RubyTiger
500+ Head-Fier
A really nice tube but I have a few others to try also. Will report on those as well.
Sorry, I do not mean to take over the whole thread. After playing with the Tesla's above I tried a Brimar but it didn't do it for me. So digging deeper I found the rca clear top's linked below. I'm astonished how great this tube is. Also a lot more economical. I love the Tesla's but this might be the best tube I have tried yet.
Relisted 10/24/15 - http://www.ebay.com/itm/1959-65-RCA-12AU7A-CLEAR-TOP-Vacuum-Tubes-Amp-TESTED-GOOD-Price-PER-TUBE-/111805169090?
There are countless great 12AU7's on Ebay, so I hope everyone will begin to chip in on what they find. The Lambert has amazing sound quality and really benefit's from better cables, dac's and headphones as well as tubes. Dubstep Girl's review is spot on but it's also fun to roll other 12AU7's.
But it can get quite expensive like these: http://www.tubemonger.com/La_Radiotechnique_12AU7_NOS_NIB_France_ECC82_MIL59_p/1213.htm
D. F. Why do I suddenly want that tube so badly?
The Radiotechnique (similar to Telefunken's) has a beautiful top end at the expense of some bass. Or so I've read. Should be arriving any day now and I will give my impressions.
You're not helping me fight off my upgradeitous. I'm looking forward to your impressions.
For the guys wondering about DACs, I find myself agreeing with a past statement that this amp does scale up nicely when there's a better DAC in the chain. It sounds spectacular with the Chord 2qute. I'm going to be moving my PIBE back into my bedroom once my Cavalli Carbon amp arrives. End result, I'm now mulling over maybe putting together a new bedroom rig with better tube, cables, and definitely new DAC. My CLAS-db just doesn't cut it anymore after hearing the PIBE with a Chord DAC. The problem now is finding a good enough sounding DAC with a small footprint and doesn't have the high price tag of the 2qute. Anyone have any ideas?
Mojo? I have a feeling that the Mojo can 'neutralise' the 'edginess' of the PIBE at higher volume.
I've thought of that myself but if I'm not mistaken the Mojo is an amp/DAC combo. Rather redundant to have two amps in a bedroom rig. I'd rather roll the extra bones spent on the amp section of the Mojo into a pure DAC only solution.
How would I bypass the dac in my pibe?