ZMF Aegis Official Thread

[Schuie Driver]

Attention all my fellow Aegis-owners! I’ve decided to sell quite a few of my accumulated tubes. I thought I’d give y’all a heads-up before posting them in the classifieds. Here’s what’s available:

1. RCA JAN 5U4G/VT244 (1945)
2. RCA 807 pair (1940’s) *requires adapter
3. Sylvania JAN 5U4GY/VT244
4. Svetlana 5C3S “Winged C” (5U4G equivalent)
5. Multiple RCA JAN 5R4GY’s still available (w/ DD-getters or single D-getter)
6. Tung Sol 5881 pair *I just have too many of these!
7. GEC U52 (brown base and bottom D-getter) *I haven’t decided whether or not to sell this one yet.
8. Sylvania JAN 6SL7WGT pair (brown base with green lettering)
9. Raytheon JAN 5R4WGB “Potato Masher” (1967)
10. RCA 5R4GY (1957, light brown base, single D-getter)
11. Mullard EL38 matched pair (1957) *requires adapter
12. Ei KT90 pair (version 2 w/ all the spot welds)

Shoot me a PM if any of you are interested in any (or all) of these. I’d prefer to avoid international shipping, so US folks only, at least for now.

Taking some willpower not to PM you on the 5881’s and the 6sl7wgt’s.

 

[ckhirnigs113]

Taking some willpower not to PM you on the 5881’s and the 6sl7wgt’s.

As you’ve probably noticed, we’re all enablers around here. Resistance is futile!

 

[jonathan c]

As you’ve probably noticed, we’re all enablers around here. Resistance is futile!

..... not only is resistance futile; the higher, the better. 300 ohms is .....

 

[betula]

..... not only is resistance futile; the higher, the better. 300 ohms is .....

 

[Wes S]

Speaking of 300 ohms. . .

It's been a minute since I last listened with my only 300 ohm headphone, the Atticus in Cocobolo. This headphone never disappoints, and it's got some of the best vocals ever. The middbass is pretty special too, and especially with the tube combo I am rocking right now.

This headphone is such a blast, and the synergy with the Aegis is incredible. Curious, if there are any other Aegis owner's rocking with the Atticus?

 

[erics75]

Speaking of 300 ohms. . .



It's been a minute since I last listened with my only 300 ohm headphone, the Atticus in Cocobolo. This headphone never disappoints, and it's got some of the best vocals ever. The middbass is pretty special too, and especially with the tube combo I am rocking right now.

This headphone is such a blast, and the synergy with the Aegis is incredible. Curious, if there are any other Aegis owner's rocking with the Atticus?

Still the best looking Atticus I've seen! I love the Atticus on the Aegis. I like it on XLR high impedance, seems to really open those drivers up. The treble seems to have more air and sparkle, though it's still on the dark side.

 

[Wes S]

Still the best looking Atticus I've seen! I love the Atticus on the Aegis. I like it on XLR high impedance, seems to really open those drivers up. The treble seems to have more air and sparkle, though it's still on the dark side.

Yes sir! I feel very veryfortunate to own this pair. Cocobolo is a very special wood, with stunning looks, good heft and the killer sonics that follow, of which works extremely well with the warm tuning of the Atticus. I think many would be surprised how tight and impactful the bass is with this pair, if they have only heard a lighter wood variant. There is no bleed, and it's just a heavy dose of quality hard hitting middbass.

As for XLR High Impedance, I have not tried that yet, as I only have a single ended cable at the moment. However, I do plan to try that eventually, and thanks for the heads up.

For now, I can't imagine it getting any better than High Impedance & 1/4" Output.

 

[jonathan c]

Yes sir! I feel very veryfortunate to own this pair. Cocobolo is a very special wood, with stunning looks, good heft and the killer sonics that follow, of which works extremely well with the warm tuning of the Atticus. I think many would be surprised how tight and impactful the bass is with this pair, if they have only heard a lighter wood variant. There is no bleed, and it's just a heavy dose of quality hard hitting middbass.

As for XLR High Impedance, I have not tried that yet, as I only have a single ended cable at the moment. However, I do plan to try that eventually, and thanks for the heads up.

**For now, I can't imagine it getting any better than High Impedance & 1/4" Output.**

**..... actually, it can - depending on preference. On Aegis, the output impedance for XLR High is 85 ohms; for SE High, it is 31 ohms. The damping factor (@ 1kHz) with a 300-ohm load (Atticus) falls to 3.5 via XLR from 9.7 via SE. ===> Less 'restraint', more 'blossom' in the sound (as I hear it). And with a high 2960 janka rated (harder) wood such as Cocobolo, the lower DF will not smear transients.

