[Johnnysound]

And the latest pic of my 'Bringer of Joy' : Euforia plus 2x (smoked glass) ST CV1052s driving similar powers...magical!

From old (but often well-recorded) Peter, Paul and Mary to Andreas Vollenweider's (superbly recorded) New Age 'Caverna Magica' (via Adrian Boult/LPO's 'Planets Suite', remastered in 96kHz/24bit - tremendous!), this setup can reproduce anything with absolute aplomb...just breathtaking lol...CHEERS!...CJ

Well done H1 ! And BTW your amp looks gorgeous with the quartet of ST black bottles...you got the last tubes available on earth it seems, I found only a few clear ones. I ended ordering some “straight” Mullards CV1052, (that also look great, ha ha) and are quite cheap...recently, I was playing with 12AX7s and 12AT7s in my int. Amp, and felt that triple mica tubes (military versions) are consistently better (quieter) than standard ones. Of course you can not apply this as a general rule for other types, but anyway I decided to try the “straight” Mullards triple mica vs. the ST double mica.

I also found that virtually all the CV1052 Mullards currently on sale (in ebay UK) are from only two series: M02-B6I2 and M02-B9I2, that means made in Blackburn factory in 1966 and 1969, respectively. A quite interesting discovery was that this was a dedicated “telecom” tube, used in critical relays that had to work 24/7. This explains the need for an amazingly low power consuming tube. And I suspect that to obtain the required stability , precision, amplification level and reliability with so little power on hand (a super efficient tube) can only be achieved with an absolutely top notch design and internals, probably with some exotic metals there, who knows. Anyway, this one is without a doubt the “British C3G”, both are high spec telecom pentodes...and both were “discovered” by H1, our telecom specialist (LOL)

The Marconis VT52 also look impressive, and we’ll see how the three (or four) variants perform against each other...

 

[SnapperMusicFan]

Hi All,
Loving this little combo, a pair of 6h8c’s up front and a pair of Valvo EL11’s in as powers, vinyl sounds fab through these and out through the LS50’s or the T1 Gen 2’s... mmmmm sweet

 

[hypnos1]

Well done H1 ! And BTW your amp looks gorgeous with the quartet of ST black bottles...you got the last tubes available on earth it seems, I found only a few clear ones. I ended ordering some “straight” Mullards CV1052, (that also look great, ha ha) and are quite cheap...recently, I was playing with 12AX7s and 12AT7s in my int. Amp, and felt that triple mica tubes (military versions) are consistently better (quieter) than standard ones. Of course you can not apply this as a general rule for other types, but anyway I decided to try the “straight” Mullards triple mica vs. the ST double mica.

I also found that virtually all the CV1052 Mullards currently on sale (in ebay UK) are from only two series: M02-B6I2 and M02-B9I2, that means made in Blackburn factory in 1966 and 1969, respectively. A quite interesting discovery was that this was a dedicated “telecom” tube, used in critical relays that had to work 24/7. This explains the need for an amazingly low power consuming tube. And I suspect that to obtain the required stability , precision, amplification level and reliability with so little power on hand (a super efficient tube) can only be achieved with an absolutely top notch design and internals, probably with some exotic metals there, who knows. Anyway, this one is without a doubt the “British C3G”, both are high spec telecom pentodes...and both were “discovered” by H1, our telecom specialist (LOL)

The Marconis VT52 also look impressive, and we’ll see how the three (or four) variants perform against each other. I would even suggest a kind of systematic approach, say, using the CV1052 as drivers with several of the well known high performance powers in the Euforia: EL12 Spez., EL12N (I am currently in love with these terrific tubes, made by RFT east Germany, at first so so, but after 30 hours burn in the sound opened up beautifully, with air, refinement, and at the same time impact and definition second to none) 6H13 (my equivalent 6N5P Svetlana “winged C” late fifties sounds splendid), some nice 6AS7Gs, Mullard 6080, 5998s, and so on...

