Latest Thread Images

Featured Sponsor Listings

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

Mar 14, 2017 at 11:51 PM Post #7,606 of 11,833
I'm listening to the 52nd Street album (1978 / FLAC) from Billy Joel on the EL12 Spez + Valvo EL11 combo with HD-600 via Mimby and two USB enhancing components on my Elise. Though just hearing it in recent months with another combo, this time I'm thrilled at how intricate and downright splendid the mastering is on this album - never knew it was recorded this well!! And many of these songs are timeless hits. (does need a slight bass boost / treble reduction on the HD-600's though). Highly recommended for the Elise with Spez or another 'EL13' setup.
 
There's just something about the quality of old analogue-era recordings. I wish at least some of today's artists would record an album with analogue equipment, or possibly even better: direct to DSD 128x + or MQA, which is something I'm not sure if has ever been done; that is bypassing the film master.
 
Mar 15, 2017 at 6:22 AM Post #7,608 of 11,833
Summary findings on EF80 and EF86 used as drivers in Elise.
 
First of all, these 2 tubes are not identical in constructions. They are quite different. Both are small tube pentodes. EF86 is quite unlike other pentodes. They are specifically designed for audio purposes and exhibit low noise, hum and microphony compared to other pentodes.
 
If I didn't listen to EF86, I would have thought the EF80 really marvellous sounding. Once you listen to them back to back, you'd pick out that the EF86 just have more details and revealing in the nuances of tone. These tubes are more about tone than gain. That is why you would use them.
 
The one word that stood out about their tone is CLARITY and it's there in sweet abundance. Not just clear and clean but the tone is sweet. No sound is neutral so I'd place these on the bright side of neutral. It's never fatiguing though. Your ears are just enveloped with sweet clarity.
 
When I listen to the EF80 and EF86 in La Figaro 339, I couldn't help but find that even mediocre power tubes such as Svetlana 6h13c sounded good. This is repeated in Elise. I've so far use Chatham 6520 and Svetlana 6h13c with excellent results.
 
All right. How does it compare to EL11 and EL12 or EL12N and EL12. This is important because they are the flavour of the month.
biggrin.gif

EF combos are tighter, more precise, great treble extensions and marvellous accompanying low notes with an equally engaging mid-range. EL combos have more layers, more upfront in their presentations. With the EL tubes, you are closer to the musicians while the EF combos will have you seated 2 rows back. There are really not that much differences in all these characteristics between the EL and EF tubes but enough for you discern the differences.
 
I love both the EL and EF sonic signatures and just find that Elise owners are so fortunate that these tubes works well and sound so marvellous in her. I use T1 in all my evaluations.
 
Lastly, I tried EF80 and EF86 with EL12 as power tubes but gain drops substantially. I had to turn volume up to 12 - 1pm for a sufficiently loud listening session. Pretty good tone but I decide that it's not a good pairing because I have to turn up the volume so much.
 
Also with all these tubes, I could turn the volume to max without detecting any interference, with no music playing. They are that quiet.
 
DL ask if I've use EL12 Spez. No I do not. There's so much more listening with these tubes that I want to focus on. Get more hours in it and also to ensure they are not 'one hit' wonders. EL12 Spez will come eventually. There's no rush for me. Besides I am expecting Euforia to arrive 'soon'.... as soon as some fisherman pick it up from the oceans. 
bigsmile_face.gif
 
 
Mar 15, 2017 at 6:45 AM Post #7,609 of 11,833
Indeed nothing wrong with volume at 12 - 1 o'clock but I'm used to loud being 9 to 10am, so anything past noon will seem strange to me... psychologically.  
bigsmile_face.gif

 
Mar 15, 2017 at 7:50 AM Post #7,610 of 11,833
I was wondering about the accuracy of the above mentioned seller's notion that the Tesla is the same as the Telefunken EL12 Spez. Further inspection shows obvious differences is labeling, transparency in the mid section, and likely being made in the former Czech. as opposed to Germany; however the shape looks the same. So while I can't say they would sound the same, it's still possible the Tesla could sound good nevertheless. A search for any comparison between the two Spez brands mostly just pointed back to eBay listings, so I wonder if anyone has any better answers.
 
Mar 15, 2017 at 8:41 AM Post #7,611 of 11,833
@UntilThen
 
Appreciate your very helpful report on the EF's. Sounds like the EF86 is the one to go for.
 
They sound from your  thorough descriptions a bit like some of the ECC88 tubes I've tried in Elise. Clarity and precision, such as with Bugle Boy. Tesla, Tungsram and Mullard.
 
The EF's are generally cheaper so I am going to try them, just to compare.
After all I must do something to occupy me while you all wallow in the musical delights awaiting you with Euforia.
beerchug.gif
 
 
Mar 15, 2017 at 8:45 AM Post #7,612 of 11,833
@UntilThen which brand are you testing with your EF86? Does it make a difference? They're so cheap I'm inclined to try them out myself, as per @HOWIE13's suggestion.
 
#EDIT: actually I now find that some species go for $100+. I'm intrigued... (but left poor from my EL spending spree).
 
Mar 15, 2017 at 8:52 AM Post #7,613 of 11,833
decentlevi said:
  I was wondering about the accuracy of the above mentioned seller's notion that the Tesla is the same as the Telefunken EL12 Spez. Further inspection shows obvious differences is labeling, transparency in the mid section, and likely being made in the former Czech. as opposed to Germany; however the shape looks the same. So while I can't say they would sound the same, it's still possible the Tesla could sound good nevertheless. A search for any comparison between the two Spez brands mostly just pointed back to eBay listings, so I wonder if anyone has any better answers.
Click to expand...

It's impossible to know until you compare them DL.
 
I suspect what the seller means is that they have the same electronic characteristics as Telefunken and can be used as substitutes in an amplifier, though not necessarily sounding identical.
 
All I can say is that I've always found Tesla reliable and their 6DJ8 and EF95 equivalents are some of my favourites of their types.
 
Mar 15, 2017 at 11:27 AM Post #7,614 of 11,833
Hi UT,
 
Took a look at EF86 offerings on eBay - there are lots of choices, and the prices are all over the map.
 
From your research, do you have any recommendation for any specific brand or type of construction?
 
The EF86 seems to come in many different designations: 6267, 6J32P, 6ZH32P, Z729, 6BK8, 6CF8, 6J8, 6J49P, 6F22, CV2901 - I am getting dizzy.....there probably are more.....
 
Are all these the same, or are some not identical?
 
You mentioned Chatham 6520 - do yours have domino plates? Did you try them with the TS5998? I have the Chatham 6AS7G that are said to be same as the 6520 with regular plates but I never liked them for some reason. The TS 5998 are wonderful, though.
 
Mar 15, 2017 at 11:44 AM Post #7,616 of 11,833
DL ask if I've use EL12 Spez. No I do not. There's so much more listening with these tubes that I want to focus on. Get more hours in it and also to ensure they are not 'one hit' wonders. EL12 Spez will come eventually. There's no rush for me. Besides I am expecting Euforia to arrive 'soon'.... as soon as some fisherman pick it up from the oceans. 
bigsmile_face.gif
 
Click to expand...

 
There is rush. You need this:
 
https://www.facebook.com/nerdbotmedia/videos/615779941919789/
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 11 (members: 0, guests: 11)
Back
Top