Feliks Audio Elise Impressions Thread – a New Start (please read first post for summary)

[pctazhp]

   
Hello my dear friend, let me build up to the finale. I'm stepping through the stand out combos since the beginning to present. 

  I'll give you a hint. Without the EL11 now but with EL12 as drivers and EL12N as power tubes, I almost swallow my sandwich whole. 
 
Credit to @hypnos1 for introducing these marvel tubes to Elise. C3g, ECC31, FDD20, EL3N and eventually the unpredictable Miss Dazzling EL11.

 

 

[hypnos1]

   
 
Righto without Mrs X, we will be bugging you day and night to make us the adapters. 

 
Rather her than me lol, UT!!!

...but I do wish I had more time to help people out - Elise (and probably Euforia) has been (and will be) too successful LOL!!!

...

 

[richdytch]

You PMC 23 will be in for a good time. Watch those cones throttle fast. Dang those PMC 23 look nice and look like the leaning tower of Piza. :bigsmile_face:

...they are great. I'm gradually finding that they scale up really well as your amplification improves. They seem to always have a little bit extra available, rather like the Elise. And the fact that they are wife friendly is a bonus

 

[mordy]

Hi UT,
 
Quote: " the unpredictable Miss Dazzling EL11."
 
What about her bigger sister, the unpredictable EL12?
 
I now have a collection of two EL12 (TFK and Valvo) and one EL11 Philips DOA.
 
BUT
today is one of those days when EVERYTHING SOUNDS RIGHT AND ABSOLUTELY STUNNING.
 
My Elise is singing with stupendous bass and gorgeous sound. I really feel like hypnos1 today with my unobtanium mesh plate er EL6 power tubes and a pair of 1943/44 TFK EL11 as drivers. And the thought went through my mind that I don't see how this can be improved upon, but h1 stated that the Euforia sounds much better.....
 
Oh, and one more thing: I bought the A/C power cord that CF recommended (Thanks!). Maybe this is why the Elise sounds so fabulous today...Better bass and treble, and i noticed a little less hum (at the loudest levels) as well. Wow!

 

[hypnos1]

  Hi UT,
 
Quote: " the unpredictable Miss Dazzling EL11."
 
What about her bigger sister, the unpredictable EL12?
 
I now have a collection of two EL12 (TFK and Valvo) and one EL11 Philips DOA.
 
BUT
today is one of those days when EVERYTHING SOUNDS RIGHT AND ABSOLUTELY STUNNING.
 
My Elise is singing with stupendous bass and gorgeous sound. I really feel like hypnos1 today with my unobtanium mesh plate er EL6 power tubes and a pair of 1943/44 TFK EL11 as drivers. And the thought went through my mind that I don't see how this can be improved upon, but h1 stated that the Euforia sounds much better.....
 
Oh, and one more thing: I bought the A/C power cord that CF recommended (Thanks!). Maybe this is why the Elise sounds so fabulous today...Better bass and treble, and i noticed a little less hum (at the loudest levels) as well. Wow!

 
Yes indeed mordy...when these tubes (including your EL6 now) behave themselves, the sound truly is STUNNING!!!...(and I do believe power cords can make a difference lol! 

).
 
Glad you're really enjoying what Elise is delivering...(and you already know what comes next LOL!!...

...).

 

[Frederick Rea]

Do you want to improve ELISE's performance? Get a new, independent and exclusive power outlet from the main switchboard - PURITY

 

[connieflyer]

Better yet,convert to battery power!  then play this and give the girl a workout.

 

[DecentLevi]

Hi guys, got a few things to share about my Telefunken EL12 Spez pair that came in yesterday...
polarizing results to say the least  

 / 

 
 
So firstly trying them as powers with an assortment of EL11/12 and 6SN7 as drivers, I had a hum so shatteringly loud it was actually hurting my ears, and even on low levels... turn the volume knob to 0 it is would start 'arching' akin to a very loud morris-code sound. With this hum I had to turn the volume up to about 2:00 to hear any music through it.
 
Swapped around the EL12 Spez to drivers and the hum is absolutely, completely gone! In fact it may be my quietest setup ever when used as drivers. And for some reason they seemed to behave better as drivers with the anode wire twisted around like this:
 

 
So here are my initial impressions of the TLF EL12 Spez as drivers that I gather thus far:
It's a very clean, dynamic sound with grand sense of 'presence' and is amazingly vivid, yet slightly bright.
 
