I also think this morning's combo (seeking EL32 partners) is doing all the right things. I quite like these GECs, but I think stand-alone (no EL32s) I might prefer the 10 quid metal GE 6C5s!
Together with the EL32s, I think I strongly prefer the GECs.
(EDIT after a few more hours. I don't think my amp has ever sounded this good. Loving this setup.)
(I really need to dust and JV is photo-shaming the rest of us with his skills)
@2359glenn - we all hope you are well! In a few days, I'll have had my amp for 6 months. It has become such a part of my everyday life and it is hard to believe it has only been such a short time. Thanks for making beautiful amps for us all.
Hello Chrisdrop...
I had to take off the HP and go get a hand towel...to wipe off the drool from looking at your beautiful GEC's!! Wow! Are they designated L63's Or 6J5's?
Last night, I was EL32-less and compared the RCA 12J5GT's to Ken Rad metal 6C5's with 5998 powers. Both driver sets are beautiful but I preferred the overall presentation of the RCA 12J5's. A little clearer/more personal w/details in the mids and velvet gloved, smooth and even highs.
After this post, I decided to do an intense study of adding the EL32's to the RCA 12J5/5998's...what really happens?
I chose the song: "My Rival" from the Steely Dan album "Gaucho" as my test song. I am very familiar with this song, every single note and every teensy tiny detail in this tune, which was widely acknowledged to have had a lot of studio engineering preformed to make it unrivaled (pun intended) in recording quality.
1st up is RCA 12J5/TS 5998 - and it's beautiful - hard to imagine it sounding better.
then
RCA 12J5 / Mullard EL32 / TS 5998 - there is added thickness to the whole recording. A "reverb", a presence, if you will. Much deeper soundstage. Detail retrieval went off the charts. The harmony singing parts become much more palatable. Tiny details are clarified, fully explained and made important. It is rather like turning the resolution of the recording way way up. I think the EL32's make a gigantic difference for the much better.
That is....if you like a thick rich deep and involving soundstage, immense detail retrieval, human voices that sound absolutely real, like your in the room at the moments when the recording was made....and off the charts detail retrieval....
Give a whirl, Chrisdrop...take a superb driver set and a recording you know well and love, and carefully compare, with and without the magical EL32's.
Everyone....please stay safe and well...!!
Cheers!
~JV~
