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

[UntilThen]

This is a Chesky CD that I have when I was keen on car audio competition. Listen to the things to hear in Spanish Harlem.
 

 

[UntilThen]

BUT who cares about audiophile sound. I just want to hear Norah 'live'.
 

 

[pctazhp]

I haven't had time for much listening the last couple of days. And I have given up trying to keep up with EF86, Octopusy and all that. Plus the excitement is now shifting to Euforia thread.
 
But this morning I have been listening to Bimby/Elise/EL11ST/EL12ST/HD800S. It is so wonderful. Sparkling highs but not exaggerated, unnatural or fatiguing. Vocals with flesh and full sounding instruments. Great soundstage. Controlled, natural bass that is perfect for my tastes. Overall, highly musical and engaging.
 
So long live Elise

 

[connieflyer]

Glad you're getting back to normal whatever that is PCT. Course your normal is probably abnormal for everyone else but we'll take whatever we can get with you

 

[Oskari]

My problem with the EL12N: can't get black background. It's not loud but I know it's there. Well, more troubleshooting. :mad:

 

[pctazhp]

Glad you're getting back to normal whatever that is PCT. Course your normal is probably abnormal for everyone else but we'll take whatever we can get with you

Normal???? Coming from the same person who said putting Euforia on washing machine would give clean sound?????

 

[UntilThen]

I really love the tone of EF86 now with ge 6as7ga. Who would have known that the plain vanilla GE power tube is making a comeback for me.
 
EF86 has the vitality and energy in it's sonics to elicit a big smile from your face. I'm spending more time with my Elise now than ever before.
 
I'm going to pick up another pair of EF86.

 

[Oskari]

Thanks a lot, UT!

I have now ordered the EF86 adapters. At least I already have the tubes.

Here's something for you to research: E80F.

 

[UntilThen]

Thanks a lot, UT!

I have now ordered the EF86 adapters. At least I already have the tubes.

Here's something for you to research: E80F.

 
Good. You won't regret it.
 
E80F (no relation to EF80...) - though it's even LOWER transconductance... will last forever. This is EF86 equivalent. 
 
Telefunken EF806S is the Buggati of EF86 but at 3 times the price, it's probably only marginally better.... so stick to EF86... unless you're Bill Gates.
 
For the budget minded the Soviet version isn't that bad - especially for the price. You can easily pickup pairs of them for $20.

Japanese EF86s - notably NEC and Hitachi are supposed to have great sound.
 
For the better EF86s, please read Oliver notes (even though he's talking about using EF86 in mics). He reckons Telefunken is the best with GEC and Mullards matching or even outdoing it. Valvo is supposed to be good but grainer. Amperex Bugle Boy will cost your left nuts and Philips Dario Miniwatts is good too. 
 
....BUT
 
... for me, an el cheapo pair of Mazda Thorn EF86 from Langrex is stirring excitements in me. Really good sound with any coke bottle shape power tubes. Heck I even pop in 7236 one night and was very amazed with the results.

 

[UntilThen]

In 1953 before I was born (yup I'm a spring chicken), Mullard design the EF86. You can read all about it here.
 
http://www.r-type.org/exhib/aai0113.htm

 

[HPLobster]

  Hey @UntilThen, have you found any particular differences between Tidal MQA and Audirvana MQA? Just wondering.
 
In reference to a prior comment you made, I remembered I A/B'd the same album with Tidal and a physical cd on my stereo system and I found them quite identical. So you're probably right; my remark about hi-res files must have had something to do with that I was basically—unintentionally—auditioning lots of audiophile recordings that day.
 
On a different note, I found MQA to be very susceptible to the sound engineering of the album (e.g. oddly enough old Madonna albums sounded lovely, whereas Bruno Mars sounded very compressed—and thus borderline unbearable—to my ears).

Couldn´t agree more. I recently listened to Ray Of Light and Music while "testing" my LCDs and they sounded amazing

...production on these is STELLAR!
Wonder what happened to William Orbit...?

 

[HPLobster]

  This is a Chesky CD that I have when I was keen on car audio competition. Listen to the things to hear in Spanish Harlem.
 

The song is prominently featured on many reference-CDs and it really fulfils its role in this regard. But I simply can´t stand the way she is singing those lines, it´s like she is on the brink of dying because of anemia - completely lifeless

 

 

[HPLobster]

Hi HP, I was tracking my first pair for quite a while via Hong Kong mail, and it constantly said they'd not left HK. But when I tracked them with Royal Mail, it said they were actually in this country. So it might be worth trying your tracking number with your local mail service. Good luck, hope they arrive soon!

 
 

  Exactly the same happened to me.
 
I waited 14 days and the tracking said it was still in HK, and there was nothing on the Royal Mail tracking site either.  I emailed MrsX to see if she could discover what was happening and later that same morning the package arrived. I was very embarrassed. 
 
My extensive, and very expensive experience LOL, is that it can take from 5 days to 5 weeks. It's my impression that Hong Kong post has been generally slower than China Post for some reason, but it probably varies from time to time.

 
I just checked with DHL (= main German postal service), they also say that it´s still in HK. However I believe it could just be due to the fact that this simply is the last location where the package was scanned on its progress. Sometimes they won´t even get scanned right away after arriving in the country of destination until they are sorted for further transport...dunno...
 
But thank you for cheering me up, guys

 

 

[HPLobster]

Since I´m currently the only member arround, I decided to perform a little monologue

 
 
Quote:

  Hi HP,
 
I am a big cable skeptic, but I was really surprised that the $10 upgraded A/Cpower  cord that CF recommended made a real difference in my system. The bass and treble has more punch and definition with this cord.
 
Re shipping from China/Hon Kong it is hit or miss for me in the US. Sometimes a package comes in 5 days, and sometimes in 5 weeks, not to mention a few that never arrived....I would say the average is 2-3 weeks, except for that there is no average time......

 
Hi mordy, I certainly read about this power cord (I absorb EVERYTHING in this thread

), but sadly I couldn´t find a counterpart sold in Germany, so for now I´m just keeping it in mind for later...

 

[UntilThen]

Lobster I'll find you a rap version of Spanish Harlem.