Feliks Audio Elise Impressions Thread – a New Start (please read first post for summary)

[connieflyer]

I would be willing to pay more for a quality adapter, I wonder how many other people would be willing to spend the extra to get a better adapter. There are other people out there making adapters that are a little bit cheaper than hers and they sell a lot of them. I think a lot of people shop price more than quality

 

[hypnos1]

  Hi h1,
 
I have a number of socket from Mrs Ling Xu and apart for a couple of broken guide pins (sockets replaced free of charge) I do not have any problems.
 
As Mrs Xu Ling has been very cooperative and accommodating in the past, It appears to me that she should be able to produce higher quality sockets with Teflon and higher grade materials if people are willing to pay for it.

 
Hi mordy.
 
Yes, she has indeed made MANY adapters that seem OK, and you yourself obviously don't have any problems - like a good few others. But there do appear to be some who aren't so lucky, unfortunately. When making to a certain price point, there must of necessity be certain compromises and yes, just as with cf below, I'm sure there would be a market for better quality ones at a reasonable premium lol

.
 
The main problem as I see it - with the EL3N and EL11/12 adapters - is, as I mentioned, the actual sockets they use. The contact tab material and construction is obviously not of the highest quality, thereby not ensuring and maintaining good contact with the tube's pins. Perhaps NOS European ones were made to a higher standard, with fewer such problems...but maybe they too suffered from the actual design, which as I mentioned, is inherently inferior to some others...(unless the sprung tabs are extremely well made, with very good quality metal...). And so this could well prove a stumbling block...there is obviously a massive supply of Chinese made sockets that will be their mainstay...Catch22!...No easy answer...

...
 

I would be willing to pay more for a quality adapter, I wonder how many other people would be willing to spend the extra to get a better adapter. There are other people out there making adapters that are a little bit cheaper than hers and they sell a lot of them. I think a lot of people shop price more than quality

 
Hi cf...think I've answered your post as well - above lol!

...great shame, all in all...

...

 

[Oskari]

The main problem as I see it - with the EL3N and EL11/12 adapters - is, as I mentioned, the actual sockets they use. The contact tab material and construction is obviously not of the highest quality, thereby not ensuring and maintaining good contact with the tube's pins.

That is my opinion as well. There is no need for exotic materials, but there is a need to conform to original specification.

Perhaps NOS European ones were made to a higher standard

I have no actual experience but I'm fairly certain they were.

 

[2359glenn]

I have 20 NOS Phillips side pin sockets coming to me from Europe.
Having problems with the gold plated Chinese ones in my EL3N amps. It seems that after the tube is inserted
a couple of times the contact tab looses it's springiness then has a bad contact.
Don't know if NOS is better yet but I am sure it is.

 

[aqsw]

Hey H1,

I had those T1s when I was having the problems with distortion from the 5998s and Mazdas. I'm hoping the 12Ns and 3Ns are going to make those T1s sing.

 

[mordy]

There was a time when Woo Audio offered Teflon adapters for $40-50 each with the following specs:
 

1. High grade Teflon socket and base
2. Gold plated oxygen free copper pins and receptacles
3. Silver plated copper wires
4. Metal ring for easy gripping

 
(Checked their website now but could not find them offered for sale).
 
 

 

 
It seems to me that it should be possible to produce such high quality adapters for significantly less.

 

[richard89]

Honestly I think I should not have put the broken adapter back into the amp. My left driver channel was already having problems with other tubes popping and I carelessly put it in hoping that it would be okay. I thought to myself, why wouldn't it work? It may have thrown something off because right after I put in the EL11 and that's when Elise started becoming sensitive and microphonic. I'm not too worried anymore though, I'm sticking to 6SN7 as drivers for now and everything is semi-smoother -- I haven't really made time to troubleshoot tonight.

 

[HOWIE13]

  Hi h1,
 
I have a number of socket from Mrs Ling Xu and apart for a couple of broken guide pins (sockets replaced free of charge) I do not have any problems.
 
As Mrs Xu Ling has been very cooperative and accommodating in the past, It appears to me that she should be able to produce higher quality sockets with Teflon and higher grade materials if people are willing to pay for it.

I entirely agree with you mordy.
 
Without MrsX I would never have had my life enriched by the full range of Elise's delights, and G1217 amps before, not to mention interacting with all the nice, knowledgeable people on this and previous threads.
 
She is very accommodating and I'm not aware of anyone else who manufacturers such an array of adapters.
 
Maybe if someone provided her with details of a better manufactured (and shielded in the case of the spez) adapter,  she might accommodate us, at a price, but I'm sure would be worth it.

 

[UntilThen]

I feel I must speak for Mrs Xu Ling. To all those who speak well of her and her utter willingness to accommodate us, especially the Elise fans, I must say she has been excellent. You will never see another adapter maker labelling some of the adapters specially for Feliks Audio Elise. That's what she did after I told her that the EL3N to 6SN7 adapter is specifically for Elise. 

