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

[aqsw]

My T1s were delivered today. I was pissed because I did not think I should pay $80.00 cdn on a set of $450 us used headphones,
Anyways , my wife hsd already given the credit card number.

Come home, open the box and WOW. The original packaging, and not a crease in the box. The aluminum box is immacukate. Open and I see these perfect
T1S. They look like they have never been worn. I don't care about the duty anymore!

I'm very happy with the asthetics. Now, to have some fun. I will be back tomorrow.

 

[aqsw]

Ether C versus T1 coming in a couple days.

 

[mordy]

Hi,
 
I am usually very skeptical about the value of expensive interconnects and cords, but when I saw the A/C power cable that CF recommended at a very reasonable price, I decided to try it:
 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0069FLXLU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 

 
Well, the other day, as I previously posted, suddenly my system sounded really great. After giving it some thought I came to conclusion that maybe it has to do with power cable.
 
Today I did an A/B with the standard A/C power cord and this new one. There is no doubt in my mind that this power cord contributes to more slam and depth in the bass and more impact in the treble. Color me impressed....
 
Not bad for $11.84 with free shipping. This cable is more than twice as thick as the standard one, and the plugs are very sturdy.
 
Or you could try this cord at 50% off:
 
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PGAC9S2&opt=3652&gclid=Cj0KEQiAot_FBRCqt8jVsoDKoZABEiQAqFL76CdW4kgamAhWOh4jZZNoRDD-6HGGEXUIebHpHVTl_O8aAiAS8P8HAQ
 

It is only $149,99
 
I am happy with mine for $11.84

 

[aqsw]

I totally believe in power cords, but there is a limit. I buy mine from a guy and he charges me $60.00. They are a very good quality. Sometimes too heavy for some units. I believe it's a great improvement over standsrd crap.

 

[pctazhp]

   
Did you include my legendary hamster joke? 
 
I think you should include @hypnos1 impressions of the EL11 / EL12. I can't remember where it is too. H1, can you provide the link - including of the photo? Thanks.
 
... oh and some of @HOWIE13 's and yours too on the EL's ....  best to pick the ones that are working. Not the humming bird ones. 

Thanks for your help. I understand H1 will be getting something to me this weekend.
 
I'm mainly impressed you were able to work a hamster and a hummingbird into the same post above. I'll bet you haven't heard this:
 

 

[pctazhp]

None of my EL12/11 combos hum. In fact, I can't think of any of my tubes that hum, murmur or even burp. But like the good doctor, I do talk to my tubes and many talk back to me. In fact, they frequently laugh at me, make fun of me and even mock me. Thus my song is:
 
 

 

[DecentLevi]

GUYS I JUST CAN'T HOLD THIS OFF FOR ONE SECOND LONGER....
 
BEHOLD THE Tung Sol 5998 (powers) + EL12 Spez drivers
 
This combo is tantalizing and intoxicating! Everything completely opens up, giving an edge in some ways even to my top 'EL13' combo.
It has magic synergy and is leaving me with no desire for any other tubes. A must try relic of a setup...
 
NOTE: This combo is supposed to exceed the current draw by 0.6 AH

 

[DecentLevi]

The above were my initial impressions of the TS 5998 + EL12 Spez combo. Now that I've had the chance to compare it to the EL11 + EL12 Spez (Telefunken) combo...
This pairing is more weighty/dark and velvety with surreal sense of 'presence', while the EL11 + EL12 Spz combo is more analytical and dynamic.
 
I'd recommend the above posted combo only for those who already have the TS 5998 or comparable domino-plate power tubes, given their exorbitant cost.
(see above)

 

[DecentLevi]

 
(...)
 
Notice how the brown cable on the left tube is moved slightly. Once I attached the EL11, my previous configuration started buzzing. Moving the left cable fixed things.

 
Thanks to Angpsi and Howie13, I am pleased to announce that I have completely fixed the aahhuuummm issue of my EL12 Spez tubes, as both powers and drivers! Inspired by the above, I first gave it a go with just one side wrapped in foil. This way, the opposite side would have lower hum level, until I twirled the anode wire around the tube and that's when it all started disappearing for good - and at least for a few seconds at a time, until I completed both sides. At this point the hum would come & go, and interestingly I noticed the headphone cable connected to the Elise plays a major role in this: when it was on my head the hum was gone, resuming again when I walked a few feet away from the unit - apparently my body was acting as a sort of indirect grounding. Then I noticed when placing the headphone cable into my 'snake pit' of wires it would come back, and the more isolated I would get the headphone cable, the quieter things became.
 
Finally I went full-on geek

 akin to the above photo, with medium gauge heavily isolated electrical outlet wires connected to each of the foil covers of the anode wires. Touching the two together via the wire on the tin foil made it worse, so I settled on the below configuration. Notice both anode wires are covered in foil AND twisted around the tube - of which every time I noticed this reduced the 'antenna effect'. Also remember it's helpful to keep your headphone cable away from too many sources of interference.
 

