Rogue Audio RH-5 Impression Thread
Sep 11, 2021 at 11:58 PM Post #271 of 718
~ I love the Brimar CV455 KB/FB (Footscray) tubes and keep/roll them in LTA MZ3, Woo WA2, Woo WA6, Valhalla II (all with adapters). But they are 12AT7s…
~ By coincidence, I have been looking at Mazda 12AU7s in the Brent Jesse listings…

The Mazda are very polite. They have an unreal and beautiful tone to the treble that shows extension and air. They also have a beautiful finesse that is common to French made tubes. Compared to a nice pair of Mullards that I was running prior to the Adzams I'd say they were balanced but shy in sub-bass. If you mostly listen to classical, chamber music or jazz, I'd say that these would be ideal. The Mullards had more meat on the bones so to speak. Also the classic Mullard mid-range which plays so well with both male and female vocals. The issue I had with the Mullards was that I didn't get the clarity, separation, and imaging that I get from the Adzams. Also the low end seemed to smear and was bloated. If the Brimars can successfully handle the issues I had with the Mullards then I'd be all in.
 
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Sep 12, 2021 at 1:13 AM Post #272 of 718
The Mazda are very polite. They have an unreal and beautiful tone to the treble that shows extension and air. They also have a beautiful finesse that is common to French made tubes. Compared to a nice pair of Mullards that I was running prior to the Adzams I'd say they were balanced but shy in sub-bass. If you mostly listen to classical, chamber music or jazz, I'd say that these would be ideal. The Mullards had more meat on the bones so to speak. Also the classic Mullard mid-range which plays so well with both male and female vocals. The issue I had with the Mullards was that I didn't get the clarity, separation, and imaging that I get from the Adzams. Also the low end seemed to smear and was bloated. If the Brimars can successfully handle the issues I had with the Mullards then I'd be all in.
…if the CV491 KB/FB has the traits of the CV455 KB/FB, problem solved…🎼👍😄
 
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Sep 12, 2021 at 4:35 AM Post #273 of 718
…if the CV491 KB/FB has the traits of the CV455 KB/FB, problem solved…🎼👍😄
. . .they do and I even prefer them. The CV491 Footscray are actually my favorite Brimar, and I have owned the CV4003, CV4034, CV455, CV4033, and 6060 Footscray Square Getter. However, these below do it all even better than any other tube I have heard in the RH-5.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/265294795816

Review coming shortly. . .
 
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Sep 12, 2021 at 4:37 AM Post #274 of 718
~ Impressions on RH-5 (with Sennheiser HD-600, Arctic Cables Icon cable, Brimar CV4003 cryogenically treated). Fantastic!
~ Soundstage is immensely w-i-d-e, even by HD-600 standards, and is filled in with full detail existing in the proper space. Ambience and reverberation are pristinely conveyed with totally natural / plausible decay.
~ Also, voices have the right mix of throatiness, chestiness, and projection. Importantly, voices are not ‘disembodied’ from the person.
~ The Oscar Peterson trio is right with me! Oscar Peterson’s dexterity, range, and command of the piano engulfs me. Ray Brown on acoustic bass just works those strings to joy. The basic tone, the overtone, the curling of the strings is beyond evident. The varying dynamics of snare / cymbal brushwork by Ed Thigpen is a marvel and is clearly and fully portrayed by the RH-5.
~ So far, in my view, the RH-5 is in the same sonic neighbourhood as the LTA MZ3. They both share dimensionality, image solidity, tonal balance, absence of classic “tube-ness”, and dynamics. Further comparison will be gleefully done.
Good stuff bro! I had a feeling you were gonna say the RH-5 could hang with the MZ3. :wink: Welcome to the soundstage dreams are made of. . .Roll in a pair of these and get ready to be even more blown away. :smile:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/265294795816
 
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Sep 12, 2021 at 5:00 AM Post #275 of 718
OK fellas, I have found another stellar tube for the RH-5! The RFT ECC82 Folded Plate Foil Disc Getters are a stunner folks.

RFT ECC82 Folded Plate Foil Disc Getter

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This tube has the biggest most expansive soundstage I have heard from a tube in this family. The bass is super powerful and tight with amazing texture and detail, with impact you can feel. The mids are super transparent with pinpoint imaging and huge images. You will hear little details and nuances most other tubes can't produce, and I have rolled a ton of very well known tubes to confirm this. The highs have really good extension and air. While listening with this tube, the headphones seemingly just disappear and I am transported to a space with just me and the musicians. I call this space "There". This is the tube of dreams folks, with amazing balance top to bottom and transparency to make the music sound very very lifelike, and is widely available and affordable. My number 1 recommended tube for the RH-5 is this tube, and here is where I bought mine.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/265294795816
 
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Sep 12, 2021 at 5:07 AM Post #276 of 718
After rolling a bunch of very rare, expensive and highly sought after tubes (including every tube mentioned in this thread), these are my top 2 tubes in the RH-5, and the one's I recommend. These tubes are well balanced, transparent and sound very lifelike, which is what I look for in a tube.

1. RFT ECC82 Folded Plate Foil Disc Getters - https://www.ebay.com/itm/265294795816

Huge stage, transparent with hauntingly lifelike tonality and timbre top to bottom, and impact and texture you can feel.

