[jonathan c]

Billie Jean playing now from the Thriller album. I love using headphone with vinyl. Sound electric.

How does ‘the funk of 40,000 years’ smell sound?

 

[UntilThen]

How does ‘the funk of 40,000 years’ smell sound?

Priceless

 

[alvin sawdust]

The coke bottle L63. Doesn't have to be smoke glass. But I do find the ones with the spiked circular top mica (without the thin wire supports) to sound best. Like these:

I have a pair of the smoked glass GEC, need another pair, but have mixed them with a pair of Ken Rad for the time being. Not the most impactful sounding but ethereal mids and sweet highs, very nice.

 

[alvin sawdust]

GEC 6J5G mixing it up with NU 6J5. Scratch what I previously said about not as impactful. A change of rectifier to Mullard GZ34 sorted that issue. Sounds like my beloved Mullard 5U4G is on it's last legs.

 

[gibosi]

GEC 6J5G mixing it up with NU 6J5. Scratch what I previously said about not as impactful. A change of rectifier to Mullard GZ34 sorted that issue. Sounds like my beloved Mullard 5U4G is on it's last legs.

Philips acquired British Tungsram in 1952 and handed the reigns to Mullard. And therefore, many Mullard-labeled 5U4G are actually British Tungsram 5U4G. I don't know which one you have but to my ears, British Tungsram is not at all impactful but rather delicate.

 

[alvin sawdust]

Philips acquired British Tungsram in 1952 and handed the reigns to Mullard. And therefore, many Mullard-labeled 5U4G are actually British Tungsram 5U4G. I don't know which one you have but to my ears, British Tungsram is not at all impactful but rather delicate.

Good information, thanks Gibosi. Absolutely agree about the delicacy but it is sounding weaker, have had it for years now, can't complain.

 

[UntilThen]

A change of rectifier to Mullard GZ34 sorted that issue. Sounds like my beloved Mullard 5U4G is on it's last legs.

GZ34 is my favorite. Dynamic, lively and sparkly. Do get a newer one. I only use 5u4g for EL12 spez, 807, EL39 for the lower voltage drop. I don't use much of my Cossor 53ku and Mullard GZ32.

 

[UntilThen]

My fav GZ34:-

Philip Miniwatt GZ34 metal base
Sittard GZ34
Mullard GZ34 DD getter NOS 132/122 mA f33/L1J 1961 Bruxelles Mazda - bought this new and it's a sweet sounding GZ34 but all 3 are very good.

 

[alvin sawdust]

GZ34 is my favorite. Dynamic, lively and sparkly. Do get a newer one. I only use 5u4g for EL12 spez, 807, EL39 for the lower voltage drop. I don't use much of my Cossor 53ku and Mullard GZ32.

Was enjoying the Mullard GZ34 at first but after a while could detect some hardness in the upper mids. It's the black base type and not a patch I believe on the metal base. Have popped in a RCA 5U4G and it sounds really very good. All RCA tubes I have used sound very balanced and musical, good value.

 

[UntilThen]

My wall of fame. I use Odyssey for music and Oblivion for movies. They are an integral part of my life. Not sure how Telemachus will fit in.

 

[audiargent]

Taken during yesterday's listening session. With my HE-6SE, in Triode Mode. JJ 6SN7s and KT66s doing the amplification. 5U4GBs as rectifiers. Volume knob at 10 o'clock.

DAC is a Schiit Gungnir MB with Unison USB running balanced outs. Source Allo USBridge Signature Player.

I put on Amanda Shire's latest album, "Take It Like A Man" [96/24] from Qobuz.

These tubes are not the most refined, but they present the music with much loved "substance" or "density". With Odyssey Shire's voice seems limitless, effortlessly roaming across the vocal spectrum, with nothing holding it back. Instrument separation and staging are "life-like" as always with Odyssey.

Again, I have never heard the HE-6SE perform this good.



As a side note - can someone explain what the blue glow is, and why whole tubes produce it more than others? Could it be that the KT66 are pushed closer to their peak range than KT170s are?

 

[Thaddy]

I believe the blue glow on the KT66's is due to the electrons interacting with the glass walls of the tube. It's not a bad thing by any means.

 

[audiargent]

I've got a few other cans as well, HEDDphone 87db/mw and Beyer T1 600 ohm. The HEDDphone i've really been struggling with current kit that I own. Still had clipping issues with my 2W WA6-SE. 3W Burson is just enough but can be quiet at times with some tracks, and SS sound is not my favorite.

This is actually was my primary motivation to get the Telly. Also for future insensitive HPs

But I'm hoping it can work with other HPs which have low sensitivity as well. The 4z is dead-silent on all SET tube amps i've tried so far.

You need to hear it on a powerful tube amp... It's an amazing headphone

 

[audiargent]

An afternoon session. This time it is some classic CCR. 192/24 from Qobuz. This time in UL. I feel this gives more presence and vitality to the music especially drums and guitars.

 

[OctavianH]

I think your "audio-gd" themed Odyssey is my favourite build from Tomas (from the design/looks point of view). It always reminds me I have a small audio-gd NFB-11.28 DAC around here. These 2 new add-ons, Triode Mode/UL and Switchable Rectifier are available for all models or only for Odyssey/Telemachus? In other words, can I have a Citadel build which includes these alongside 12/6V one?