My favorite tube pairing seems to be the Telefunken / RFT EL11 as powers. This sounds very proper, vivid and realistic in all aspects; and this was compared to both ST EL12's and EL12N.
 
Moving the Spez's back to the power seat I tried the earlier suggestion of holding the anode wires to reduce the hum... I discovered that not only holding it was necessary, but pinching them tightly, usually using two hands, and from the top portion of the wire in order to finally quell that horrendously loud hum. After several times I noticed something: the instant the hum disappears there is a moderately loud 'POP' sound. It's the kind of pop sound one may expect when completing a circuit with audio wiring, as if I just flipped a switch that took it from a super loud buzz to absolutely silent. Definitely something in my setup seems amiss with these as powers. 
 
However for the brief seconds I was able to keep the buzz 'at bay' with the Spez's in the power seat, here is the sound I got:
It's an astonishingly clean sound with slamming dynamics and spine-tingling realism, great 'presence' & 'intimacy', yet slightly bright.
 
Notice using them as powers seems to invoke greater adjectives than as drivers. As drivers they seem a top performer, but as powers they seem a legendary performer with boundless potential, and even more clean / dynamic; essentially they seem more laid back as drivers. I think these can be good as drivers or powers, depending on your system and current music.
 
Also notice my mention of the brightness. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying that all EL12 Spez are bright, but for some reason on my system, they do seem moderately bright compared to some of my top tube pairings that are fairly neutral. I'm wondering if this may be something that would simmer down in time? It seems these may be unused NOS tubes.
 
I preferred all pairings of the Spez tubes (drivers / powers) with the HD-650 headphone to veil that brightness just about right.
 
I'll give the foil covering concept a whirl when I have time, but with the insane levels of buzz untreated these are giving off as powers, I'm wondering if some sort of extreme solution may be necessary such as full foil wrapping. I have a hunch a lot of the buzz people are getting from these has to do with the type of anode wire material Ms. Xuling had chosen that works very, very well

 as an antenna of sorts. 

 

[HOWIE13]

  Hi guys, got a few things to share about my Telefunken EL12 Spez pair that came in yesterday...
polarizing results to say the least  

 / 

 
 
So firstly trying them as powers with an assortment of EL11/12 and 6SN7 as drivers, I had a hum so shatteringly loud it was actually hurting my ears, and even on low levels... turn the volume knob to 0 it is would start 'arching' akin to a very loud morris-code sound. With this hum I had to turn the volume up to about 2:00 to hear any music through it.
 
Swapped around the EL12 Spez to drivers and the hum is absolutely, completely gone! In fact it may be my quietest setup ever when used as drivers. And for some reason they seemed to behave better as drivers with the anode wire twisted around like this:
 

 
So here are my initial impressions of the TLF EL12 Spez as drivers that I gather thus far:
It's a very clean, dynamic sound with grand sense of 'presence' and is amazingly vivid, yet slightly bright.
 
My favorite tube pairing seems to be the Telefunken / RFT EL11 as powers. This sounds very proper, vivid and realistic in all aspects; and this was compared to both ST EL12's and EL12N.
 
Moving the Spez's back to the power seat I tried the earlier suggestion of holding the anode wires to reduce the hum... I discovered that not only holding it was necessary, but pinching them tightly, usually using two hands, and from the top portion of the wire in order to finally quell that horrendously loud hum. After several times I noticed something: the instant the hum disappears there is a moderately loud 'POP' sound. It's the kind of pop sound one may expect when completing a circuit with audio wiring, as if I just flipped a switch that took it from a super loud buzz to absolutely silent. Definitely something in my setup seems amiss with these as powers. 
 
However for the brief seconds I was able to keep the buzz 'at bay' with the Spez's in the power seat, here is the sound I got:
It's an astonishingly clean sound with slamming dynamics and spine-tingling realism, great 'presence' & 'intimacy', yet slightly bright.
 
Notice using them as powers seems to invoke greater adjectives than as drivers. As drivers they seem a top performer, but as powers they seem a legendary performer with boundless potential, and even more clean / dynamic; essentially they seem more laid back as drivers. I think these can be good as drivers or powers, depending on your system and current music.
 
