[Shirox]

hmm actually the fact is i couldn't even install the drivers. 

 

[levir]

I see, you can try M2tech Windows 64bit drivers. If that does not work, your are SOL.

 

[AVU]

 
Quote:

Speaking of the Eastern Electric Minimax, anybody do any kind of tube rolling with this dac?
I know that earlier in the thread a different tube was recommended, psvane tube (see page 6 of the thread), which I have ordered and am waiting for. 
Anything else that has impressed?

 
Wow, there's been a LOT of discussion about this earlier, but I guess it's a pain to find it all given the bad search engine on head-fi.  
 
I was really unimpressed by the stock tube - everything I've tried is better - and not that impressed by the Psvane.  There's a good reason people pay so much for certain NOS tubes from the 1950s and 60s.  
 
You can search for info on 12au7 on the internet and find tons of info.  Someone had posted a chart to the relative "voicings" of the major tube companies (dark, bright, smooth, articulate, etc.) somewhere.  To some extent, you get what you pay for, because people with good tubes know this and charge more for them.  But then a lot has to do with the rest of your system and your own preferences.
 
There's a relative consensus among many that the 12au7 Siemens Silverplate is among the best you can find. It's airy, powerful, and detailed with tight bass.  The Mullards have smooth, dark, rich sound that's pretty much the quintessential tube sound for many.  
 
There are also a lot of variants of the 12au7 that are supposedly mechanically superior to it than many swear by.  These go by many names:
 
 
5814
5963    
 
6067  
6189  
6350
6680  
 
7316   
7489  
7730  
 
all the above preceeded by JRC
or followed by A, W or WA
 
ECC82
E82CC
ECC802S
CV491
CV4003
M8136
B749
 
inexact:
 
E80CC - requires slightly more power
 
This last one has been a revelation for me.  After a lot of tube rolling, I encountered a couple people saying that even the best 12au7's and their variants are just not that good compared to the E80cc, so I got two of these to try, and they both incredible. The Tungsram is the affordable one - made in Hungary.  The Amperex PQ (or SQ) made in Holland in the 1960s is the best.  Like the richness of a good Mullard with the extension and dynamics of a Silverplate. I believe they'll work a lot better in the minimax plus or a minimax with an upgraded power source for the tube output stage, because they require more power.  But they still sound fantastic with my original minimax.
 
Here's a good source for 12au7 and varient tubes, as well as for the names and information on some great tubes to look for locally or on the internet if you don't want to buy from them specifically:
 
American
http://bit.ly/Iau7J4
 
European
http://bit.ly/HYwO70

 

[Shahrose]

 
Quote:

Originally Posted by AVU /img/forum/go_quote.gif

<snip>
 
Here's a good source for 12au7 and varient tubes, as well as for the names and information on some great tubes to look for locally or on the internet if you don't want to buy from them specifically:
 
American
http://bit.ly/Iau7J4
 
European
http://bit.ly/HYwO70

 
The Tungsram E80CC has become one of my favs with the LME49990. It replaced the Psvane and Siemens Silverplate for me, though both of those are fantastic with the right setup.
 
Anyhow, I'm having a bit of trouble finding the Amperex PQ/SQ E80CC. If you get a chance, could you link me to some stores that sell them in the States or Canada?

 

[Shirox]

err what is SOL?
 

 

[Shirox]

finally got the problem solved.
As you download the zip package, extract everything to a new folder and install the win 7 version from there.
Its possible to install the 32bits version from the zip file but not the 64!
 
I tried a different menthod this morning and it worked!!!

 

[uelover]

 
Quote:

err what is SOL?
 

 

A google on it tells me that it means 's.h..it out of luck'.

 

[levir]

 
Quote:

 
 

A google on it tells me that it means 's.h..it out of luck'.

 
LOL!

 

[AVU]

 
Quote:

 
The Tungsram E80CC has become one of my favs with the LME49990. It replaced the Psvane and Siemens Silverplate for me, though both of those are fantastic with the right setup.
Anyhow, I'm having a bit of trouble finding the Amperex PQ/SQ E80CC. If you get a chance, could you link me to some stores that sell them in the States or Canada?

 
A bunch come up on ebay, but who always have to worry about counterfeiters with the expensive ones.  I got mine at http://www.audiotubes.com/12au7.htm but I think I may have bought the last one. 
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Philips-SQ-E80CC-Goldpin-/270956481367?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item3f1643cb57#ht_500wt_1413
Good pictures here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MATCHED-PAIR-SUPER-STRONG-SQ-E80CC-PHILIPS-BIG-O-Getter-NIB-Gold-pin-TUBE-6085-/300696936477?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item4602ef201d#ht_2219wt_1180
and here
http://www.head-fi.org/t/530502/e80cc-gold-pin-amperex-amplitrex-tested-for-bottlehead-crack

 

[Shahrose]

 
Quote:

 
 
A bunch come up on ebay, but who always have to worry about counterfeiters with the expensive ones.  I got mine at http://www.audiotubes.com/12au7.htm but I think I may have bought the last one. 
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Philips-SQ-E80CC-Goldpin-/270956481367?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item3f1643cb57#ht_500wt_1413
Good pictures here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MATCHED-PAIR-SUPER-STRONG-SQ-E80CC-PHILIPS-BIG-O-Getter-NIB-Gold-pin-TUBE-6085-/300696936477?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item4602ef201d#ht_2219wt_1180
and here
http://www.head-fi.org/t/530502/e80cc-gold-pin-amperex-amplitrex-tested-for-bottlehead-crack

 

Thanks for the links. I'll try to get my hands on a pair.

 

[setamp]

In what ways do the Bursons differ from the Dexas in the Minimax?  Thanks

 

[ecapsretliab]

Hello folks,
 
Regarding the Minimax Plus.
 
Is the BNC input improved over the original?
 
It bugs me that I'm feeding 75ohm's into RCA with the original Minimax.
 
Thanks.

 

[Turn&cough]

I used to swear by BNC and would systematically replace all RCA input connectors with them. I'm not sure about perfect impedance, jitter, etc but to be honest I would say that it doesn't really make that much of a difference soundwise - at least not on the EE DAC and not to my ears.
I have now gone back to RCA but make sure to use good quality connectors(WBT, etc). I was also told by someone who knows the EE DAC inside-out that the RCA input was better than the BNC. I would tend to not disagree with that.
 
 

 

[uelover]

Alex Yeung told me that he believes the AES/EBU input to be the best amongst the other digital inputs on the MM DAC.
 
I have read opposing arguments, each supporting either the RCA/BNC while criticizing the other. Not sure which are the true ones but I find it hard to really pick up a difference between BNC and RCA.
 
WBT plugs. Hmmm. It could easily cost more than the coaxial cable itself =)

 

[Turn&cough]

 
Quote:

Alex Yeung told me that he believes the AES/EBU input to be the best amongst the other digital inputs on the MM DAC.
 
WBT plugs. Hmmm. It could easily cost more than the coaxial cable itself =)

 
Could be,  I also remember reading something about that but I would tend to think that the source output would need to be AES/EBU 110 ohm for it to be optimized.
 
The WBT's are pricey but they were left over from a previous DIY project.
 
Bling bling