 
This was able to completely eliminate my hum for the EL12 Spez, and mine may have been louder than anybody else's - loud enough so I could actually feel my headphones blaring the hum at all volume levels out of the Elise - now completely silent with this and the headphone cable isolation.
 
Well done fellow pioneers - and the sound... let's just say I didn't get a good listen yesterday when having to pinch the wire with both hands for a few seconds at a time before setting this up as is today - the only word I can seem to surmise as of yet is the sound is 'tremendous' - tremendously everything that is superb in a sound.
My favorite now is EL12 Spez + Valvo EL11.

 

[DecentLevi]

PS- I take back the assertion yesterday of something not seeming right with the EL12 Spez as powers (as so it seems anyway), because with this solution I have world class sound and the channel imbalance that several of my 'EL13' setups gave me is also finally gone!
 
What I should have said was that something was wrong with the chosen cable type of the anode wire on this adapter.

 

[HOWIE13]

  Since I am thinking of getting the EL12 Spez tubes, did anyone ask Mrs Xu Ling if she can insulate the anode wires in the adapters to prevent them from picking up hum?
 
IMHO she is in the best position in implementing this with her knowledge and expertise.

I don't know mordy but it would be a very good idea, given how good they can sound.
 
Thinking generally, I appreciate that some of the tubes we find very good for Elise will almost certainly not all be suitable for Euforia, but I've been listening just now to EL12spez powers with EL11 drivers, all RFT's, and I can't imagine how this combination of sweet clarity and huge sound-stage wouldn't suit Euforia too. Would probably sound even better, hard though that is to imagine.
 
I've also been trying to determine what exactly is the difference in sound between the different  manufacturers and shapes of the EL12/EL12N type of tubes and I'm finding it very difficult.
 
For a few days I thought Telefunken and Valvo were a bit warmer than RFT/RWN tubes, today I'm not so sure.
 
Same with the coke bottle ST and straight N's. I originally thought, like most, that the N's were a bit brighter, but, again, now I'm not so sure. Sometimes I think the N's sound warmer.
I'm wondering if it depends on the accompanying driver/ power tubes as well. 
 
So far, I think spez are a little warmer again than the other two, but that will probably change too. 
 
Maybe best not to bother too much about all these differences, they are not big anyway. I'll just enjoy the music as they all sound so good. 

 

 

[HOWIE13]

  The above were my initial impressions of the TS 5998 + EL12 Spez combo. Now that I've had the chance to compare it to the EL11 + EL12 Spez (Telefunken) combo...
This pairing is more weighty/dark and velvety with surreal sense of 'presence', while the EL11 + EL12 Spz combo is more analytical and dynamic. I'd recommend the above posted combo only for those who already have the TS 5998 or comparable domino-plate power tubes, given their exorbitant cost.

 
Just as well as the 5998/EL12spez combo exceeds 6.8A.
 
Very glad you have finally managed to solve the wire hum/buzz and you are able to appreciate at last the fine sound of the spez.

 

 

[UntilThen]

 
I am usually very skeptical about the value of expensive interconnects and cords, but when I saw the A/C power cable that CF recommended at a very reasonable price, I decided to try it:
 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0069FLXLU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 

 
I got this made in china cable at an el cheapo price. 

  Ordered a while ago but still making it's way here.
 
US$22.74
 
100% New & High Quality
Length: 1.5M 5ft
Material : 4N OFC 99.997% Oxygen Free Copper 3 Cores
Cable overall diameter 10mm
Single core diameter: 2.5mm *3
Envelope material : PVC
Plug Material: Red Copper
Flame-dumb: V0 level of fire prevention materials.
Max Input : < 5500W
Specifications: 250V, 15A
Plugs: AU 3 Pin mains plug to IEC Plug (AU)
 

 

[UntilThen]

  GUYS I JUST CAN'T HOLD THIS OFF FOR ONE SECOND LONGER....
 
BEHOLD THE Tung Sol 5998 (powers) + EL12 Spez drivers
 
This combo is tantalizing and intoxicating! Everything completely opens up, giving an edge in some ways even to my top 'EL13' combo.
It has magic synergy and is leaving me with no desire for any other tubes. A must try relic of a setup...

 
As Howie has pointed out, EL12 Spez drivers and Tung Sol 5998 powers is 7.4a total. 
 
NOT ONLY CAN'T YOU HOLD OFF FOR ONE SECOND LONGER... ELISE COULDN'T EITHER. YOU ARE GONNA BLOW HER UP ONE DAY.
 
And please stick to the convention of stating the drivers first, followed by powers.

 

[UntilThen]

 
Why am I even intently listening with no music playing? If I carry on doing this all evening I'll deserve to be carted off to the mad house.

 
 

Maybe best not to bother too much about all these differences, they are not big anyway. I'll just enjoy the music as they all sound so good. 

 

 
Hahaha Howie, you should just relax and enjoy the EL tubes. They are quite a firebrand and unlike any tubes I've heard before. It's hard to forget these tubes once you have heard them. It's surreal. 
 
EL11, EL12 and EL12N has some similarities and you're right about EL12N being less bright after lots of hours.