[john57]

I tried to find some information about the EL84X tube and how it different from the standard EL84 tube. I am unable to find much. I am just a bit curious where did IFI found the EL84x tube?

 

[EVOLVIST]

Resting with Jimmy Hoffa.

 

[GearMe]

3rd prize* - micro iTUBE with micro iCAN with 3 free Native DSD Music album downloads (worth over US$550)

Goes to...GearMe

And many thanks to Alclairs, Music Direct and Native DSD Music. You guys are grrrrreat.





and


and

Incredibly excited to win these prizes...Thanks so much!

Will be purchasing an iDac to complete the stack

 

[iFi audio]

  I tried to find some information about the EL84X tube and how it different from the standard EL84 tube. I am unable to find much. I am just a bit curious where did IFI found the EL84x tube?

 
Hi,
 
We found the EL84X from testing/measuring/auditioning tubes - as our passion is vinyl, SET and full-range speakers. Just like how we came across the GE5670 premium family compared to the generic family of 6922s.
 
The EL84X is an almost equivalent to the EL84, mainly with higher ratings and with a somewhat better sound quality (at least in the Stereo 50

), compared to other current production EL84 tubes.
 

 
The sonic qualities of this particular brand/model of tube is down to the electrical parameters...for example, the peak cathode emission is higher than standard EL84, so higher peak current can be sustained. There are many other small aspects that make it in our book better than the rest.
 
In some EL84 amplifiers it can be just dropped in without changes, in some it does not. The Stereo 50 was designed to allow either tube (but please wait until the warranty has expired before rolling tubes).
 
For obvious reasons we scour the markets for tubes that are available in large quantities that offer good sound quality. This how we found this one. It is a military tube, not advertised or specified for audio use.
 
In practice it makes a swell "super EL84", hence the EL84X moniker
 
For obvious reasons we prefer not to disclose the precise Tube number. Replacements are available from iFi and will be so for a long time, generic EL84s are fully-compatible with the Stereo 50 and who knows, sooner or later some factory may very well make an EL84 that sounds better than our EL84X.
 
Cheers.

 

[murphythecat]

hi ifi audio, first of all, thanks for the price!
 
okay, I was about to order the ifi retro 50 for 1300$, but now I see its now at 1500$?
is there a way to get the retro 50 for the orig. price?

 

[iFi audio]

Hi,
 
First, you are welcome.
 
Second, we have to look into and enquire with the US people. Need to enquire further.
 
Thanks.

 

[rickyleelee]

  Big iFi Audio fan here!  I noticed there wasn't a thread dedicated to the Retro Stereo 50 and with it's eventual release in the States I think it's time to start one.
 
I had the opportunity to hear the Retro system at CanJam '14 and I loved what it did with HiFiMan headphones.  I didn't get to hear the Retro's speakers.  Did anyone here on Head-Fi get to hear the entire system sing?
 
This is a system I think my wife could live with.  I'll let you know when I have the courage to ask her 

 
http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2014/10/ifi-micro-soak-entry-level-system-in-vintage-vibe-at-rmaf-14/
 
 

 

 
I finally got my retro home and took some pics by my iPhone for sharing. Surprisingly, both my wife and daughter are very interested in it and I don't have time to enjoy my music with it since it's unpacked! I will post more pics using my Nikon camera as soon as I can have it back from those ladies






This is the accessories box come with Retro tube amp, inside box I got power plug, speaker cables, volume remote control, audio RCA cable, wifi antenna, USB cable, non-slip mat,  warrant card, quick start/reference cards, etc...


Nice packaging 


 

 
Retro with my iFi gears

 

[XjunkieNL]

I finally got my retro home and took some pics by my iPhone for sharing. Surprisingly, both my wife and daughter are very interested in it and I don't have time to enjoy my music with it since it's unpacked! I will post more pics using my Nikon camera as soon as I can have it back from those ladies

Nice, enjoy it! It feels special owning it.

 

[john57]

I am waiting on availability of the amp itself since I have compatible speakers for it. There is one dealer in Denver that I could work with. Let me know if anyone knows where I can pick up the amp.

 

[Mr Creosote]

   
Hi,
 
To answer your questions:
 
 
1 - Are all the tubes socketed or are any of them soldered directly to the PCB?
Yes. All socketed.
 
 
2 - In this amp is the 6U8A a direct drop-in replacement for the ECF82?
Yes. Some of the staff personally use the 6U8A, the RCA in particular are nice.
 
 
3 - Can the amp operate with regular EL84 tubes as opposed to the EL84X tubes that come with the amp?
Yes it can. BUT please ensure they are 100% EL84 (not the often inferior spec "almost EL84" from Russia and China) and remove the Jumpers on the PCB that need to be fitted for the EL84X.
Tube rolling will invalidate the warranty. So please wait after 1 year before changing the tubes. We really hunted high and low for these tubes and they are not to be scoffed at.

 
 
4 - Are the cabinets solid bamboo, bamboo veneer, vinyl veneer or something else?
They are solid bamboo, except the baffle which is solid bamboo additionally reinforced with a layer of MDF, to allow screws to "bite" better and to give extra strength to the baffle which is weakened by the driver cutouts.
 
 
Plus, we were notified today that Audio magazine (Germany) that the Retro full system was awarded "Reference Class" which places the Retro in very esteemed company indeed, not least given other Reference class products cost a lot more. Audio is pretty well-regarded and in Germay, they are very thorough.
 
As soon as we have a translation, we'll drop it in here.
 
 
Cheers.

Looking foward to reading the Audio magazine review.Must be something special to be awarded Reference Class.I thought that was only for the mega expensive stuff.

 

[WNBC]

Avatar Acoustics and Music Direct now have the amp alone for $1500.  For MD you just have to use the pull-down menu to see the 3 options:  combo, stereo alone, or speakers alone.
 
 
Quote:

  I am waiting on availability of the amp itself since I have compatible speakers for it. There is one dealer in Denver that I could work with. Let me know if anyone knows where I can pick up the amp.

 

[john57]

Music direct does not have the Retro amp for another month. Just go to the main Retro page and it will say contact them. I will check with Avatar Acoustics and see what they had to say.

 

[pdvm]

http://ifi-audio.com/reviews/germanys-prestigious-audio-magazine-rates-retro-as-reference-class/
 
Nice.

 

[HeyWaj10]

Question for @iFi audio: is the bamboo enclosure for the component piece paint-able?  If so, does that void the warranty? 

 

[iFi audio]

  Question for @iFi audio: is the bamboo enclosure for the component piece paint-able?  If so, does that void the warranty? 

 
Hi,
 
It already has a lacquered finish. It is not the raw bamboo so to speak.
 
Warranty should still be fine assuming the internals/drivers are not damaged.
 
But best email the iFi support team direct first.
 
Thanks