[sennsay]

Yes I like EL12 a lot, even though it is not a fit for this amp strictly looking at the datasheet. But it sounds great and I have not had any trouble with it yet. My other big favorite is GEC TT21 which is similar to KT88. But I had trouble with a pair of TT21 after a while. GEC KT66 is very nice too. I don’t like EL34 sound, 6L6 sounds better to my ear. Never tried TungSol but I would imagine I would like it. Tried some other tubes but nothing else is noticeably better than 6L6. So EL12, TT21/KT88 and KT66 are my favorites. And I don’t buy any tubes that are not at least 40 years old, most of my EL12 are from 1954. EL12 is a good thermal fit for this amp, it runs much cooler than with big tubes like TT21.

More important than output tube is E80CC input tube. I would take E80CC with 6L6 over any output tube with 12AU7. And as you can see in the pictures I power the whole thing from a beefed up transformer (not just higher current rating but bigger magnetic core) with additional caps for smooth power delivery with ample on-demand capacity. And all other components are upgraded including all caps, almost all resistors, and the pot. And soldered with lots of lead and silver throughout.

I mostly use the amp with Schiit Gungnir Multibit with USB buffer. And 8500 with Mullard 12AT7 in between, cranked up to boost second harmonic. When I use turn table it is hooked up via 8500 too which has significantly upgraded phono section.

Interesting .... so what constitutes your 'significantly upgraded' phono section, Dimu? My own TU8500 has the 'standard' full upgrade kit, resistor pack plus the upgrade op-amps and two polypropylene coupling caps to the line stage, it's a good phono stage, but not fabulous, I prefer the line stage with Psvane 12AU7-T tubes and two Mundorf polypropylene caps, transparency IS fabulous! Top to bottom. If I can improve the phono stage then I would like to do so. Cheers.

 

[kartk]

Updated TU-8200 with some suggested mods on diyaudio, higher value filter cap. Upgraded oscon caps for bias reference, higher value cap for heater voltage.. Headphone out is dead silent, and even speaker out seems to have lower noise floor. It sounds way more cleaner. Using Brimar CV4003, Tungsol 5881 in Triode mode.
This is an amazing amp for such small form factor. Looking forward to use E80CC tubes as driver now with next set of mods.

 

[SemiAudiophile]

Anyone know what the power rating is out of the headphone out?

I remember this being able to drive low impedance Grados and high impedance Senn HD650 beautifully. But trying to figure out if it will be powerful enough to drive hungry planars like HiFiMan HEKV2 or Susvara.

 

[vkung]

Anyone know what the power rating is out of the headphone out?

I remember this being able to drive low impedance Grados and high impedance Senn HD650 beautifully. But trying to figure out if it will be powerful enough to drive hungry planars like HiFiMan HEKV2 or Susvara.

No issue ...

 

[thebigcanman]

No idea of the rating but it had absolutely no issues with my HD800 when I had the setup

 

[Sonic Defender]

How loud would you people say you were listening, and to what style of music? The other member may listen louder than you and to different music that may be more demanding to reproduce.

 

[thebigcanman]

I listen to a wide variety of music. Never had to turn the amplifier up very loud. It was a superb pairing with the HD800 absolutely gripped it

 

[Giru]

Heard this amp last night (It was the 8200R with Lundahl OPTs, upgraded components and silver solder; Tung Sol 7581A driven by NOS Brimar 13D5). Dang! This amp is a solid piece of kit! It blew away the stock Feliks Euforia anniversary that I had actually gone to audition. I mean sure it's not a fair comparison but I could make out the difference on almost every attempt with my R70X. And to think this is a speaker amp and not even a dedicated headphone amp

Seriously considering getting a kit. Althought with all the upgrades and tubes (and not to mention the effin 77% customs duty) the cost should be no less than the Feliks.

 

[UntilThen]

The 8200 is the brainchild of Odyssey.

 

[Giru]

The thing that impressed me most was how incredibly powerful and dynamic it was whilst being dead silent. The background was pitch black. Quite uncanny for a headphone amp let alone for a speaker amp. One can easily mistake it for a great ss amp if not for the warmth.

The Euphoria was only okayish and sounded a little thin in comparison, maybe a bit weak too. Bass depth was a bit better and I could feel the sub-bass on certain tracks however the sheer slam of the elekit was unmistakable.

No doubt one of the best tube amps I've heard in a long time. Serious FOMO happening

 

[UntilThen]

Get it. When things were less complicated and less expensive for me.

 

[Loftprojection]

Any of you ever inquired about adding a remote on this kit for volume control?

 

[jerick70]

Get it. When things were less complicated and less expensive for me.

Same setup I have. 8500 pre and 8200DX. Great sounding kit.

I just bought a Willsenton R8 and it has a bit more finesse and power with KT-88s. I run it off the speaker taps.

 

[UntilThen]

Same setup I have. 8500 pre and 8200DX. Great sounding kit.

I just bought a Willsenton R8 and it has a bit more finesse and power with KT-88s. I run it off the speaker taps.

Speaker taps are the way to go, especially with Susvara. What headphone is that you're using?

I'm using speaker taps with Musical Fidelity X150 into Susvara. Next to it is Odyssey running KT88.

 

[jerick70]

Speaker taps are the way to go, especially with Susvara. What headphone is that you're using?

I'm using speaker taps with Musical Fidelity X150 into Susvara. Next to it is Odyssey running KT88.

Those are the Sash Tres. Hand made bespoke from the Ukraine. I like them better than my LCD-5 and DCA Expanse. They are an eighth the price too.