2. Brimar CV491 D Getter Footscray - https://www.langrex.co.uk/products/ecc82-cv491-brimar-kb-fb-17mm-plate-nos-valve-tube/

A bit more intimate, with amazing vocals and really good bass punch, but not quite as transparent and huge sounding as the RFT.
 
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Sep 12, 2021 at 11:15 AM Post #277 of 718
After rolling a bunch of very rare, expensive and highly sought after tubes (including every tube mentioned in this thread), these are my top 2 tubes in the RH-5, and the one's I recommend. These tubes are well balanced, transparent and sound very lifelike, which is what I look for in a tube.

1. RFT ECC82 Folded Plate Foil Disc Getters - https://www.ebay.com/itm/265294795816

Huge stage, transparent with hauntingly lifelike tonality and timbre top to bottom, and impact and texture you can feel.

2. Brimar CV491 D Getter Footscray - https://www.langrex.co.uk/products/ecc82-cv491-brimar-kb-fb-17mm-plate-nos-valve-tube/

A bit more intimate, with amazing vocals and really good bass punch, but not quite as transparent and huge sounding as the RFT.
TubESP?…done before you posted the above…
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B1A31590-A753-4E93-B058-2CF530371706.png
 
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Sep 12, 2021 at 12:05 PM Post #278 of 718
TubESP?…done before you posted the above…
Nice! That's the Brimar I am talking about and a latter completely different version of RFT I have not heard yet. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on both.
 
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Sep 12, 2021 at 4:39 PM Post #279 of 718
Hi, does anyone use tube dampers like the Hal-O III Stabilizier or the Ultrasonic Rx that Herbie's Audio Lab sells? Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts or opinions on whether these tube dampers help or harm sound quality. Thanks for any feedback. Regards.
 
Sep 12, 2021 at 4:46 PM Post #280 of 718
Hi, does anyone use tube dampers like the Hal-O III Stabilizier or the Ultrasonic Rx that Herbie's Audio Lab sells? Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts or opinions on whether these tube dampers help or harm sound quality. Thanks for any feedback. Regards.

So I use Herbies Hal-O III on my SET, ALO Audio Studio Six amp.

I don't use them with the RH-5, yet. I know @Wes S isn't a fan of them. I personally like them and believe in the idea of stabilizing micro vibrations of the tubes that can cause low level distortion or veil micro details.

It's really a personal thing. For me I'll most likely get a pair for the RH-5 in the next few months. Probably when I get my new pair of Brimars. I'll just install them together in one shot.
 
Sep 13, 2021 at 5:08 AM Post #282 of 718
Hi, does anyone use tube dampers like the Hal-O III Stabilizier or the Ultrasonic Rx that Herbie's Audio Lab sells? Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts or opinions on whether these tube dampers help or harm sound quality. Thanks for any feedback. Regards.
I personally feel that if the tube is not having microphonic issues, then there is no reason to use them. Tubes breathe and resonate naturally and I don't like to hinder this. I feel like tube dampers do just that, and over dampen the tube which I feel hampers it's performance. That's just my thoughts and how I look at it. For instance, if you have a real expensive and rare pair of tubes that are just bit microphonic and you can't find another pair of that tube, then I will try some dampers to be able to continue to use the rare tube. They have kind of worked for me in the past with this scenario, but if the tube is really microphonic nothing will help. So other than that scenario, I don't use them. Also, I have yet to experience any microphonic tubes in my RH-5, and in fact I have actually used tubes that I know are microphonic in my other amp, and they were fine with no microphonics in my RH-5. So, with that said I really would not worry about dampers for the RH-5, if it were me. I would just use that money to buy another pair of tubes. The way I look at it is if you don't need them (non microphonic tubes), why use them?
 
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Sep 13, 2021 at 3:09 PM Post #283 of 718
Hi, does anyone use tube dampers like the Hal-O III Stabilizier or the Ultrasonic Rx that Herbie's Audio Lab sells? Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts or opinions on whether these tube dampers help or harm sound quality. Thanks for any feedback. Regards.
I agree with @Wes S on this topic. Also, consider that the RH-5 is a headphone amplifier. The tubes in it should not be subject to airborne vibration since loudspeakers are not being used. When loudspeakers are used, tube dampers might be advisable in preamps, amps, integrateds. Lastly, make sure that the RH-5, like any tube h/p/a, is on a stable non-resonant surface.
 
Sep 13, 2021 at 4:00 PM Post #284 of 718
I agree with @Wes S on this topic. Also, consider that the RH-5 is a headphone amplifier. The tubes in it should not be subject to airborne vibration since loudspeakers are not being used. When loudspeakers are used, tube dampers might be advisable in preamps, amps, integrateds. Lastly, make sure that the RH-5, like any tube h/p/a, is on a stable non-resonant surface.

I get that. Of all the audio upgrades I think tube dampers are pretty low on the totem pole.

I'll most likely still get a pair for the RH-5 at some point. Not a huge priority but knowing me, something I'll do down the road.
 
Sep 13, 2021 at 4:55 PM Post #285 of 718
An additional thought about the tube dampers…The surface area of the glass for a 12AU7 / ECC82 is quite a bit less than that for, say, a 5U4G rectifier or a 300b power tube…less of a potential issue to solve…
 

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