Replacement adapter for 5b/254m arrived and finally I'm able to compare 254a with 254m. They are almost the same tonally but not in physical size. Surprisingly 254m has slightly less gain than 254a. Unsurprisingly 254m sound slightly thinner and 254a sound slightly fuller. The jury's still out...

Good choices but I'm surprised HD800 is not featured since you're a mainly classical music lover.

Mark Knopfler in his older years is vintage gold. This 2019 Albert Hall performance is probably the best I've heard from him and is melancholy filled and emotionally stirring.

What’s your favourite headphone.

I agree. It’s starting to make my other amps obsolete through lack of use.

Replacement adapter for 5b/254m have arrived but I’m not at home.

I hope you got yours for a decent price because there are very few such tubes now.

They are different. RCA ones have this [ structure on the side.

Tesla EL12 spez singing in all it's glory and very quiet tubes !!! Those socket savers and adapters spoil the looks. The next pair of adapters from Deyan will instead be for the EL12 spez.

I'm beyond happiness now because these noisy Tesla EL12 spez are now absolutely quiet !!! That's the other pair of spare Telefunken EL12 spez that is a bit bigger than the other pair. Never throw out your tubes. Never. Come to think of it, I've never tried these Tesla in Ultimate except in...

These adapters I will keep because Tomas resleeved them for me. It will be my memory of him. Back to back between 5b/254m and EL12 spez, my opinion is the EL12 spez is the greatest of all time - GOAT. If I have to name just one power tube as my very favourite, it's the Telefunken EL12 spez. The...

They were not ready made ones. He made them on the spot. I was showing him the size of the 5b/254m tubes in relation to EL36 :relaxed:

It brings back memories for me too. Rather painful ones because it reminds me that I got rid of all these good tubes and adapters with GOTL in a fire sale. The benefactor is @paramesh :relaxed: There will never be another fire sale.

6bq7a are quite nice with an amplification factor between a 12au7 and 12at7 - 38. I have RCA and Philips Miniwatt ones.

You just have to be patient and let the tubes and adapters cool off after powering off the amp. On days when I am really into tube rolling (which is most days), I have 2 amps powered on. While waiting for the tubes to cool down, I will use the other amp.

I got them for all the reasons. Better quality, looks, shorter wire. Most important of all is the tube insertion into the adapter. Mrs X ones are very hard to insert. Problem is now I want to have him made me many more adapters to replace my EL38, EL39, EL12spez, 807, 254a, VR135, etc...

I can't believe it. @Deyan has make my 5b/254m adapters after I talked to him one hour ago. I haven't even paid him. :beyersmile: Does he just wave a magic wand?

5b/254a and 5b/254m sound similar to my ears and it's starting to dawn on me that I'm liking these more than the GEC 807. Just a little, the GEC is still good.

So that's how Deyan's adapters for 5b/254m looks. He's making a pair for me.

These old favourite drivers pair very well with GEC 807 or 5b/254a or 254m. Not surprising. Mullard ECC35 Siemens c3g Mullard ECC31 GEC VR135 GEC A2900 GEC L63 smoke glass I've yet to drop in my 6SL7s and other 12a*7. There's no bad pairing really.

Hard to tell who is the most pleased.

My dog is pleased.

Getting Deyan to make me a pair of aluminium 5B/254M TO 6L6 Tube adapters.

Mullard ECC31, GEC VR135 with ITT 5b/254a. I'm glad we can use all these drivers in Ultimate. Such wonderful drivers with these wonder power tubes.

My replacement 5b/254m adapter is coming tomorrow but I won't be in.