Thanks for your kind words J...I really do believe these very cheap(ish!) tubes are the best find yet - regardless of price! I may well have been lucky in my acquisition of the smoked glass, military ST CV1052s...there don't indeed seem to be many around at the moment lol...(I do also like aesthetics to be a factor...if at all possible! ).

And I'm sure you're right concerning their need to be robust tubes, because of their purpose - military CV1052/VT52, and GPO CV1052...there probably is some very special metal inside!! . And could well corroborate @connieflyer 's and @Scutey 's findings re. the standardisation of performance amongst the different types available. (I only wish UP-OCC wire was about in those days...but then, every penny was still costed! And I also wish holes weren't put in the metal top caps used in some tubes - this allows corrosion of the wire inside to take place, and hence to possibly break at its connection with the metal cap. Another good reason to glue down that cap before using such tubes lol! . Of course, the makers never intended these tubes to be used so many years later!! This corrosion also happens with the wires going down into the base, which is why I gain access to them when adapting my own tubes - to clean up said wires before attaching the new ones...direct metal to metal, then 4% silver soldered...I know... picky, picky!! ).

Your mention of systematic testing of different tubes sounds great, but in practice, this is very difficult to achieve, alas - the time involved is rather prohibitive! Or, should I say, if it is done properly! As I've said on several occasions before, one needs to live with a tube for quite a long while before getting a true and accurate view...anything less gives results that are not really viable or worthy, as far as I'm concerned. And then you have the problem of audio memory being notoriously short lol!
This is why I never bother going back, once I'm really happy with a tube. As each new one comes along, it must surpass my previous 'best' by a reasonable margin - and in a good many areas. I want a tube that will perform well with as many genres as possible - I personally won't keep swapping to 'suit'. And thus I always stay with this new-found 'best'...presuming it doesn't develop an annoying trait later on!! But as usual, YMMV!

GOOD LUCK with your own testing however, J...looking forward to your eventual impressions of the CV1052/VT52/EL32 also....CJ

 

[hypnos1]

Don't know what's going on with these postings...grrrr...will try again!

Brief(?!!) update on my offer for 10 Marconi VT52 - after the counter offer (finally!), I'm afraid I shall be declining on grounds of principle...to come back with a reduction of just 25 pence! is unbelievable. I have never had such an insult on ebay (.co.uk). I thought an offer of £36 against £42 (which is still very good, mind you) was a fair one, but...!!!

Ah well, don't really need any more anyway lol...good luck to 'em is all I can say...

ps. Listening now to music soundtrack from 'Gladiator', and words fail me...@Oskari would be proud! ...(er, just a couple - it has never sounded this good, especially being able to turn up the volume!..sorry O...).

 

[connieflyer]

Sorry about your eBay experience h, but some sellers really like to push it to the last penny thinking that if you need 10 or what 10 you'll pay the extra. I guess he came up a little short this time! Good for you. These tubes just never cease to amaze me period with really good high def recordings the amount of information that is available that comes through is the best that I have seen so far. Anybody want to buy my gec 6as7 and gec 6080's? Good price low usage and I won't be using them much anymore I am a happy camper. Have a good day people, moorhouse work for me

 

[Scutey]

Don't know what's going on with these postings...grrrr...will try again!

Brief(?!!) update on my offer for 10 Marconi VT52 - after the counter offer (finally!), I'm afraid I shall be declining on grounds of principle...to come back with a reduction of just 25 pence! is unbelievable. I have never had such an insult on ebay (.co.uk). I thought an offer of £36 against £42 (which is still very good, mind you) was a fair one, but...!!!

Ah well, don't really need any more anyway lol...good luck to 'em is all I can say...

ps. Listening now to music soundtrack from 'Gladiator', and words fail me...@Oskari would be proud! ...(er, just a couple - it has never sounded this good, especially being able to turn up the volume!..sorry O...).

