[pctazhp]

  I reckon Johnny Be Good is better 

 
You asked for it 

 

 

[supersonic395]

@supersonic395
 buying Elise can be quite an expensive initial expense. You can go with the stock tubes or forgo them and order these instead:-

2 x Philips EL3N from
http://www.acoustic-dimension.com at 20 euro each plus shipping.
Just email them the quantity and Peter will get back to you.

2 x EL3N to 6SN7 adaptors from 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1pc-Gold-plated-EL3N-TO-6SN7-Tube-adapter-For-Elise-by-Feliks-Audio-/201486463405?hash=item2ee98771ad:g:7PgAAOSw3KFWcjQm

2 x Mullard 6080 from 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/6080-CV2984-MULLARD-NOS-BOXED-VALVE-TUBE-/311154206725?hash=item48723c6805:g:7rkAAOSwF1dUUiu7

I would recommend this combo. It's not overly expensive and has a clear, sweet tone with impactful bass and an engaging midrange. The choice is yours.

This is how it looks:-  More importantly killer sound. 

Many thanks for this, I've saved these and will likely order them once I've spent at least a little time with the stock tubes

 

[supersonic395]

Btw do I need those adapters or can I plug the Philips EL3N straight into the Elise? Are the EL3Ns driver or power tubes? Apologies if I sound stupid but I'm relatively new to tube rolling

 

[UntilThen]

Btw do I need those adapters or can I plug the Philips EL3N straight into the Elise? Are the EL3Ns driver or power tubes? Apologies if I sound stupid but I'm relatively new to tube rolling

EL3N tubes will need those adapters. You'll be using them as drivers in the front like you see in the picture.
 
Feel free to ask any questions SS.

 

[hpamdr]

Btw do I need those adapters or can I plug the Philips EL3N straight into the Elise? Are the EL3Ns driver or power tubes? Apologies if I sound stupid but I'm relatively new to tube rolling

You do not need UT adapter ! 
 
But you need some adapter to plug it into the ELise. Tube base is P8A and Elise have Octal socket.
 
EL3N are defined as Vacuum Pentode  Power/Output but can be "strapped" into a single triode and used into Elise as a driver or a power tube.
http://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_el3n.html
 
Usage info on a full EL3N SE amplifier https://www.dhtrob.com/impressies/el3n_se_sakuma.php
 
----- Technical stuff 1/2 ----
 
 
If you are confident with solder iron you can make your adapter yourself !
 
See a possible scheme on next drawing.
 
It is the most easy adapter to build if you have a plain strong copper wire .8 to 1mm. Even without wire insulation if you use pin 2 instead of pin 5....
 

 
-- Technical Stuff 2/2 --
 
The principle http://www.kaponk.com/~yanyong/ETF06TS.pdf
Once you get the principle detailed on the previous pdf file and understand what is a dual triode and know that Elise use triode in //. you can also make dual adapter.

 

[supersonic395]

EL3N tubes will need those adapters. You'll be using them as drivers in the front like you see in the picture.

Feel free to ask any questions SS.

You do not need UT adapter ! 

But you need some adapter to plug it into the ELise. Tube base is P8A and Elise have Octal socket.

 
EL3N are defined as Vacuum Pentode  Power/Output but can be "strapped" into a single triode and used into Elise as a driver or a power tube.
http://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_el3n.html

Usage info on a full EL3N SE amplifier https://www.dhtrob.com/impressies/el3n_se_sakuma.php

----- Technical stuff 1/2 ----


If you are confident with solder iron you can make your adapter yourself !

See a possible scheme on next drawing.

It is the most easy adapter to build if you have a plain strong copper wire .8 to 1mm. Even without wire insulation if you use pin 2 instead of pin 5....




-- Technical Stuff 2/2 --

The principle http://www.kaponk.com/~yanyong/ETF06TS.pdf
Once you get the principle detailed on the previous pdf file and understand what is a dual triode and know that Elise use triode in //. you can also make dual adapter.

Thank you to you both for your great answers

Really looking forward to the Elise

 

[hypnos1]

Hi guys,

First post here in this thread. Went nuts the other day and ordered an Elise and put the Bottlehead on the market.

I have read many pages of conversations and experiences for a rather long period of time. This lead me to my decision to make change.

How long so you reckon it will take for Feliks and his crew to get one shipped my way, 4-6 weeks? (sent an email that has not been replied)

Have a very good night now

Regards Emil

 
Hi oshipao...and WELCOME.
 
