Feliks Audio ENVY

[Funklefi]

For my part it's not really knowing how easy they break (or the internals break) with the gentle wiggle dance, but changed them a few times and yea, starting to get the hang of it. Tubes are expensive and some pretty rare, so hate swapping them atm, but still want to haha

 

[Ike1985]

Just wanted to report that the new PSVane tubes that Feliks shipped me free of charge completely fixed the rolling static I was getting from one of the old PSVane driver tubes that came with my 25th AE. Truly spectacular customer service, now I just have a slight tube hum (which is to be expected and perfectly normal) with my APX SE and now rolling static in one ear.

 

[Exekuhtor]

Just wanted to report that the new PSVane tubes that Feliks shipped me free of charge completely fixed the rolling static I was getting from one of the old PSVane driver tubes that came with my 25th AE. Truly spectacular customer service, now I just have a slight tube hum (which is to be expected and perfectly normal) with my APX SE and now rolling static in one ear.

Nice, but you really want some better tubes than the standard PSVanes, especially the APX benefits a lot from some warmth. My goto recommendation for cheap but very good tubes are the Electro Harmonix Gold. They're new production, so they're easy to get.

 

[Ike1985]

Nice, but you really want some better tubes than the standard PSVanes, especially the APX benefits a lot from some warmth. My goto recommendation for cheap but very good tubes are the Electro Harmonix Gold. They're new production, so they're easy to get.

I've got NOS Brimar CV1988's OTW and I've got the TM300B's right next to me here which I'm going to put in a few minutes once the unit cools back down. MPD-8 + MPS-X should be here soon then my system will be complete and I can focus on the Magna, Immanis, Susvara/Unveiled demos to see which is best among them while the Shunyata Everest provides clean power. It's not acceptable to test such headphones with the Hugo2 --> Envy. The Warwick Arperio is also intersting but unfortunately you need the whole setup and I'm not doing that, I dont think you can run those electrostatics off the Envy.

 

[Exekuhtor]

It's not acceptable to test such headphones with the Hugo2 --> Envy.

Maybe. Maybe not. You need extremely high resolving headphones (which the Unveiled is) to notice DAC differences more, especially if they're already good.

The Warwick Arperio is also intersting but unfortunately you need the whole setup and I'm not doing that, I dont think you can run those electrostatics off the Envy

That one left me cold, haven't heard the new GSE variant. I don't think you need to worry too much about the Aperio or Shangri-La Senior when you already own an Immanis, maybe if the sound signature of the Immanis doesn't suit you, but in terms of technicalities there won't be anything that is more than a few percent above it. Sadly for all of those headphones you either need an energizer (I guess a converter box can also do the trick) or it's a whole system for the price of a whole system.

 

[Ike1985]

Maybe. Maybe not. You need extremely high resolving headphones (which the Unveiled is) to notice DAC differences more, especially if they're already good.

That one left me cold, haven't heard the new GSE variant. I don't think you need to worry too much about the Aperio or Shangri-La Senior when you already own an Immanis, maybe if the sound signature of the Immanis doesn't suit you, but in terms of technicalities there won't be anything that is more than a few percent above them. Sadly for all of those headphones you either need an energizer (I guess a converter box can also do the trick) or it's a whole system for the price of a whole system.

That true, I really appreciate that RAAL is doing demos for people (mailing them out), it's a bit of a wait but all manufacturers should do this. Not everyone can get to shows.

 

[Ike1985]

Can the quality of the text on the tube be an indication of an actual NOS tube vs a used tube, for example, see these two listings, one has perfect text the other looks burned off/faded:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2671277253...jhX820tLfISxfEix49Ot8FiA==|tkp:Bk9SR8jwoqiRZQ

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3141864718...R+/oR4uJsfH5XfI1uhGvs0XbE=|tkp:Bk9SR9TwoqiRZQ

Also the TM300B is a huge upgrade over the ER300B I was using, much more technical cleaner sound without any apparent downsides. The pairing with APX SE is much better now than with the ER300B. Day and night diff, APX SE doesn't like ER300B.

 

[turbofeet]

Can the quality of the text on the tube be an indication of an actual NOS tube vs a used tube, for example, see these two listings, one has perfect text the other looks burned off/faded:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2671277253...jhX820tLfISxfEix49Ot8FiA==|tkp:Bk9SR8jwoqiRZQ

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3141864718...R+/oR4uJsfH5XfI1uhGvs0XbE=|tkp:Bk9SR9TwoqiRZQ

It depends how they've been stored I think.

You can be sure the Langrex ones look pretty much as the picture but my that price is quite excessive "holy grail" or not

Please let us know what you think of the TMs.

 

[CharlyBrown]

I've got NOS Brimar CV1988's OTW and I've got the TM300B's right next to me here which I'm going to put in a few minutes once the unit cools back down. MPD-8 + MPS-X should be here soon then my system will be complete and I can focus on the Magna, Immanis, Susvara/Unveiled demos to see which is best among them while the Shunyata Everest provides clean power. It's not acceptable to test such headphones with the Hugo2 --> Envy. The Warwick Arperio is also intersting but unfortunately you need the whole setup and I'm not doing that, I dont think you can run those electrostatics off the Envy.

Very nice, congrats. How did you get the TMs so fast?

 

[ecva]

Hello all, I recently got a Susvara and I love it to bits, definitely at least a couple steps better than my HD800S. I am currently running it off my Vio V550 and while I am pretty happy with how it pairs, upgrade itch is slowly creeping in as I want to take the Susvaras to the next step. I have been reading the comparisons between the other amps I had in mind (bakoon, enleum, etc) and the Envy and to be honest I just think the Envy wins by looks alone . Luckily, we have a local dealer here and they have the walnut performance edition of Envy at around $6.8k. While this may be a good price, it is still expensive. I guess my question is for the owners, did Envy stop your upgrade itch at least for the foreseeable future? And do you treat this as your end all amp? Thanks for the insights in advance.

 

[wanderer256]

...did Envy stop your upgrade itch at least for the foreseeable future? And do you treat this as your end all amp? Thanks for the insights in advance.

The Envy may stop the amplifier upgrade itch, but it will definitely start the new one - the tube upgrade itch

 

[dguitarnut]

The problem with tube amps is the cost of tube rolling and with the Envy it can be substantial. If you can be content with the stock tubes you are safe. I love tube amps and every time I have acquired one I feel the need to roll and many times I can’t tell a big difference other than in my bank account……..but they are Nirvana for me.
The Envy performance was in my sights but a Woo Wa23 came available before I found one and have no regrets. I never have had a 300B tube amp but enjoyed several others.

 

[jlbrach]

the envy without the upgraded tubes is good but doesnt come close to reaching potential

 

[DeeT79]

When I got the Envy it ended the amp upgrade itch, but it started the tube rolling itch. If you purchase the Envy, stick with the stock tubes for a while then start rolling tubes. Looks like you are getting a great price on the PE.

 

[jlbrach]

I had exactly the same experience,the amp is as good as I have heard without spending 20k but the tube rolling becomes and obsession lol and very expensive