iFi: NOS6922 Valve/Tube upgrade set (new product announcement!)

[iFi audio]

NOS 6922 upgrade valve set

‘Grade A’ GE5670 with special iFi adapter
 
 

Southport, UK – 16^th October 2015
 
The premium version that sits above the 6922
At iFi, given the AMR connection, we research the history of valves. Delving into the archives, we unearthed the GE5670 for the micro iTUBE, a tube buffer. The response was such that we had to make the GE5670 a standalone product for all 6922-based equipment.
 
Full details:
http://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/accessory-nos-6922-2/
 

1. The New Old Stock GE5670 is part of the 2C51 family, the premium version of the 6922. Compared to the 6922, controlled warm-up, tighter specifications on grid current, noise and microphony. And more.

 

1. For the NOS6922 upgrade set, all valves undergo a special in-house ‘Grade A’ selection process:

          - hand-selected;
          - temperature & time rejuvenation;
          - and computer-matched.

 

 
 
 

1. 2C51 pins are electrically different. iFi special low-noise adapter enables match for 6922 gear

 
 
 
The retail price of the NOS6922 matched set is US$99 (ex-tax) or Euro99 (incl VAT).
 
 
For those interested in tubes/valves, further 2C51 background reading:
  

 

[Faber65]

It's a pity that it is not possible to order a single tube.

 

[glassmonkey]

What is the price in sterling, British chaps?

 

[Makiah S]

Nice to see iFi launching an upgrade for the tube! I see the products are becoming very popular, as such it's nice that they are implimenting a "preium" option now! 

 

[LouisArmstrong]

Still can't beat my Siemens and Telefunken CCa's. Not even close.

 

[Deftone]

  What is the price in sterling, British chaps?

Roughly 70 GBP buddy

 

[glassmonkey]

  Roughly 70 GBP buddy

I can do conversions. The point was that often prices are not a straight conversion. I expect your guess is right on, I just wanted the official word. Cheers!

 

[iFi audio]

  Still can't beat my Siemens and Telefunken CCa's. Not even close.

 
 
Hi,
 
We have Siemens CCa in several DPs. The internal and external consensus was that the General Electric 5670 sounded nicer in that system. Of course, sound quality is subjective and none more so than between different tubes as they most definitely sound different - between the good ones, not a straight "X is better Y." And we paid GBP250 for the Siemens CCa.
 
For hardcore tube afficianos. Read only if you care about the underpinnings, not just the label.

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler! Black Plate vs Grey Plate

http://www.tubemaze.info/tubes-black-gray-plates/

The CCa Valve uses a standard grey anode (plate) where the GE 5670 uses a carbonized nickel 'black plate' anode.

The black anode structure is a carbon layer over the nickel of the anode. The grey anode structure goes back to the German WW2 war effort, when nickel anodes were phased out for a steel/aluminium compound creating the 'grey plate.'

There are very real benefits in performance for 'black plate' Valves over the common later 'grey plate,' but the process is more elaborate and more expensive. So by the 1960's 'black plate' Valves had become rare as rocking horse droppings and were generally reserved for defense applications where budget is not an issue and not for general radio/communication/consumer use where the pennies are always counted.

So the CCa has a grey anode structure, with gold gridwire and gold-plated pins.

The GE5670 has a black anode structure with gold gridwire and the pins are plain.

Electrically the two are rather close, though the GE5670 has a slightly higher transconductance and slightly higher gain at any given operating point, which often (but not always) translates into a sound that gives more subjective dynamics and more detail.

Nowadays where a Valve is in the market as both 'black plate' and 'grey plate' type, the black plate version is almost invariably rated higher for sound quality than the grey plate version and commands a hefty price premium. Just check out the typical prices at places like Tube Store et al.

Sorry to sound all nerdy but our AMR roots means we are rather fanatical about all things audio and Valves/Tubes are no exception.

 

[iFi audio]

  I can do conversions. The point was that often prices are not a straight conversion. I expect your guess is right on, I just wanted the official word. Cheers!

 
Hi,
 
Gbp79 including VAT.
 
But please try before you buy as Tubes/Valves are very subjective but we LOVE the GE5670 (if you couldn't tell already). After using this tube extensively for a few years now in different setups, some AMR, some iFi and some other products, we wouldn't swap this 2C51-based tube for any 6922-based tube.
 
It kicks sand in the face of a lot of other similar tubes. (As some have asked, yes the Western Electic 396A is a wee bit better but good luck with finding Grade A ones and finding them at a sane price!).

 

[Astral Abyss]

I'd be interested to try this in my Schiit Lyr 2 amp... Assuming it's compatible of course... I've always loved throwing sand in the face of established convention. Are they available yet in the US?

 

[teb1013]

I wonder how this would compare with my beloved Amperex 7308 in my Aune T1. I don't need two anyway.

 

[Faber65]

I wonder how this would compare with my beloved Amperex 7308 in my Aune T1. I don't need two anyway.

I also hope there will be the possibility to buy one only.

 

[glassmonkey]

Personally, I'd love to get just the adapters, so I can get a more try before I buy perspective. I own a Feliks Audio Elise Tube Amp and have adapters for 6922, if these are similar, they should be compatible. I'm running C3G tubes on adapters as my drivers now, and they are very nice, but it would be interesting to see if there is any difference on these ones. Some of the tubes aren't too expensive, but iFi likely has the best adapters and I'd rather not buy other adapters first.

 

[iFi audio]

Welcome to Japan!

 

Greetings from Top Wing Corporation (IFI:Japan) who are exhibiting at this years headphone festival!

 

"Thank you for coming to the Headphone Festival all the way from your far country. I hope the Festival will be so very crowded with consumers and press people, as this is one of the biggest festivals in the world for headphones and portable audio products. Our TopWing booth is the biggest (7 tables and 15 chairs) in the venue. So many people will visit us. The venue of the Festival, Nakano Sun Plaza. You can enter the venue at 9:00 a.m. on the 24th. Our booth is “Room 3” of the sketch. Please come to the TopWing booth (Room Flower) on the sixth floor and visit us! Thank you!"

 

We would like to take a moment just to say that we LOVE Japan! Transportation, food and the people. We are grateful we have Japanese DNA in our company. Couldn't wish for better 

 

If you are attending enjoy the festival!

 



 

 

[Guidostrunk]

Wanted to bump this thread. Has anyone purchased these and done any comparisons?

Cheers