Now then
@connieflyer ...how are things going with your possible lead on some GEC TT21s lol? I really do fervently hope it proves fruitful, and at a 'reasonable' price. Moreover, I hope even more that you're fortunate enough to trace a
quad of them, or possibly some TT22s to make the quartet!
Why? Because now that my latest new-looking TT21 plus all adapters and new (UP-OCC) wires have burned in some more, my own foursome has me knowing precisely why folks are prepared to pay hundreds of £/$ for even (good) used examples...and they most certainly are not all suffering from 'more money than sense'!! This is the kind of sound you simply cannot get 'on the cheap' (unless lucky to find some 'relatively' cheap as I did, and unless the upcoming GU50 tube can pull off some kind of
major miracle!). I'm now getting a performance that is way beyond the extremely good Gold Lion KT88s that, in my system at least, easily beat all comers lol.
Actually, a leap in performance also came the other day when I substituted an obviously under-performing TT21 with the new-looking tube I paid £175 for (I'm
that impressed by them!
). The poorly tube in question did in fact finally give up the ghost with a couple of very loud (and nasty!) cracks - Euforia's protection circuitry preventing any major damage to either itself or my headphones...thankfully!! Still, it wasn't wholly unsurprising, given its lower emission readings and broken locating lug...hence only £45. The ebayer refunded straight away, without question.
Anyway, with the 'new(ish)' tube in situ, it was (yet again!) like hearing a different amp...and one in a whole new league. Exceptional bass still there, but now also with delicate, subtle treble notes I never knew were there...and the whole presentation even more 'polished'. Female voices, especially such as Loreena McKennitt's, take on a fresh smoothness and sensual character (at high listening levels especially, some of her high notes can
sometimes be a tad 'hard' with other tubes). The same goes for male vocals...and both now occupy their own space even more so than before, as do all other elements of the recording. The soundstage is actually at first quite a bit different to previously, simply because of this better positioning within 3 dimensional space. All these aspects jumped out at me today, reinforcing the new 'experience' I mentioned just recently...a very special one indeed IMHO.
And so cf, and anyone else interested, do keep searching for the 'bargains' that occasionally do pop up...but there's obviously one helluva lot of aficionados who need to be sleeping at the time alas!!
And if necessary (not to mention
lucky) don't forget the TT2
2...a 12V
laptop battery/charger will do heater power supply superbly, even if attaching its negative to mains Earth is needed...my own is doing an exceptionally good job lol! We may also need to ask xulingmrs or member Deyan to make another KT88 adapter, but without heater pins and with separate external wires for heater duties instead.
Whatever, excellent performance can obviously be had from any of the KT66/77/88/7581A families, so HAPPY LISTENING to all...along with an early HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!
...CJ
) friend Phil - aka pctazhp - had the HD800S and was very impressed indeed with the combination. I myself loved the Beyer T1 (v1 with replacement DIY pure silver cable), but has since been relegated to the cupboard by the Meze Empyreans...in the words of a guy at Meze "A match made in Heaven"...(along with my Hugo2 as DAC).
).
.