I think everyone here would say you'd be nuts not to go for the Elise, lol!...by all accounts she outperfoms the BH Crack by a good margin - especially with our latest tubes in place...(but let's not get ahead of ourselves here...just yet, anyway!

). Congrats by the way, if you've managed to read half this and the original threads!!
 
As others have intimated, it looks like the old 4 to 6 weeks is now more 8 to 10 I'm afraid - Easter hols and such, I suspect...(plus only the more experienced guys at Feliks-Audio are allowed anywhere near Elise, according to Lukasz...and there's no reason to doubt him IMHO!). But everyone will tell you she is well worth the wait...

...
 

  Paid exactly 8 weeks ago today (Feb 10th) and I have not heard a peep yet. Invoice 43.

 
Looks like the Easter hols have held you up a bit too, nykobing...but hopefully you won't have too much longer to wait ( a good few seem to hear little, then WHAM!...a wonderful surprise!!

).
 

Btw do I need those adapters or can I plug the Philips EL3N straight into the Elise? Are the EL3Ns driver or power tubes? Apologies if I sound stupid but I'm relatively new to tube rolling

 
Hi s395.
 
The EL3N isn't plug 'n play I'm afraid - it needs either the adapter @UntilThen mentioned, or you must adapt it yourself, as hpamdr has shown...(however, if you have never done such work before, I myself would think twice before tackling this job - hpamdr (and I!) have done a fair bit of this kind of thing and so know (roughly!) what to look out for...there are a few pitfalls just waiting for the unwary IMHO. Just my 10 cents' worth, lol...
 
hpamdr's - and UT's - reference to the 'Sakuma style' article is extremely interesting - said article was great encouragement for me to go ahead and experiment with UT's find, and I thank the Gods Elise took her in with gusto LOL!
 
Your question - "is it driver or power tube" isn't at all stupid, mon ami - "pre", "input", "driver" and "power" are in fact sometimes used in slightly different contexts. In the aforementioned article, the use of the EL3N is NOT as the FINAL "power output" -  that is handled by a power (output) transformer. But in our Elise, which is an 'OTL' (ie Output Transformer 'LESS') amp, what we term the "power" tubes are indeed doing the job of the said transformer. And so strictly, I suppose they should always be called "power output" tubes, but it is generally accepted to just call them "powers"....hope I haven't confused you!
This may well explain why some do not find using just 2 as powers is very successful, but 4 - as per UT - extremely so...
 
Another point re. the EL3N - its base and contacts are totally different to the Octals used in the amp, and can be a very tight fit into the adapter at first...UT will be only too happy to advise you on such matters as and when the time comes...if necessary...CHEERS!.. and...GOOD LUCK...

 

[gilbertasm]

   
2 x Mullard 6080 from 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/6080-CV2984-MULLARD-NOS-BOXED-VALVE-TUBE-/311154206725?hash=item48723c6805:g:7rkAAOSwF1dUUiu7
 
I would recommend this combo. It's not overly expensive and has a clear, sweet tone with impactful bass and an engaging midrange. The choice is yours.
   

 
Hm, do you know what is the difference between these Mullard tubes and the other ones (in blue box) available from the same seller:
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/6080-MULLARD-NOS-BOXED-VALVE-TUBE/311478749131?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851
 
I found report by someone from head-fi that they are not quite happy with that white box tube:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/410326/for-6as7g-tube-rollers-here/2025#post_11676756
http://www.head-fi.org/t/410326/for-6as7g-tube-rollers-here/2040#post_11680812
http://www.head-fi.org/t/410326/for-6as7g-tube-rollers-here/2055#post_11681413
 
In white box Mulards seller claims that they are from 1975, while there are no dates provided in blue box Mullards, but I think you can decode date from serial once you get them
 
So the question is which one to get - white box or blue box, as the price is the same and they come from the same seller.

 

[Oskari]

Hm, do you know what is the difference between these Mullard tubes and the other ones (in blue box) available from the same seller:

The white-boxed CV tubes were packaged for the UK government.

 

[mordy]

Hi gilbertasm,
 
Some time back I bought a pair of Mullard 6080 tubes from Langrex for roughly half the price of the ones you mentioned. The reason they were lower priced was that the metal band around  the base had an almost invisible crack in it - nothing that would effect the sound or function of the tube.
 
