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

Jul 11, 2016 at 6:42 PM Post #121 of 11,833
An hour of listening to music first thing in the morning. I'm still amazed at how good Elise sounds with EL3N and 7236 with modded HD650. This simple setup I have here is pure music. I'm melting. 
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This is after 8 months of having Elise. Still craving for a listen every day. Life's good. 
 
Jul 11, 2016 at 11:33 PM Post #125 of 11,833
BIG THANKS TO FELIKS AUDIO if you're reading this!
 
I just got my replacement Elite
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 Elise and I'm really impressed: I've really gotta hand it to F.A. they do a superb job on every little detail! Comparing the old to the new one directly (#44 to #64 here), seems they used a sleek, slightly less shiny finish on the chassis with a front place this pristinely matches the rest of the body, with a more robust / firm feel to the volume knob.
 
And best of all for me, is that the defect which I previously had is nowhere in sight! Trying one of the exact same (more modest) tube compliments side by side, the randomly pulsating static sound in the left channel is gone. proving it was an internal fault. One last word on this (former) issue to bury the hatchet once & for all: The fault with my previous Elise was determined to lie somewhere between the front left tube socket and the headphone output, whereas the tube combo in question actually occupied the rear tube sockets, of which was more / less consistent regardless of which tube combo used, including stock compliment. And this was only a faint static that had since quieted down a bit, now audible only on sensitive headphones and during quiet sections of a song.
 
Incidentally I had also just done an A/B comparison of a burned-in Elise with around 600 hours on it to the new one, and I was actually taken aback with the difference! And that is to confirm that it would seem that amp burn-in is more than just theory. Here are the differences I heard from this one-off test (both using the exact tubes): 
The burned-in amp sounded more robust / weighty with better bass definition and larger / more lifelike soundstage while the new one seems to sound only similar in terms of  treble & tonality, but somewhat smaller stage and a muddier sound. 
 
Looks like I'll need to burn-in this amp 24/7 these next 5 days until the meet.
 
Jul 12, 2016 at 12:28 AM Post #127 of 11,833
It is past midnight and I am enthralled by the sound of the Elise with EL3N and 7236 tubes.
 
Slow and Easy Blues by Jimmy Yancey:
 

 
Another tune: Yancey's Bugle Call: (Almost time to get up again....)

 
Jul 12, 2016 at 12:56 AM Post #128 of 11,833
hypnos1 said:
  Further to @DecentLevi's suggestion to upsample native recording bitrates, I have been getting excellent results from using the free program "Audacity" - which I originally intended to use for amplifying low-level recordings...great for when having to turn up the volume dial might bring unwanted extras, lol!
 
Anyway, while there I noticed facility for altering the sampling rate at the same time...BRILLIANT!!  Therefore, so long as your media player can handle high sample rates, no need to spend out on one that can actually upsample itself...(not sure just how many can really do that - setting the figure to high rate doesn't automatically mean that is actually being outputted, AFAIK...). But it would certainly appear that upgrading just what is playing the media file brings overall improvements anyway!
 
The only downside of using Audacity to "Amplify" is that each track must be handled separately...no batch facility for this particular function, alas. But the added bonus of upsampling is truly wonderful...and all for free LOL!
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. And I agree with DL - so long as the rest of your gear is above average, there is definite improvement in sound...
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...
 
ps. Yo DL...this thread is for one tube per socket only preferences...
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...
Click to expand...

 
Awesomeness, glad you're enjoying the upsampling effect. A note though, I also have Audacity and upon looking at it, you need to change two settings; not only the sample rate / sample format under the "quality" tab, but also select the driver that outputs directly to your DAC under the "devces" tab. Otherwise choosing "Microsoft sound mapper" or anything related to your internal soundcard system will still be pre-processed thru the PC as a middle-man.
 
Otherwise the AIMP player is free. It's the one I use and supports any installed audio driver, upsampling with bit / sample rates, all popular audio codecs, and of course playlists, etc.
 
On the topic of upsampling, I wonder who will be the first to try a SACD or DSD files with an Elise system.
 
PS guys on my new Elise: It really still sounds great and I honestly wouldn't fault it at all as-is without burn in. It's just that having another burned in one caused me to realise the improvement it really brings about! 
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 And tomorrow I will return the older Elise.
 
Jul 12, 2016 at 1:21 AM Post #129 of 11,833
decentlevi said:
   
Awesomeness, glad you're enjoying the upsampling effect. A note though, I also have Audacity and upon looking at it, you need to change two settings; not only the sample rate / sample format under the "quality" tab, but also select the driver that outputs directly to your DAC under the "devces" tab. Otherwise choosing "Microsoft sound mapper" or anything related to your internal soundcard system will still be pre-processed thru the PC as a middle-man.
 
Otherwise the AIMP player is free. It's the one I use and supports any installed audio driver, upsampling with bit / sample rates, all popular audio codecs, and of course playlists, etc.
 
On the topic of upsampling, I wonder who will be the first to try a SACD or DSD files with an Elise system.
 
PS guys on my new Elise: It really still sounds great and I honestly wouldn't fault it at all as-is without burn in. It's just that having another burned in one caused me to realise the improvement it really brings about! 
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 And tomorrow I will return the older Elise.
Click to expand...


Looks like FA is really into customer service, they shipped you a new one before you even had to ship the old one back.  Looks like a great company to deal with.
 
Jul 12, 2016 at 1:51 AM Post #130 of 11,833
I'm glad for you @DecentLevi .  Feliks Audio don't just sell you a tube amp. They want their customers to be happy and they are proud of their Elise. Lukasz once told me that they want their customers to enjoy what they have build and I believe every word he said to me. A very genuine man, who has always answered my email with promptness and care.
 
Now those 'tubes' did sound VERY bright.
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 The big fat one in my picture.
 
@Lord Raven has been listening with DSD files. I heard it on his Geek DAC when he came to visit me. There is a noticeable spite in SQ.
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@mordy I'm hearing what you are hearing with the EL3N and 7236. It's rocking my boat here literally.  
 
Jul 12, 2016 at 7:38 AM Post #134 of 11,833
Okay,
 
Couldn't resist posting these pictures of some nice sounding tubes in lovely Elise. She sounds like soft velvet with the CV181/6A6 and ECC88 Mullard/6A6.
 
The K-R 6A6 must be one the most beautiful looking tubes ever made. Most suitable to compliment Elise. 
 
 

 
 
 

 
Jul 12, 2016 at 7:51 AM Post #135 of 11,833
Very matching colour black and white. I have no idea those 6A6 will work as power tubes. That combo sounds ok?

I have often wanted to try those cv181.
 
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