[UntilThen]

I still like this the most. It has my 4 fav tube amps and a Sony receiver.

 

[UntilThen]

After 168 hours on my Ultimate, I've settle on a Mullard ECC31 and Fonon 6F6M1 metal base with Tungsram EZ81 rectifier. Susvara sounds very good from this combination, requiring a volume of only 10 am.

 

[UntilThen]

My pick for driver is the ECC31 until ECC35 turns up. Stevenvalve told me that ECC34 is good too, as is ECC32. As for power tubes, there are just far too many favourites.

 

[UntilThen]

I couldn't resist buying the ECC31 because the specs is so perfect.

Mullard, British Made

NR73 CV1285 ECC31 Valve Tube

Black Anodes, Pan Getter

Fully Tested on AVO VCM 163..

AVO Guide 100% = Ia 6 - Gm 2.3

This Valve =

Ia 8.6/8 - Gm 2.7/2.7

NOS, Supplied in White Box​

 

[kvtaco17]

They will both drive your Arya well. I had an Arya once. Ultimate is a proven design, that is quiet, tube roll to your heart's content and a royal sound. Get Ultimate first, then the 6as7 later.

That's probably what I'll do, again it'll be awhile while i move funds to a secure place away from my wife lmao

 

[Deleeh]

I couldn't resist buying the ECC31 because the specs is so perfect.

Mullard, British Made

NR73 CV1285 ECC31 Valve Tube

Black Anodes, Pan Getter

Fully Tested on AVO VCM 163..

AVO Guide 100% = Ia 6 - Gm 2.3

This Valve =

Ia 8.6/8 - Gm 2.7/2.7

NOS, Supplied in White Box​

Great tube.
Someday I might have one too.

Is a Gm value of 65 good when you are matched?
Lowest minimum in Life Performance would be <5-5. I don't know if 5.5 is meant or 55 as the datasheet is very old.
Is it an old spelling.

I ask because of my Gec KT66.
I asked a colleague who also has this and he also tried it in his Euforia with 6SN7 and also distorted.
When he put in 6v6 it was gone and all was well.
It is probably an Euforia problem.
I don't understand how some people in the Euforia threth got the Kt tubes to work.
It doesn't seem to be good, even if you only use 2.

Also, I'm still looking for the ampere value in this datasheet.
https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/084/k/KT66_GEC.pdf
On page 1 under the heater it says 1.3 amps.
Make sure it's the one from the tube.
On page 3 you will find the minimum power of the tube when it runs out, which is described above.

 

[UntilThen]

Is a Gm value of 65 good when you are matched?
Lowest minimum in Life Performance would be <5-5. I don't know if 5.5 is meant or 55 as the Darenblatt is very old.
Is it an old spelling.

I don't know Greg. Best if you can get it check by someone who has a tube tester or wait for Ultimate to arrive.

 

[UntilThen]

There's my Ultimate, back on the top shelf so that I can easily do a rectifiers comparison. Mullard ECC31 and Fonon 6F6M1 will remain for the duration. Will be seeing Eric in 2 hours time.

 

[UntilThen]

Bryant will have the most complete Ultimate and will be the first to feature 2 x 6J5. Eric is starting on this build. I can't wait to test it.

 

[Deleeh]

Okay, thank you @UntilThen.
Have fun with Eric and my best regards.

Funnily enough, people in the Black Forest are mostly old-fashioned.
But nobody has anything like an old-fashioned tube tester.
Most of them don't even know it anymore.

I'll ask Eric, he'll know for sure.
Edito you actually hear any differences in the rectifier tube or is everything the same?

 

[UntilThen]

Edito you actually hear any differences in the rectifier tube or is everything the same?

When I first put on the Tesla EZ81, I heard a difference. When I subsequently put on the Tungsram EZ81 foil disk getter, welded grey plates, with US$500 embossed on it, I also heard something different. I'm joking about the US$500 of course.

However I need to a control testing. Too many driver and power tubes were changed in the last couple of weeks. It's hard to assess the impact of rectifiers.

So over the next few days, I'll change just the rectifier and compared.

I'm also reviewing HiFiMan Audivina and comparing it to Susvara and HD800 and Grado RS1X.

 

[UntilThen]

I wasn't dreaming but everyday for the past 2 months, when I listen with Ultimate driving my headphones, I know it's a different calibre of amp from what I've owned and heard before. I'm taking about tonality and quietness.

The amps I've have had before in chronological order:-

1. Darkvoice 336se
2. Feliks Audio Elise
3. Feliks Audio Euforia
4. Schiit Ragnarok
5. Prima Luna Dialogue Premium HP
6. La Figaro 339i
7. Glenn Super 9 OTL
8. ALO Audio Studio Six
9. Woo Audio Wa22
10. Schiit Jotunheim
11. Elekit TU 8200
12. Ultrasonic Studio Oblivion
13. Violectric v280
14. Questyle CMA 12
15. Taurus Auralic Mk2
16. Schiit Moljnir Mk2
17. McChanson Destiny 300b
18. Ultrasonic Studio Odyssey KT88 / EL34
19. McChanson Ultimate

and that's not mentioning the 4 Sansui and Kenwood vintage amps. .... and Redgum Rgi120ENR.. oh my Sony receiver.... oh the Musical Fidelity X-150.

My present 4 tube amps are what's special to me and they are kept for that reason.

 

[Nick Ryan]

I really should have 2 racks someday

You can easily build your own and make it what YOU want and need. I did, it’s so solid, when I had a turntable I could stamp on the floor (floorboards) in front of it and got no issues, I used 40mm Merbau it’s solid man, rock solid. Use threaded bars from Bunnings, then set the shelf heights using nuts running them up and down the threads.

Apologies for the mess, I’m tube rolling at the moment.

on an earlier one I spray painted the threaded rods black, they disappeared but made adjusting difficult, some people drop white pvc tube to hide the threads, I like the threads showing (the engineer in me lol).

I hope this gives you & others some inspiration.

Nick

 

[Deleeh]

Nice collection you had.
Funny that more than half of it was sold.
Although there were 2-3 Totl.

Your vintage collection is also nice.
Which vintage are they from?

I started with the Akai Aa1150 from the 70s.

 

[UntilThen]

Nice collection you had.
Funny that more than half of it was sold.
Although there were 2-3 Totl.

Your vintage collection is also nice.
Which vintage are they from?

I started with the Akai Aa1150 from the 70s.

I had Sansui 7700, 717, 505 and 907mr.

Kenwood ka 3300d.