 
My most recent interaction with her on EF80 to 6SN7 and EF86 to 6SN7 adapters have again shown how quick she's willing to accommodate us. These are now available and I will be ordering:-
 
2 x EF80 to 6SN7 adapters
2 x EF86 to 6SN7 adapters
2 x EF86 to 6SJ7 adapters
 
Again, i'll repeat that I'm trialling EF80 and EF86 in Elise, so don't jump the band wagon so quickly. It might turn out to be crap or blow up Elise. Don't say I didn't warn you. 

 
Lastly, I have no problems at all with my EL3N adapters from Mrs Xu lIng, whether single or dual adapters. They work 100%.
 
Regarding my EL11 hum, it is not the problem of the adapter. Why am I convinced? Well with the same adapters, my EL12 and EL12N are pitch black silent with no music playing and they are not microphonic. Certainly not a problem with the adapters.

 

[UntilThen]

Mullard ECC31 and Tung Sol 5998
 
ECC31 is a quality tube. This is about texture and layers without sacrificing clarity and details. One of the best bass hitters without the bloom and bloat. Mid range is one of the best in the show business. It brings out the best in the vocals. I love this tube and when paired with Tung Sol 5998 or Chatham 6AS7G, it's an exquisite tone. @hypnos1 used to love ECC31 with GEC 6AS7G.
 
However a word of caution. ECC31 and GEC 6AS7G amounts to 7 amperes total. A bit high on Elise. I do listen to ECC31 and 5998 occasionally without any harm. This combination is best used in the Euforia where the safe operating range is extended to 7a.
 

 

[HOWIE13]

  Mullard ECC31 and Tung Sol 5998
 
ECC31 is a quality tube. This is about texture and layers without sacrificing clarity and details. One of the best bass hitters without the bloom and bloat. Mid range is one of the best in the show business. It brings out the best in the vocals. I love this tube and when paired with Tung Sol 5998 or Chatham 6AS7G, it's an exquisite tone. @hypnos1 used to love ECC31 with GEC 6AS7G.
 
However a word of caution. ECC31 and GEC 6AS7G amounts to 7 amperes total. A bit high on Elise. I do listen to ECC31 and 5998 occasionally without any harm. This combination is best used in the Euforia where the safe operating range is extended to 7a.
 

Really look forward to your daily 'news column'. 

 
Am I right in thinking the three types of ECC31 have a rather different sound? With the metal case ones being cooler through to the straight bottle type being more neutral to the coke bottle, as in your picture, being the warmest variety. Maybe that's too simplified, but you know what I mean.
 
I only have the first two and have never been able to obtain really loud volume, but I think I must be unique in this respect.
 
From what I could hear at low volume though, even with the straight bottles the bass sounded awesome and, as you say, very well layered.
 
EDIT: I am referring to 6N7 tubes, which are related but not the same as ECC31, as UT explains below.

 

[UntilThen]

  Really look forward to your daily 'news column'. 

 
Am I right in thinking the three types of ECC31 have a rather different sound? With the metal case ones being cooler through to the straight bottle type being more neutral to the coke bottle, as in your picture, being the warmest variety. Maybe that's too simplified, but you know what I mean.
 
I only have the first two and have never been able to obtain really loud volume, but I think I must be unique in this respect.
 
From what I could hear at low volume though, even with the straight bottles the bass sounded awesome and, as you say, very well layered.

 
Howie, I didn't know there are different shapes of ECC31? Are you sure? 

 
 
Picture please. 

 

[HOWIE13]

   
Howie, I didn't know there are different shapes of ECC31? Are you sure? 

 
 
Picture please. 

I'm wrong again-apologies,everyone.
I was referring to 6N7 tubes, which use the same adapter and say ECC31 on the adapter label. I always thought they were similar.
I'd better go into hibernation for a few weeks-that's the second mistake I've made in as many days!

 

[UntilThen]

   
Howie, I didn't know there are different shapes of ECC31? Are you sure? 

 
 
Picture please. 

 
Ok I think you were referring to 6N7G, 6N7GT and 6N7. They are not quite the same as ECC31. A close cousin perhaps, so you'll often see sellers refer 6N7G as ECC31. They use the same adapters in Elise though.
 
Mullard ECC31 is warmer and textured. Visseaux 6N7G on the other hand is much brighter and leaner in tone. Visseaux 6N7GT is even leaner than 6N7G. The leanest of them all is the 6N7.

 

[UntilThen]

  I'm wrong again-apologies,everyone.
I was referring to 6N7 tubes, which use the same adapter and say ECC31 on the adapter label. I always thought they were similar.
I'd better go into hibernation for a few weeks-that's the second mistake I've made in as many days!

 
No apologies needed Howie. There is indeed some relation between ECC31 and 6N7G, 6N7GT and 6N7. I just don't see them as the same, that's all.