[bpiotrow13]

@UntilThen super setup! How would you compare those amps? Also against burson? Which is the most colorful? Do they all work well with lcd3?

Edit, one more question. Did you use in wa22 the balanced input/output or just rca/jack? I wander if this can affect sound.

 

[UntilThen]

@UntilThen super setup! How would you compare those amps? Also against burson? Which is the most colorful? Do they all work well with lcd3?

Edit, one more question. Did you use in wa22 the balanced input/output or just rca/jack? I wander if this can affect sound.

Thanks ! Those 3 amps work very well with LCD-3f and I prefer them over the Burson. Tonally yes. I'm not even talking about price, aesthetics, features. Perhaps I just prefer the sonics from these tube amps over the solid state amps which I've had - which I've stated before included Ragnarok, Jotunheim and the Burson Conductor CV2+. Again that's just me... and I wouldn't be surprised there are quite a handful of others.

I wouldn't go into a detail comparison of the amps here (and they are very good tube amps regardless of price and uniqueness) because I'm here to talk about the La Figaro 339. And no I'm not being sponsored to talk nice things about the LF339 nor do I know the designer Yuking.

I look for incision and slam and the La Figaro 339 provides that. If I didn't think that LF339 thrills and impresses me then I won't be posting here. My view is that La Figaro 339 stands up to the esteem company here and held it's head up high with it's sonics.

I'm using the WA22 in balanced mode - both input and output. xlr balanced connection between Yggdrasil and WA22 and my headphones have balanced xlr connections. There's quite a difference between balanced and se in the WA22. So yes use the balanced connections all the way with the WA22 if you can. This is true also for Ragnarok and the other amps that I have that provides balanced design. However I'm not saying that the balanced amps sound better or have more slam than the SE amps like the Glenn OTL or the La Figaro 339. In fact I'm most impressed with the Glenn OTL and La Figaro 339 even though they are not balanced in design.

 

[bpiotrow13]

Thanks, very helpful. Need to sit and listen for a while. Figaro 339 has intrigued me as wa22 (very good amp anyway) is not as tubey as i thought. Le figaro seems to be the one also able to rive planars, which is not always the case for OTLs.

 

[UntilThen]

It is strange that while chasing headphone amps, it is this vintage stereo amp from Sansui that is really sizzling, penetrating, with the greatest slam and headphones sounds electrifying when plug into it. It's just a shame that I can't readily bring it along with me to Canberra - it's 31 backbreaking kilos !

The Beyer T1.2 turns into a Cougar (it's usually Garfield, which is not bad) when plug into this.

Ok now back to the Le Figaro.

 

[tintinsnowydog]

Custom Amp updates

Work on my custom build has been going well! Yuking has been exceptionally thoughtful and meticulous throughout the build process and carefully explained all the changes made. There were some delays due to the output coupling capacitors I originally chose being too large to fit under the top cap. I will be using 2x mundorf evo oil caps now that still require a slightly larger top cover. They’ve just arrived today and will be fitted along with the power supply circuit in the coming days. For now, the signal circuit and transformers are in place, looking very neat, pretty and colourful!

Parts list:
-BHC power supply caps
-Mundorf EVO Oil output coupling caps
-Mundorf Supreme Silver in Oil bypass caps
-DACT CT2 mono stepped attenuators
-Single crystal copper insulated wiring for the signal pathway
-Gold plated wiring for power and heater circuits

Super excited for the end product! More pictures to come

 

[UntilThen]

Looking good. What driver and power tubes are going to be used for this build?

 

[tintinsnowydog]

Looking good. What driver and power tubes are going to be used for this build?

6AS7/6080 for power tubes, L63/6C5/6J5 for input. They can also take EF80/86 with adapters

 

[UntilThen]

I've use GEC L63 in the Glenn OTL. Similar sounding to the GEC B36 which I also have at one time. Then I sold them all because I was so done with buying tubes through the years.

I love the EF80 / EF86 tubes. Great tone.

 

[tintinsnowydog]

Internals are done! Testing begins today

 

[UntilThen]

Outstanding work. Symmetrical and so neat. I would love to hear this custom build compared to my standard LF339.

It's been 2 weeks now back to Canberra. I still reach for the LF339 every night.

 

[tintinsnowydog]

Up and running as expected. Can't wait to hear it myself! Have some shoulder shaped L63 tubes and GEC EF86 on the way to pair with GEC 6AS7

Outstanding work. Symmetrical and so neat. I would love to hear this custom build compared to my standard LF339.

It's been 2 weeks now back to Canberra. I still reach for the LF339 every night.

If you're ever down in Melbourne you're more than welcome to come and have a listen once it arrives

 

[UntilThen]

I will get myself to Melbourne someday and thanks for the invite.

I almost bought a pair of these sometime ago but I didn't because my interest in tubes was tapering off.


Instead I bought a pair of these to try out on the Glenn OTL amp. It's a very good tone to my ears and I've heard a lot of drivers in the Glenn OTL.

 

[UntilThen]

When you get hold of your LF339i, I hope you will do it justice by taking some great photos.

 

[tintinsnowydog]

When you get hold of your LF339i, I hope you will do it justice by taking some great photos.

That is for certain Will also be reviewing a lot of the different L63/6J5/6C5 tubes, which can be used in pairs with adapter in amps that take 6SN7 (admittedly more common)

 

[BackwardPawn]

Outstanding work. Symmetrical and so neat. I would love to hear this custom build compared to my standard LF339.

It's been 2 weeks now back to Canberra. I still reach for the LF339 every night.

I agree--I really like the symmetry. When I fixed my La Figaro, one of my P2P connections was at an odd angle, but the connection was good so I went on. This makes me want to go back and fix it. Straight lines just sound so much better.