La Figaro 339

[hp4fun]

ef86+6as7g 2nd attempt: Interesting enough, I feel I like ef86+6as7g better than the 5693+5998 on my he560.

I just got my Chatham 6as7g. Swapped the RCA 6as7g, and the improvement is immediately noticeable: more bass, better control, and space imagination.

Two possibilities: 1) chatham 6as7g is better than rca, 2) my rca pair is a bit old. The question is that whether it is 5x worth? I paid $100 for the chatham and only ~$20 for the rca.

I also got a pair of 6as7ga, and will see how it goes.

 

[Galapac]

Got some new tubes today...

 

[bpiotrow13]

ef86+6as7g 2nd attempt: Interesting enough, I feel I like ef86+6as7g better than the 5693+5998 on my he560.

I just got my Chatham 6as7g. Swapped the RCA 6as7g, and the improvement is immediately noticeable: more bass, better control, and space imagination.

Two possibilities: 1) chatham 6as7g is better than rca, 2) my rca pair is a bit old. The question is that whether it is 5x worth? I paid $100 for the chatham and only ~$20 for the rca.

I also got a pair of 6as7ga, and will see how it goes.

I think this is just the difference between rca and chatham and not the age of the tubes. I have not heard Chatham, but i guess they are closer to Tung Sol. I would not call RCA worse, it is just RCA is a warm tube.

The dfference in price is unreasonable though...

 

[bpiotrow13]

Got some new tubes today...

Wow, impresive! How do You like it? I find GEC 2293 very modarate sound (ie everything is where should be) and high quality, but do not like the look frankly.

What are the driver tubes, EF86?

 

[Galapac]

Wow, impresive! How do You like it? I find GEC 2293 very modarate sound (ie everything is where should be) and high quality, but do not like the look frankly.

What are the driver tubes, EF86?

Giving these a day to listen and my favorite combination yet. The drivers are E80F/6084 which I have mentioned on here before. I am getting real good instrument separation with this combination and the look doesn’t bother me so much. Those tubes get hot though. I accidentally touched one yesterday and paid for it. Will continue with these for awhile to try different types of music out. It always amazes me how different combinations of tubes can alter my FLAC files in such a way that they can sound remarkably different to the point you are enjoying your music all over again.

 

[bpiotrow13]

Giving these a day to listen and my favorite combination yet. The drivers are E80F/6084 which I have mentioned on here before. I am getting real good instrument separation with this combination and the look doesn’t bother me so much. Those tubes get hot though. I accidentally touched one yesterday and paid for it. Will continue with these for awhile to try different types of music out. It always amazes me how different combinations of tubes can alter my FLAC files in such a way that they can sound remarkably different to the point you are enjoying your music all over again.

Thanks, what exact e80f these are? Telefunken?

 

[Galapac]

Thanks, what exact e80f these are? Telefunken?

Amperex gold pin *PQ* stamping (premium quality)

 

[bpiotrow13]

Amperex gold pin *PQ* stamping (premium quality)

Thanks, where have You bought it?

 

[Galapac]

eBay awhile back. Haven’t seen any recently but I have seem some Phillips or Seiman which are similar.

 

[hp4fun]

Giving these a day to listen and my favorite combination yet. The drivers are E80F/6084 which I have mentioned on here before. I am getting real good instrument separation with this combination and the look doesn’t bother me so much. Those tubes get hot though. I accidentally touched one yesterday and paid for it. Will continue with these for awhile to try different types of music out. It always amazes me how different combinations of tubes can alter my FLAC files in such a way that they can sound remarkably different to the point you are enjoying your music all over again.

Got some new tubes today...

btw, am I the only one who feel your 339i is similar to this?

 

[Galapac]

ok, I knew I saw that picture before, lol. I also see skyscrapers...

 

[hp4fun]

I fortunately have my amp back from the amp doctor. Things has changed a bit and i sold my lcd 3f. I am experimenting with the below setup with Tung sol 5998 and Tung Sol 6sj7g. The sound is awesome. 3d sound and punching bass. It seems OTL could drive low ompedance headphones. Anyone has similar experience?

Follow up about the low impedance headphone. I recently tried the new "line out" feature of 339i and feed to a linear SS amp such as smsl sp200 (or THX 789)

Compared the the SS output and the direct headphone output of 339i (5998+ef86), I feel:

1) the dynamics, color, and sound stage are (almost?) the same
2) the SS output is cleaner and better in the low frequency.

I haven't noticed any nuisance yet. This seems to be a way to take the advantage of both 339i and the low impedance hp, and avoid low frequency roll off when you plug a low impedance hp to an OTL amp.

 

[bpiotrow13]

Follow up about the low impedance headphone. I recently tried the new "line out" feature of 339i and feed to a linear SS amp such as smsl sp200 (or THX 789)

Compared the the SS output and the direct headphone output of 339i (5998+ef86), I feel:

1) the dynamics, color, and sound stage are (almost?) the same
2) the SS output is cleaner and better in the low frequency.

I haven't noticed any nuisance yet. This seems to be a way to take the advantage of both 339i and the low impedance hp, and avoid low frequency roll off when you plug a low impedance hp to an OTL amp.

This is interesting. I previously used lcd 3f (110 oms) with La Figaro. No power shortage/control issues. Meze Empyreans i am using now are 32 oms and it is the same, although i use TS 5998, which are said to give 10% more power.

Some says OTLs are not for planars, but it seems not always the case. Nb one of the amps recommended for Meze Empyreans is Feliks Euforia, which is also an OTL.

 

[hp4fun]

This is interesting. I previously used lcd 3f (110 oms) with La Figaro. No power shortage/control issues. Meze Empyreans i am using now are 32 oms and it is the same, although i use TS 5998, which are said to give 10% more power.

Some says OTLs are not for planars, but it seems not always the case. Nb one of the amps recommended for Meze Empyreans is Feliks Euforia, which is also an OTL.

Yeah, and I would say the difference is subtle, and will add the SS amp only when I absolutely seek some cues in some frequency ranges.

 

[hp4fun]

I think this is just the difference between rca and chatham and not the age of the tubes. I have not heard Chatham, but i guess they are closer to Tung Sol. I would not call RCA worse, it is just RCA is a warm tube.

The dfference in price is unreasonable though...

Sometimes we pay premium for experiments (and just for fun, sometimes)

Most of time we just repeat some other experiments other did, and maybe only 1 out of 10 you feel find something new but sadly (and happily as well) it was written by someone long time ago. Maybe only 1 out of 100 times you truly find something you like and also new.....