers setup you tried yesterday, I urge you to give it another go - this time with complex well mastered analogue recording and then see how impressive it is.
 
Not wanting to veer too much into politics - but how are you taking yesterday's UK 'shake up' - celebrating or loathing?

 
Hi DL
 
Firstly politics; well I'm not at all happy with the result, mainly because it will complicate buying Hi-Fi stuff from Europe as far as taxes are concerned. It's so easy at present. Just as well I bought Expressivo and Elise in time. 

 
 
The one hope is Scotland will go independent and rejoin Europe. All speculative but quite exciting, if turbulent  times ahead.
 
Anyway with Elise to sooth me who cares.
 
Now about the recent set-up.
 
I do really like it, it's just I'm being a bit reserved while I try different genres and tubes. I think it's a great combination.
It also provides a silent background, even with my HD598 and X2, both notorious hummers.
 
The Drivers I like best are 'Bad Boys'- far and away the richest 6SN7 I've tried so far, yet maintaining excellent detail and imaging.
 
I wouldn't say it was a huge sound-stage with the type of music I play, but it is realistically wide, high and especially deep, providing a wonderful solid tapestry of sound- very vinyl/analogue in smoothness and control at all frequencies and at any volume. I noticed this particularly with energetic choral singing. Vocals in general are particularly good.
 
Just to show the combo is still in use here's a recent photo.
 
 

 

[connieflyer]

@david A, that offer with all the tubes, would be an incredible deal. A definite upgrade over elise. Very nice opportunities to get a jump start on tube rolling as well. Myself,I would go for it.

 

[DavidA]

@david A, that offer with all the tubes, would be an incredible deal. A definite upgrade over elise. Very nice opportunities to get a jump start on tube rolling as well. Myself,I would go for it.

My problem is I'm not very good at saving, what's been happening lately is that I'll save $1500 or so and then my friend in LA or the other one in SF lets me know about a great deal on some wine or the GF wants to take a inter island trip to play golf or visit my best friend on the Big Island since he and his father have one of the best collection of wines that I've seen.  My friends dad took a liking to my GF the last time we were in Hilo and he let her drink some wines that were once in a life time stuff: 1959 Chateau Haut-Brion, 1961 Chateau Margaux, 1963 Chateau Lafite Rothschild and 1982 Opus One (first year). 
 
To be honest, I would also chose spending the money on the trip and drinking those great wines and cooking some great dishes to go with the wines.  Maybe because I'm getting older I sometimes feel that I need to either do it now or get it now since I might not be around for long.  On a happier note, there is an interesting story to the vintages of those wines: 1959, when my friends parents were married, 1961, when my friend Bradley was born, and 1963, when their daughter Sherri was born.
 
My apologies to all that think alcohol is bad or don't drink.
 
And with this long winded post I will be turning in for the night, the GF is asking when I'm coming to bed so good night to all and keep enjoying the music

 

[UntilThen]

My Elise is 8 months old today, alive and kicking well. Not a glitch. Running with C3G and 5998, I couldn't think of a reason to upgrade. It's so versatile with so many tubes and does a great job with various headphones plus it's great as a preamp. At $649(what I paid for), it's well worth it.
 
Cheers to all. Happy listening. 

 
Ps... @hypnos1  thanks for this little gem.

 

[HOWIE13]

  My Elise is 8 months old today, alive and kicking well. Not a glitch. Running with C3G and 5998, I couldn't think of a reason to upgrade. It's so versatile with so many tubes and does a great job with various headphones plus it's great as a preamp. At $649(what I paid for), it's well worth it.
 
Cheers to all. Happy listening. 

 
Ps... @hypnos1  thanks for this little gem.

Couldn't agree more. I've only had mine for 12 days and I couldn't be happier and I haven't even bought a 5998 yet. 

 

 

[connieflyer]

Buy then you have not heard the Liquid Glass

 

[pctazhp]

Buy then you have not heard the Liquid Glass

The best any most of us Elise owners can do is relate our own experience and level of satisfaction. Except for some rare fanatics here on HeadFi, most people haven't owned enough different amps for extended period of time to really compare side by side 2 or more amps that are appropriate for comparison. Just like headphones, it is often difficult to make comparisons without benefit of home comparison over a period of weeks, if not months.
 
Even for those who do own multiple amps that seem appropriate for comparison, I suspect most just don't want to be bothered. I think the comparison I did between the Elise and Valhalla 2 is one of the most detailed comparisons that has been done between the Elise and another amp. It was not an easy project and candidly didn't generate much interest. I wouldn't try something like that again.
 
I love my Elise and would never consider spending $3500 on an amp, even if the deal included an extra girl friend - especially considering the present value of future gf expense involved))) But I would never spend what many people are willing to spend on cars, homes, clothes, jewelry, wine or other consumer items. That doesn't mean I have anything against those who do. They keep the economy going, and provide us all with fun things to see and read about.
 
I think decisions like the one @DavidA is facing often boil down to gut level, emotional decisions - no matter how much we try to tell our selves we are making rational choices. If I were David and had spent so much time thinking about the Liquid Glass as he appears to have, I think I would always wonder what might have been if I turned down the deal.

 

[pctazhp]

  Couldn't agree more. I've only had mine for 12 days and I couldn't be happier and I haven't even bought a 5998 yet. 

 

Just buy a pair of C3Gs, pair of adapters, pair of 7236s and be done with it 

 

[pctazhp]

  Maybe because I'm getting older I sometimes feel that I need to either do it now or get it now since I might not be around for long.  

Life is short for sure. So go for the gusto and all that. But which gusto???? Good luck deciding 

 

[HOWIE13]

  Just buy a pair of C3Gs, pair of adapters, pair of 7236s and be done with it 

Yay yay yay I've done it. Both tubes on their way. 

 

[pctazhp]

  Yay yay yay I've done it. Both tubes on their way. 

Feel free to flame me unmercifully if they don't work out for you, but I think you will really like them))))