[4LoveOfSound]

Agreed. I really like the Russian 6P14P-EV or K variants. You can tell they're robust, the glass is noticeably thicker than standard EL84s. Been using these in a few different amps over the years including currently. Great sounding tubes and can be had rather inexpensively. Vivatubes is a great seller for these

I noticed the glass was thicker and overall heavier than my other other EL84s.

 

[4LoveOfSound]

Just picked up a pair of Tungsol black glass 12au7. They look interesting…..

 

[cinisi]

Updated the chassis of my Pendant OG to Elm Burl Very happy with the looks

 

[4LoveOfSound]

That’s a beauty

 

[tholt]

Just picked up a pair of Tungsol black glass 12au7. They look interesting…..

Those look cool

Updated the chassis of my Pendant OG to Elm Burl Very happy with the looks

Did you get the new chassis via ZMF?

 

[Wes S]

Updated the chassis of my Pendant OG to Elm Burl Very happy with the looks

Love that grain!

 

[BudKine]

Updated the chassis of my Pendant OG to Elm Burl Very happy with the looks

very petty. feels good, too, huh, to upgrade? love it. congrats

 

[DenverW]

Just picked up a pair of Tungsol black glass 12au7. They look interesting…..

Curious to hear your thoughts. I was pretty ho-hum on the tung sol 12au7, which is surprising because I very much like their 6080, 6as7g, 5998, 6sn7, ect.

 

[4LoveOfSound]

Curious to hear your thoughts. I was pretty ho-hum on the tung sol 12au7, which is surprising because I very much like their 6080, 6as7g, 5998, 6sn7, ect.

They are supposed to arrive today. If they do, I will have one fired up tonight. I have not tried a TungSol 12au7 yet. I do have 2 different 12BH7’s. A grey plate that is unremarkable and a black plate that is excellent. I decided to change out the Ken-Rad and went back to the Brimar Footscray CV4033. After putting it in, it brought back what all the fuss @Wes S created over this tube was about! I had stopped using it because it was noisy in the Pendant. This time around, for what ever reason, it’s silent. Looking forward to trying out the black glass Tungsol though. I thought I was done buying tubes for the Pendant when I found the Ken-Rad. Silly me, there is no such thing as being done buying tubes!

 

[Wes S]

They are supposed to arrive today. If they do, I will have one fired up tonight. I have not tried a TungSol 12au7 yet. I do have 2 different 12BH7’s. A grey plate that is unremarkable and a black plate that is excellent. I decided to change out the Ken-Rad and went back to the Brimar Footscray CV4033. After putting it in, it brought back what all the fuss @Wes S created over this tube was about! I had stopped using it because it was noisy in the Pendant. This time around, for what ever reason, it’s silent. Looking forward to trying out the black glass Tungsol though. I thought I was done buying tubes for the Pendant when I found the Ken-Rad. Silly me, there is no such thing as being done buying tubes!

"there is no such thing as being done buying tubes!" . . . until you score a Telefunken G73R, and then the search is over.

 

[msq123]

"there is no such thing as being done buying tubes!" . . . until you score a Telefunken G73R, and then the search is over.

Apologies for my ignorance but what’s special about G73R? See them for $500 on couple of websites, is that about right?

 

[jonathan c]

Silly me, there is no such thing as being done buying tubes!

…silly rabbit (holer), Trix are for kids…tubes are for us…

 

[Wes S]

Apologies for my ignorance but what’s special about G73R? See them for $500 on couple of websites, is that about right?

It's an incredible super tube, that sounds unlike any other tube in the family or any 12AT7 or 12AX7 as well. The transparency/detail is stunning with more nuance than I have ever heard, combined with texture you can feel and an organic richness that adds weight to the notes but never steers into bloated as the speed is insane with tight hard hitting bass, mids and vocals so lifelike sounding it's scary, and a very airy and extended but smooth and fatigue free top end and then on top of all that the staging is so massive and holographic it really is in a league of it's own. I call it a super tube, because of the sonics and also because it is rated for 40,000 hours. The price is insane, but unfortunately it's the going rate these days. I can tell you this, it's been a revelation and big ease off my mind and bank account, not looking for tubes anymore, as I know nothing can top or come close to this one. So, I definitely think it's worth the price of admission, as a "one and done" kind of tube purchase.

 

[bcowen]

"there is no such thing as being done buying tubes!" . . . until you score a Telefunken G73R, and then the search is over.

You've been 'done' buying tubes as many times as I have, and it appears we both suck at not buying any more tubes.

 

[Wes S]

You've been 'done' buying tubes as many times as I have, and it appears we both suck at not buying any more tubes.

This is true, however this time I am serious, as the difference between the G73R and all the other tubes is quite large and obvious. Nothing compares, and I have not even thought about or looked at other tubes since rolling in and hearing what the G73R can do. I am literally researched out (years of daily research), and G73R really is the end of the road. With every other tube I have tried or fallen in love with in the past, there was always a compromise somewhere with the sound as none of them were perfect, until I found the G73R. This tube is very special, and in a league all by itself.

Everytime I put the headphones on with the G73R in the amp, I constantly say OMG over and over in my head song after song, as this tube really makes every recording sound incredible and more lifelike than I have ever heard before. The holographic staging and it's ability to produce all the little nuances is flat out insane!