211 valves: please share your experiences
- Thread starter Audiocrack
- Start date
Actually, that day I preferred slightly the GE to the RCA but did not try to investigate the difference much as the Amperex were just so much better. I have compared the Psvane on an earlier visit in the same system and they were nowhere as good. Mark owns them.
Just to be sure: which Chinese 211 copies/brand are you referring to? Psvane maybe?
Apart from the RCA’s I am using at the moment in my Kagura’s I have three different nos 211 quods available: (i) General Electric, (ii) United Electronics and (iii) Amperex (with ‘brass base’). I Have not yet heard the latter two while I listened to the GE’s many years back when I played with the Gakuons.
It is really a pity (or even quite annoying) that rebiassing the Kagura’s is such an (extensive) operation that there is no way that I can rather easily compare the four nos 211 brands in my set up.
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No Shuguang. They look almost identical internally but there's a piece of mica on the top that really gives them away as not being RCA. Not sure how available this copy is in 2018 I haven't looked for years.
Thanks - 15 years is even more than a typical LED lifetime (100 000 hours)! Can I ask you what is your 211 amplifier?
AC, try these.
There may also be a limited edition version coming out (RK line). Zirconium coated..but I dont know about the 211 specifically.
https://shop.best300b.com/collections/kr-audio/products/kr-211
http://www.kraudio.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=45:211&catid=4&Itemid=7&lang=en
There may also be a limited edition version coming out (RK line). Zirconium coated..but I dont know about the 211 specifically.
https://shop.best300b.com/collections/kr-audio/products/kr-211
http://www.kraudio.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=45:211&catid=4&Itemid=7&lang=en
Thanks Norman. I believe these Kron 211 tubes were compared to a few nos 211 valves in the link User211 provided us.
I said story purely because I found that statement on a forum years ago when trying to find out how long 211s last. I cannot validate it.
There's no way they'll last that long with constant on/off cycles and who is mad enough to leave a quad of 211s burning permanently?
Austria Analog 211 PSE monoblocks. If you Google it I expect you'll find my exact pair somewhere. Nominally 80 Watts but capable of 170 Watt peaks. Please don't let this turn into a how can they drive Apogees thread because they do and trust me I listen loud. It is ample power for my custom built Apogees.
If I understand your comments correctly you prefer (in your Austria Analog) amps the nos Amperex 211 tubes to the nos RCA/GE - maybe including the nos United Electronics? - 211 valves and a few current production 211 tubes such as the Kron. Could you please inform us why you prefer the Amperex 211? Possibly for the same reasons Kedar mentioned earlier in this thread but it would be interesting to hear your opinion as well.
Thanks again, and no questions asked. My only concern is how they would drive the XLF's or Soundlab's!
Although it will imply some heavy logistics, I can try borrowing a pair of DIY 211 PSE using Sowter output transformers. Do you have any opinion on these transformers?
Thanks again, and no questions asked. My only concern is how they would drive the XLF's or Soundlab's!
Although it will imply some heavy logistics, I can try borrowing a pair of DIY 211 PSE using Sowter output transformers. Do you have any opinion on these transformers?
You might think my amps are parallel single ended but they are not. They are push pull, hence the ability to do more than 50 Watts. Very strange name for them indeed.
Sowter? Supposed to be good quality as far as I know. And that is all I know. No idea who made the trannies for mine but there's an interstage tranny and each mono is around 45 KG I believe. Mainly transformer weight.
A link to some interesting experiences with various 211 tubes:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=109403.0
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=109403.0
Another link to various comments on 211 tubes with the last person preferring the RCA 211 tubes to the United Electronics 211 valves:
http://www.audionervosa.com/index.php?topic=861.0
http://www.audionervosa.com/index.php?topic=861.0
The final link for today with some high quality pictures (including some of the Amperex ‘brass base’):
http://vinylsavor.blogspot.com/2012/07/tube-of-month-211-vt4c.html
I must say, albeit as a non-technie, that the build quality of the ‘brass base’ Amperex 211 valve is the most impressive of the various nos 211 brands that I have currently available.
http://vinylsavor.blogspot.com/2012/07/tube-of-month-211-vt4c.html
I must say, albeit as a non-technie, that the build quality of the ‘brass base’ Amperex 211 valve is the most impressive of the various nos 211 brands that I have currently available.
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Found another link (really the final one for today) with someone preferring the Amperex 211 ‘brass base’ tubes:
https://forum.audiogon.com/posts/805723?highlight=Amperex+211
https://forum.audiogon.com/posts/805723?highlight=Amperex+211
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