You may want to email them and ask if they have any left if you are interested -  mine were marked AJ1   R6E5.

 

[UntilThen]

Hello Gilbert, both @Oskari and @mordy have pretty much answer your question. I would imagine the blue box to be packaged for the Queen. 

 
Ok that's a joke but I think they should be similar quality ... I wouldn't know for sure as I haven't tried them. I bought mine off someone downuder and it looks like the white box version. By all means, write to James of Langrex. As mordy says, you might be able to pick up some cheap ones with very minor defect which doesn't affect the sound quality.
 
Also, I suggested Mullard 6080 because it's still quite reasonable in price and has a bright and lively sound but still with the warm and lushness. Good midrange and solid bass. Langrex also have the premium GEC 6080. Again write to them and enquire, if you're willing to pay more.
 
I like the coke bottle shaped power tubes more. Such as the Chatham 6AS7G and Tung Sol 5998. There's the premium GEC 6AS7G. There's more lushness and reverb... reverb with just the right touch. Not talking echo here.

 You'll find a good write up from Nick Tam in the Bottlehead Crack forum (back in 2012) on the various popular power tubes and Nick's assessment of the tubes are pretty spot on. Here's the link... 
 
http://the-key.enix.org/~krystal/review-tube-bottlehead.html

 

[Audict123]

Work and social life get in the way of listening to my brand new Elise, but here are some first impressions. Especially for UT, I included some superlatives.
 
Combinations I tried that so far:
- Fivre 6N7G 'horned' (both bought used) with Chatham 6520. Beautiful!

Unfortunately, one of the Fivres developed a problem (heater developed an 'on / off' problem - end of life?)
- C3Gs with 5998 or Chatham 6AS7G. My vote goes to the combination with 5998. It's warmer, balance high/low is better. Awesome...

- Chatham 6520 with EL3N. A bit dark perhaps but the quality of what is there is the more obvious. Very organic and spatial sound. Wow... 

- Chatham 6520 with Fivre 6N7GT. Some distortion (like with the 6N7G (see below) but much milder) in the first 5 mins but that passes quickly and completely. After that: Love it!

- 5998 with Visseaux 6N7G. Fantastic!

These Visseaux only work with the 5998. Combined with 6520 or 6AS7G there is heavy distortion at all normal volumes that remains even after 20 mins. Very strange is the fact that a pair of well used (for the looks of them) 6N7G DO work with all powers without that distortion. Unfortunately, one of these used tubes does make some funny noises now and then, but not the consistent distortion I get with the new Visseaux. 
 
I won't give a ranking between the various tubes, it's way too early for that (perhaps 10 hours of play so far!) I am most impressed with the mids and highs which are very detailed yet 'stressless'. The lows could be crunchier but do sound very natural. I have more tubes to test but already I rolled way too much in too little time.... I will slow down and give Elise time to burn in.
 
All tests done with HD650 (sometimes HD600). Source: streaming flac via a Squeezeplay Touch equivalent (a so called O2 Joggler) feeding an Audio GD DI-V3 usb interface into a Xindac Dac5 with various mods (discrete opamps and ps clock from Audio Gd),

 

[UntilThen]

Audict, I'm not surprised you're very happy with those combinations. I've tried and love all of them. I do not have the Five 6N7GT.
 
Fortunately, all my tubes behave and have no noise or hum. 
 
Glad you're able to get hold of the Chatham 6520. They are supposed to be the premium Chatham 6AS7G.
 
With the drivers and power tubes that you have, you're pretty much set for tubes. You've most of the cream. Now to sit back and enjoy the music. Soon you'll get to know the tone of each and every tube so well you can tell which tubes are in use, even when blind folded. They do sound distinctly different, some more subtle. 

 

 

[hpamdr]

  All tests done with HD650 (sometimes HD600). Source: streaming flac via a Squeezeplay Touch equivalent (a so called O2 Joggler) feeding an Audio GD DI-V3 usb interface into a Xindac Dac5 with various mods (discrete opamps and ps clock from Audio Gd),

Hi A..e,
 
Do you use tube or ss output with the Xindac if it is tube did you upgraded to E88CC ?
Even if it is a very nice DAC, IMHO Elise deserve a more precise device to completely send you to the moon...

 

 

[UntilThen]

Audict any thoughts so far of how Elise stacks up with your previous Darkvoice 332 ?
 
Close cousins? Sworn enemies ?