Also notice my mention of the brightness. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying that all EL12 Spez are bright, but for some reason on my system, they do seem moderately bright compared to some of my top tube pairings that are fairly neutral. I'm wondering if this may be something that would simmer down in time? It seems these may be unused NOS tubes.
 
I preferred all pairings of the Spez tubes (drivers / powers) with the HD-650 headphone to veil that brightness just about right.
 
I'll give the foil covering concept a whirl when I have time, but with the insane levels of buzz untreated these are giving off as powers, I'm wondering if some sort of extreme solution may be necessary such as full foil wrapping. I have a hunch a lot of the buzz people are getting from these has to do with the type of anode wire material Ms. Xuling had chosen that works very, very well

 as an antenna of sorts. 

Yes they are very good antennae! 
 
I was listening this morning with the EL12spez as powers and drivers together.
 
I need to put a generous amount of kitchen foil around the wires to eliminate the hum using them as power tubes. Like you, I find no hum using them as drivers.
 
I think this set up I'm using now with the four EL12 spez is an excellent 'all round' sound, which will suit most Classical genres I listen to.
 
I don't find the Telefunken EL12spez bright and those NOS tubes of yours will surely mellow with use-they do look in pristine condition, and that can mean they need time to settle in. 

 

 

[UntilThen]

Fivre 6N7G brown base and Tung Sol 5998
 
Fivre 6N7G brown base is a tube of extraordinary sonic delight. It's almost a fusion of Mullard Ecc31 and Visseaux 6N7G. This is the closest to FDD20 sound. Paired with 5998, there's incredible energy. High notes are startlingly clear, vocals are sublime and bass are of the best heart thumping quality.
 
Unfortunately the Fivre brown base is near extinct now. If you do find a pair, it's ok to sell your pet rabbit for it.
 

 

[UntilThen]

UT how would you characterize the difference between the ECC 31 plus the ts 5998 comparing them to the El 11 and El12 combo

 
Whilst both combinations provide the utmost sonic satisfaction, the main difference is that the EL11 and 12 combo has a more 3D presence and you're right there with the singer and the band. I talk of a BIG presence previously and this is what the EL tubes reveals... even the EL3N.
 
ECC31 and 5998 are startlingly revealing of the whole FR tonal range but the EL tubes is even more startlingly revealing. There's incredible details and the notes jumps at you. The bass has the most satisfying thump that will leave a dent in your chest. Try and wear a protective vest when listening to the EL tubes.
 
That's about all my mortal words can convey. You need to hear it for yourself. 

 

[hypnos1]

  Do you want to improve ELISE's performance? Get a new, independent and exclusive power outlet from the main switchboard - PURITY

 
Aaahhh, F R....$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

....

 

[connieflyer]

Well that makes everything a little bit clearer thank you UT. That was just the kind of difference that I was looking to decide whether or not to get the ECC 31. I think I'll pass on that as the price has gone up on them too much to make them worthwhile compared to the el-11 el12 combo.

 

[hypnos1]

   
Whilst both combinations provide the utmost sonic satisfaction, the main difference is that the EL11 and 12 combo has a more 3D presence and you're right there with the singer and the band. I talk of a BIG presence previously and this is what the EL tubes reveals... even the EL3N.
 
ECC31 and 5998 are startlingly revealing of the whole FR tonal range but the EL tubes is even more startlingly revealing. There's incredible details and the notes jumps at you. The bass has the most satisfying thump that will leave a dent in your chest. Try and wear a protective vest when listening to the EL tubes.
 
That's about all my mortal words can convey. You need to hear it for yourself. 

Those words give a pretty good summary of these EL tubes, UT! 

.  And despite the good few I myself have given here and on the Euforia thread, they can't really convey precisely or fully the sound they produce in our amps (or others', no doubt!!). It is indeed an experience one needs to savour for oneself...and one beyond mere words LOL

...

 

[hypnos1]

Well that makes everything a little bit clearer thank you UT. That was just the kind of difference that I was looking to decide whether or not to get the ECC 31. I think I'll pass on that as the price has gone up on them too much to make them worthwhile compared to the el-11 el12 combo.

 
Phew, thank Heavens for that, cf....the EL11s are better and far cheaper!...and the 31s run far hotter than I personally like lol!...so wise move, mon ami...

...(but perhaps my few might just prove to have been a good investment then?!!!

).