[angpsi]

It cannot be that tube because that's Shuguang and we should be looking at a Psvane tube.

@Oskari, you beat me to it!

 

[UntilThen]

@UntilThen, I wouldn't expect a Shughuang brown base variant given that the site specifically mentions the PsVane brand. Or, should I?

After the morning coffee, it is indeed not the Shughuang. It's stated as PsVane drivers on FA website and the price has gone back to $699 for stock model. ProfFalkin got it at $629 yesterday - cheaper than what I paid for a year ago, which is $649.

 

[angpsi]

I think it's this. Black and gold. Killer looks.

Indeed!

 

[Oskari]

Didn't know the Shuguang is such a heavy weight: It is a division of LG-Philips and has produced over 70 million tubes since 1958!

They have a joint venture with something that was once called LG-Philips something (itself a joint venture) but is now called something else. These things get complicated. :rolleyes:

 

 

[UntilThen]

 
You're welcome any time, cowpoke

Shania Twain is coming too. Clean up the place.

 

[Oskari]

This article also says there are two grades to choose from: "Classic" and "Grade A". They also note:

")...) The T-classic grade is not recommended to be used in pre-amplification stage. It may pose some noise issue when you have a high end preamp which is sensitive to noise. The T-classic grade is recommended to be used in front of power tubes as driver stage only. Please select quality grade carefully based on where you plan to use the tubes.)"

Considering the price difference of the upgrade ($140), would you say that the tubes in question are the "classic" grade CV181-T?

I wouldn't worry about that. Those are that seller's grades.

Cf. http://www.tubeampdoctor.com/en/shop_Other_brands_OEM_Tubes_Preamp_doubletriodes/Psvane_CV181_T_2_6SN7_Matched_Pair_3130

 

[mordy]

Hi Oskari,
 
The information on the joint LG-Philips venture was based on 2009 information. Afterwards I found more recent information (from rosgr63's link) from 2011 and further on in time, when PSVane split off. As you say, things got very complicated....
 
Reminds me of a story one of my sons told me. One summer he had a job in a vodka distillery. They had eight different labels with different and more fancy bottles and packaging, at eight different price points, However, he told me that the vodka was the same in all of them.....

 

[Oskari]

That (differentiation) is another rather silly thing. :normal_smile :

 

[DecentLevi]

  ...
 
The Elise is a very special amp. It will provide countless hours of exceptional listening enjoyment with a broad range of tubes. I’m certainly not one to stand in judgment of anyone who spends a lot of time and money searching for the holy grail to squeeze out the last drop of performance from the Elise. To each his own.
 
But as I have said before, every morning when I turn on my Elise I am amazed all over again at how special it is. I can’t obsess over some slight difference that might just be around the corner with the discovery of some hidden tube treasure. My recent tube purchase was irrational, but it gives me the chance to experience two special tubes I have been reading about for a long time. Notwithstanding that, I continue to choose to spend most of my time just enjoying my good fortune...
 

 
Well I for one think there's a way to bridge both chasing magic upgrades and enjoying the music - a very enjoyable one if you ask me. I upgrade when feasible / an opportunity presents itself, test it out and continue enjoying the music. And another such chance upgrade occurred last night! Incoming was my 12AU7 to 6SN7 adapter, which allowed me to finally use my existing RCA 12AV7 tubes as drivers which I got for just $30, with the quad EL3N.
 
This is absolutely yet another step up the audio ladder, making this my all time best (to date) on the Elise, and even better than my previous two favorites (Tesla ECC88 + quad EL3N, and dual EL3n + 7236). The sound I'm getting is smooth, sweet, crisp, clear, liquid, very dynamic, tonally correct, spacious, yet still slightly warm. 
 

 

 
The concept with quad EL3N + miniature drivers seems to be the process of counter-balancing the somewhat soft / slow / dark sound of the quad EL3N as powers, with driver tubes that are snappy / fast / bright, whilst retaining the EL3N's expansive soundstage, organic tone and exquisite realism.  

 

[DecentLevi]

OH also BTW, I got to try my Elise yesterday at the meet (using my normal home setup) with a power component. It was the Shunyata Venom PS8 power distributor worth around $700 that a friend brought to the meet

Unfortunately IMO, it seemed to make absolutely 0% improvement on the sound of the Elise, vs. my non-grounded home power connection. However I don't want to 'dispel' the concept of using the likes of power conditioning for the Elise or for hi-fi audio setups in general. I do believe @hypnos1 must have been hearing a good improvement in fidelity with his, and that may have had more to do with the fact that his was a power regenerator, rather than just a conditioner. 

 

[UntilThen]

Monday afternoon in suburban Sydney where the dogs snooze and the birds tug their heads under their wings. I'm in a lullaby with Jesse Skyes's song that CF introduce me to in August. Sounds so good on Elise.
 

 

[connieflyer]

Her voice is very captivating you must have gotten the recommendation from someone with the golden ears!

 

[UntilThen]

This one's for @pctazhp ... for hassling him to do the review.. for taking my jokes on him without complaining. 

 
Hey I just watch Notting Hill last night.
 

 

[doofalb]

  Kind of miss this post. Some check list for you doofalb before you start listening to music with Elise.
 
Do some stretch exercise because once you sit down to listen, you're unlikely to get up again for the next 24 hours. Get a full glass of your best red wine. Your body needs the warm up in tandem with the tubes heating up. Lastly lose the shoes. Your toes needs room to be tapping. 
 
Enjoy and don't forget to tell us your experience.... and don't finish the whole bottle of red.
 
And don't forget to play this song and sing like Phil Colins
 

Thanks for the kind words @UntilThen and @hypnos1!
 
Elise was late

due to Thanksgiving. She must have been held up at someone's TG dinner..but she's finally in my hands
 
I will follow your check list as close as possible. I'm not sure I can sing like Phil Collins tho. His and my singing don't have much in common even if we have the same hair "style" and beer belly. But I'll certainly sing along, at least until the neighbors send over the cops

 

[UntilThen]

  Thanks for the kind words @UntilThen and @hypnos1!
 
Elise was late

due to Thanksgiving. She must have been held up at someone's TG dinner..but she's finally in my hands
 
I will follow your check list as close as possible. I'm not sure I can sing like Phil Collins tho. His and my singing don't have much in common even if we have the same hair "style" and beer belly. But I'll certainly sing along, at least until the neighbors send over the cops

Ok .... great .... excellent. 

  Don't forget to let us know how it goes.
 
Meanwhile here's a song from the incomparable Alison Krauss and John Waite.... for you.