 

[Wes S]

**..... actually, it can - depending on preference. On Aegis, the output impedance for XLR High is 85 ohms; for SE High, it is 31 ohms. The damping factor (@ 1kHz) with a 300-ohm load (Atticus) falls to 3.5 via XLR from 9.7 via SE. ===> Less 'restraint', more 'blossom' in the sound (as I hear it). And with a high 2960 janka rated (harder) wood such as Cocobolo, the lower DF will not slur transients.

Too much math for me, I think I will just keep rocking out on the 1/4" for a good while longer, and be none the wiser.

Also, isn't there more to it than that, since the amp is inherently single ended. . .?

My Atticus sound like TOTL headphones right now, so I am not in a rush to change anything.

 

[Schuie Driver]

So this is a new listen for me. I can't say I'm a huge Elton John listener, but something about him paired with Brandi Carlile is working via Atrium open and Aegis this morning.

 

[ckhirnigs113]

Synergy alert! My Atrium Closed is sounding as good as I’ve ever heard it with my current tube roll.

​

Input: Sylvania 7F7’s w/ copper support rods​

Output: Tung Sol 5881’s (1957)​

Rectifier: RCA 5R4GY w/ DD-getters​

​

This combo is striking the perfect balance for me. To my surprise, I’m liking these 5881’s even more than the much pricier Mullard EL50’s or GEC VT60’s paired with the 7F7’s, which is saying something!

Little side note about this particular RCA 5R4GY, it’s the only one with DD-getters I’ve ever seen (and I’ve had a lot of them) that wasn’t a “JAN” version. It might be my imagination, but it’s the best-sounding one of these I’ve tried in the Aegis. Not sure if anything can be extrapolated from this one data point, but I thought it was interesting.

 

[mattiastomas]

Synergy alert! My Atrium Closed is sounding as good as I’ve ever heard it with my current tube roll.

​

Input: Sylvania 7F7’s w/ copper support rods​

Output: Tung Sol 5881’s (1957)​

Rectifier: RCA 5R4GY w/ DD-getters​

​

This combo is striking the perfect balance for me. To my surprise, I’m liking these 5881’s even more than the much pricier Mullard EL50’s or GEC VT60’s paired with the 7F7’s, which is saying something!

Little side note about this particular RCA 5R4GY, it’s the only one with DD-getters I’ve ever seen (and I’ve had a lot of them) that wasn’t a “JAN” version. It might be my imagination, but it’s the best-sounding one of these I’ve tried in the Aegis. Not sure if anything can be extrapolated from this one data point, but I thought it was interesting.

Coincidentally I’ve been running this exact roll for the past 2-3 days. My 7F7 is not the copper rods one though. I’ve really been enjoying it with the Atrium Open. I suppose I should give the Atrium closed a listen with this roll.

 

[Isaacc7]

Synergy alert! My Atrium Closed is sounding as good as I’ve ever heard it with my current tube roll.

​

Input: Sylvania 7F7’s w/ copper support rods​

Output: Tung Sol 5881’s (1957)​

Rectifier: RCA 5R4GY w/ DD-getters​

​

This combo is striking the perfect balance for me. To my surprise, I’m liking these 5881’s even more than the much pricier Mullard EL50’s or GEC VT60’s paired with the 7F7’s, which is saying something!

Little side note about this particular RCA 5R4GY, it’s the only one with DD-getters I’ve ever seen (and I’ve had a lot of them) that wasn’t a “JAN” version. It might be my imagination, but it’s the best-sounding one of these I’ve tried in the Aegis. Not sure if anything can be extrapolated from this one data point, but I thought it was interesting.

The 6l6gb family is a great one and still reasonably priced. I use 6ar6 tubes sometimes which are supposedly similar to the 5881. Tung Sol made both but I’ve never had a chance to compare them.

 

[iamoneagain]

So didn’t realize how long burn in on new tubes take. Picked up some Gold Lion kt88 and heard mixed reviews from them but for most part told to at least give them 50hrs to open up and up to 100hrs to fully settle in. Didn’t really care for them when first put in and was so tempted to just swap out. But now at 50hrs, I find them already better than the EI kt90’s. First thing I noticed is the wider and more open soundstage. Also, music seems more emotional and richer. The kt90 is pretty close on richness but is almost too precise. The Gold Lion are just as punchy but have more bloom so has more weight and texture.

This is all with my gz34 f31 fat base, which is somewhat of game changer. Really gives whole system more power and clarity. Bigger upgrade from f32 version than I originally thought. Then have the RCA 5691 red base. Haven’t messed with these and don’t plan too. So now I’m done tube rolling. Maybe eventually spring for GEC kt88 when have some disposable cash but in no rush.

 

[Deleeh]

Since we're talking about KT 88.
Has anyone tried the Ps Vane KT88 Cossors by any chance or can say more about them?
You can find next-to-nothing on the net about them.