That is insulting h, what on earth is the point of 25p reduction!.Also I've noticed a seller I bought 4 from at £5 each is has now upped the price of single tubes to £7.50, a 50% increase in less than 2 weeks!.

 

[hypnos1]

That is insulting h, what on earth is the point of 25p reduction!.Also I've noticed a seller I bought 4 from at £5 each is has now upped the price of single tubes to £7.50, a 50% increase in less than 2 weeks!.

Glad you and @connieflyer agree...sometimes a matter of principle over-rides everything else lol!!.. (either that or I'm getting even grumpier with each day I get older!! ).

And I'm sure these ebayers keep a close eye on us!!!

 

[hypnos1]

Sorry about your eBay experience h, but some sellers really like to push it to the last penny thinking that if you need 10 or what 10 you'll pay the extra. I guess he came up a little short this time! Good for you. These tubes just never cease to amaze me period with really good high def recordings the amount of information that is available that comes through is the best that I have seen so far. Anybody want to buy my gec 6as7 and gec 6080's? Good price low usage and I won't be using them much anymore I am a happy camper. Have a good day people, moorhouse work for me

I believe these tubes reward especially those with top grade gear in the rest of the system...especially highly resolving headphones such as HD800 or Beyer T1...

 

[connieflyer]

I believe this as well. I do also think that with headphones that may not be quite as resolving the results using these tubes compared to the others should still enhance your listening pleasure. If the phones that you have sound good to you moving to these tubes will make them sound even better. Now of course that's my opinion, but whenever I ever been wrong! Okay never mind telling me about the last part

 

[Scutey]

Well h at about the same time as you posted on ebay sellers generous 25p offer I put in an offer of £38 not, knowing of your post and guess what he has gust come back to me with an even better offer of 20p!

 

[hypnos1]

I believe this as well. I do also think that with headphones that may not be quite as resolving the results using these tubes compared to the others should still enhance your listening pleasure. If the phones that you have sound good to you moving to these tubes will make them sound even better. Now of course that's my opinion, but whenever I ever been wrong! Okay never mind telling me about the last part

Too true cf...all systems will probably benefit a good deal from using these tubes lol...

 

[mordy]

Hi All,
Loving this little combo, a pair of 6h8c’s up front and a pair of Valvo EL11’s in as powers, vinyl sounds fab through these and out through the LS50’s or the T1 Gen 2’s... mmmmm sweet

Hi SMF,
Always interested in trying other people's recommendations, I followed your advice and am now listening to a pair of Foton 6H8C ribbed anodes from 1955 and a pair of Telefunken EL11 tubes from 1943-44.
Using my bargain LS50 "sound-alikes" the Elac Debut B6 +Elac S10 Subwoofer; it really sounds very good at first impression. The midrange especially is very vivid with excellent bass.
Usually, when using speakers I turn up the volume to max on my Euforia and adjust the speaker volume through my integrated amp. Using the EL11 at max volume on the Euforia the sound distorts, but it goes away if I turn down the Euforia volume a drop.
Still plenty of volume and I am really taken by this sweet sound - delicious!
WOW!

 

[mordy]

6H8C/EL11

 

[hypnos1]

Hi guys.

For those interested, as there seems to be little or no difference between the different types of EL32/CV1052/VT52, and in light of @Scutey 's mention of the recent price hike by his UK ebayer of the Marconi VT52, it would appear the best deals are of straight-sided CV1052, either from several UK ebayers at $5 to $6 each plus shipping, or I notice dBtubes.com (in Canada) have them at $7, but I don't know the shipping cost : http://dbtubes.com/en/mullard-vacuum-tubes/cv1052-el32-vt52.html

At these prices, and given their stellar performance, they have to be the bargain of the century!...CJ

 

[connieflyer]

I see that the seller valvetubesonline raised the price of the Marconi's from $5 US to 10$ US already. These are getting popular.