Lampizator Valve / Tube Rolling Review Thread

[cpcat]

Question: where or how do you guys store your tubes which you periodically roll in and out of your Lampis? I have around 6 rectifiers and several pairs of DHT triodes I roll into my Big 7 and they are somewhat of an eyesore on my rack. Photos please.

This is my closet -converted -to -office in the back of my listening room. It is my ”Harry Potter“ office according to my family. The music is ripped to the PC and goes via USB through a crawl space to the DAC. Don’t worry, the door closes.

Anyway, received recently and listening to ST shape 01a’s as well as RCA/Cunningham globe 112a’s this weekend. I have RCA/Cunningham ST shaped 112a’s as my reference currently.

Cheers all from SC USA.

 

[heihei]

I'm keen to try some 300B tubes in my Pacific to compare to the KR242 and RKPX25's I have. What would peoples' top picks be?

 

[christoph]

Anyway, received recently and listening to ST shape 01a’s as well as RCA/Cunningham globe 112a’s this weekend. I have RCA/Cunningham ST shaped 112a’s as my reference currently.

Do I understand you correctly?
Your current favorite is the 112a but you haven't seriously compared the 01a to them yet?

 

[dminches]

I'm keen to try some 300B tubes in my Pacific to compare to the KR242 and RKPX25's I have. What would peoples' top picks be?

Western Electric reissue is my favorite 300B in the Pacific.

 

[RDSChicago]

I need to do a critical listening comparison between the 01a and 112a. Christoph, I gather you prefer the 01a? Can you describe the differences you perceive?

 

[cpcat]

Do I understand you correctly?
Your current favorite is the 112a but you haven't seriously compared the 01a to them yet?

The new (to me) 01a’s I will be trying are Philco ST shaped -not quite as old as the Cunningham globe shaped 01a’s that I have had for awhile. The Cunninghams globe 01a’s are nice but also very microphonic.

 

[Zero000]

I'm keen to try some 300B tubes in my Pacific to compare to the KR242 and RKPX25's I have. What would peoples' top picks be?

I would consider these.

Someone posted a while back saying they were excellent. Pretty sure he had a Pacific.

https://www.europeanaudioteam.com/en/e.a.t.-300b-review-by-toneaudio-magazine~bp000102.html

A cross compare with the WE would be very interesting.

 

[Golum]

@dminches - David as you have WE and 112/12a how would you rate them performance wise taking into account price delta?

 

[christoph]

Western Electric reissue is my favorite 300B in the Pacific.

Did you also try the Taka 300b?

 

[dminches]

@dminches - David as you have WE and 112/12a how would you rate them performance wise taking into account price delta?

I will let you know after I put the 112as back in. I have been listening to the WE300Bs exclusively to break them in.

 

[dminches]

Did you also try the Taka 300b?

I have and didn’t really like them in the Pacific. They sounded better in my Big 7.

 

[christoph]

I need to do a critical listening comparison between the 01a and 112a. Christoph, I gather you prefer the 01a? Can you describe the differences you perceive?

I have to admit that I only listened for some minutes each to both of them and that was already some time ago
I need to give them more time and then properly compare but from my VERY brief listen, I indeed prefer the 01a.

I was also trying different output tubes for my TRP and then also a lot of different recties and then it is very hot so I stay outside more than usual and then there are times when I just want to listen to music and not compare in the limited time I find for listening

 

[christoph]

I have and didn’t really like them in the Pacific. They sounded better in my Big 7.

Pity
What recti did you pair the Taka 300b with?

I found the Taka 300b underwhelming except when paired with the Taka 274b recti. That combo had real magic imho

 

[dminches]

Pity
What recti did you pair the Taka 300b with?

I found the Taka 300b underwhelming except when paired with the Taka 274b recti. That combo had real magic imho

Tak 274B!

 

[christoph]

Tak 274B!

Funny, that combo did nothing for me with my ex-GG1.9 but I find the holy Taka Trinity (as @Alrainbow calls them) magical with my Pacific.
Exactly the opposite of your experience

 

[cpcat]

The Philco ST shaped 01a’s certainly look cool -still evaluating how they sound.

 

[RDSChicago]

Just installed my new EML Lampizator 45 anniversary mesh globe tube. Thank you to AstroToy for a perfect transaction. Sounding quite open, deep and intoxicating. Check out Cassandra Wilson singing Tupelo Honey with your Lampi. Incredible. Her opening vocals light up the room. Here’s a shot of the tubes. Note the cool Lampizator logo etched into the rear of each tube

 

[RDSChicago]

@dminches - David as you have WE and 112/12a how would you rate them performance wise taking into account price delta?

IMO the 01a and 112a are each such a relative bargain that anyone with a Lampi should grab a pair of each and never look back. They are incredible in their own right and for the price the best I could ever imagine putting into my Lampi!

 

[christoph]

Just installed my new EML Lampizator 45 anniversary mesh globe tube. Thank you to AstroToy for a perfect transaction. Sounding quite open, deep and intoxicating. Check out Cassandra Wilson singing Tupelo Honey with your Lampi. Incredible. Her opening vocals light up the room. Here’s a shot of the tubes. Note the cool Lampizator logo etched into the rear of each tube View attachment 79528

Glad you like the Anni Globes

 

[christoph]

IMO the 01a and 112a are each such a relative bargain that anyone with a Lampi should grab a pair of each and never look back. They are incredible in their own right and for the price the best I could ever imagine putting into my Lampi!

How would you rate the 01a and 112a against the usual suspects?
Purely on sonics, NOT factoring in their nice price