[shafat777]

@LoryWiv

How do these gl kt88 power tubes compare against tungsol 6080? Those are the ones im running now along side my sylvania vt231 as drivers

 

[LoryWiv]

The only 6080's I have are GEC, so can't comment on the Tung Sol.

 

[OctavianH]

It is very hard to give an advice because everything sounds different depending on the rest of the chain, the headphone and personal preference. I can say only that I like the GEC KT66 as @LoryWiv mentioned with the GE 7581A as drivers for some of my headphones. But I prefer the Tung Sol 5998 and PsVane CV181T2 for other headphone. And I prefer some headphone cables with some tubes and I also have different interconnects which for me make a difference. This is why I avoid to give advices, I think each one has to try on his own. What I can say is what others enjoyed and favourite combos were:
- KT88 as powers + KT88 as drivers (quad)
- KT88 as powers + KT77 as drivers
I also consider very good as drivers:
- the RCA 7N7 (with adapters)
- the Ken-Rad 6F8G (with adapters)
As power tubes, besides what was mentioned:
- Tung Sol 7236 which are the most neutral ones
Of course these are personal preferences, I am not expecting to apply to everyone. For me 6080 never worked. I have 3 pairs of them but always considered them harsh. It seems those are picky with drivers, and maybe I have to try them with something I consider sweeter as EL32. I do not know if I will ever do that.

 

[connieflyer]

As others have mentioned here, the KT88's are great tubes. I have run a quad of KT66, Quad of KT88's with KT77 as driver, a pair of KT 88 and GU50 as power with KT77 as drivers and many other combo's . They all offer a difference in sound, I personally liked the KT 88 and GU50 as power with KT77 the best out of these. I ran a quad of GU50's and that was very nice as well, but now running a six pack of GU50's, the biggest change I have seen (or heard!) is the increase in clarity. I no longer run the 6AS7 tubes or 6080, and sold my 5998's awhile ago. Great tube but preferred others more. The only 6080 type I still roll is the Aero Gold 5998A with the Aero Gold 6sn7's. As far as the way it looks, it is a personal thing. I like it, but others may not. I was an early adopter of the Elise, and the Euforia sn 0005, and rolled many combonations, but this AE version is just a step up the ladder from what I am hearing. Was it worth the extra to go from Euforia to the AE version? To me it was. I am happy with it, using the Senn 800 and Oppo PM1 phones. Will I continue to roll tubes? Probably, but I doubt if I will try new tubes, as I have so many tube combos already, I will try mixing and matching tubes that I already have. I have many excellent 6sn7 that I have not included in the mix, as well as other combos. I look at the tube cabinets and start to count the different combos and then go back and listen to more music, as the number of possible combos is getting quite large!

 

[OctavianH]

Just received a very nice recommendation for this stoner rock band and honestly I do not think there is a better power tube than KT66 for this genre.
I armed myself with a few bottles of Warsteiner for this trip, beer which reminds me of a period in my life when I was often travelling to Germany with Lufthansa.



Well, it seems the flight to Venus is also operated by Star Alliance.

 

[OctavianH]

It is too silence here guys. Am I the last one on Earth using Elise?

 

[shafat777]

KT88 GOLD LION w/ Sylvania VT231

 

[OctavianH]

Those Sylvania VT-231 look very interesting tubes. I have only RCA and Ken-Rad VT-231 but are very special tubes for me. Both different, but still great sounding.

 

[shafat777]

I also wondered about the ken rads. The VT231 compliments my kt88s really well. The kt is a little warm power tube. But very clean, tight bass. The Slyvania is mid and treble heavy with neutral low end so these two sound very well together. Right now I have the Elise hooked up to my Ares 2 and its producing the best sound Ive ever heard coming out of any of my headphones, no joke. I used to own a D90 and that dac sounded lifeless compared to the Ares 2. So I sold the D90. Only caveat is that the Ares 2 can do only one output at a time, rca or xlr. The D90 could do this simultaneously. So now i have a Bifrost 2 en route for wednesday delivery. Ive heard BF2 and Elise is really well, so i m gonna have to do some comparing once i get it. Most likely i ll use the Ares 2 with the Elise because of the R2R wide soundstage of the Ares 2. the Bf2 is more cleaner so it should pair well with my GSX-mini.

 

[Scutey]

It is too silence here guys. Am I the last one on Earth using Elise?

Still here too, at the moment I'm using GEC KT66/Brimar 6V6G, still sounds great!. .

 

[LoryWiv]

Still here too, at the moment I'm using GEC KT66/Brimar 6V6G, still sounds great!. .

Variations on a theme, @Scutey. GEC KT88 (newly acquired) / Ken Rad 6V6GT for Elise and I tonight. A true pleasure.

 

[barontan2418]

Variations on a theme, @Scutey. GEC KT88 (newly acquired) / Ken Rad 6V6GT for Elise and I tonight. A true pleasure.

Those GEC KT88's brought me to my final destination Scutey, driven by GU50's in Elise. Euforia is running on again GEC KT88 's (the TT22 variety) paired with GU50's in the power slot and driven be Valvo EL11's. Having built up a good number of spares of the four above mentioned tubes I'm quite content now to just roll the occasional drivers. You all stay safe.

 

[Scutey]

Variations on a theme, @Scutey. GEC KT88 (newly acquired) / Ken Rad 6V6GT for Elise and I tonight. A true pleasure.

Those GEC KT88's brought me to my final destination Scutey, driven by GU50's in Elise. Euforia is running on again GEC KT88 's (the TT22 variety) paired with GU50's in the power slot and driven be Valvo EL11's. Having built up a good number of spares of the four above mentioned tubes I'm quite content now to just roll the occasional drivers. You all stay safe.

Not in the least bit jealous of you both owning GEC KT88 ... much , how do they sound in Elise?

 

[LoryWiv]

Not in the least bit jealous of you both owning GEC KT88 ... much , how do they sound in Elise?

Really fine balance of musicality and "hi fi" / technical prowess. Just rolled in Sylvania VT-115A (6L6 equivalent) drivers and the string quartet is performing Haydn in my living room!

 

[skor]

I am on the market to purchase an Elise to pair with my new ZMF VC and was talking to the folks at Zepplin & Co. in Singapore. They are saying that Feliks Audio is coming out with a 2021 edition of the Elise and it will be announced within the next couple of months and advised me to hold off buying one until then as the 2021 edition will come with several of the power supply refinements for quieter operation trickled down from the Euforia. Has anyone else heard this?