LampizatOr Horizon - Tube Rolling Paradise

Golum

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Jun 7, 2018
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What rectifier and which triodes are you using. I find the Thomson CSA 5687 to sound best in my system. The Kt170 plus the Tak274B created by far the best dynamics
I just turned it on yesterday literally for two hours as we have 4 days of vacation here so there was no time to play much nor listen but as I said i wanted to check if peace on this planet is possible so I combined USSR triodes (6n1p) and Russian made KT170 with US made RCA 5u4g top getter recti (which i love) all blended, of course, by Polish DAC and to my surprise they work beuatifully together.
Based on this learning there is still some hope for all of us :D
 

marty

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Apr 20, 2010
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On to the VT-99s. So far they sound similar and as nice as the TS 6SN7.

View attachment 93421
:) See you and call! I was a student working the concert as a security guard (the very definition of a joke) on 10-26-71at the U Rochester Palestra. I saw the concert from the front row and snapped this pic of Jerry from 5 ft away. Fortunately, I didn't drink the OJ being passed around that night.


Jerry Garcia, Rochester 10-26-71 copy.jpg
 

dminches

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Oct 22, 2011
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:) See you and call! I was a student working the concert as a security guard (the very definition of a joke) on 10-26-71at the U Rochester Palestra. I saw the concert from the front row and snapped this pic of Jerry from 5 ft away. Fortunately, I didn't drink the OJ being passed around that night.


View attachment 93679

Amazing!
 

Whbgarrett

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Oct 7, 2019
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:) See you and call! I was a student working the concert as a security guard (the very definition of a joke) on 10-26-71at the U Rochester Palestra. I saw the concert from the front row and snapped this pic of Jerry from 5 ft away. Fortunately, I didn't drink the OJ being passed around that night.


View attachment 93679
Jerry looks like he may have had some of that OJ …
 

Sampajanna

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Apr 1, 2021
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:) See you and call! I was a student working the concert as a security guard (the very definition of a joke) on 10-26-71at the U Rochester Palestra. I saw the concert from the front row and snapped this pic of Jerry from 5 ft away. Fortunately, I didn't drink the OJ being passed around that night.


View attachment 93679
Amazing! No early day shows for me. All in the 80s and 90s. I was too young in the 70s :) Great photography!
 

Whbgarrett

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Oct 7, 2019
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So after spending some time listening to three different small signal tubes in my H DAC, my favorite so far are Beckman 6922s (which I believe were made by Amperex as an "instrument quality" tube?). I find them to be amazing sounding, and more to my liking than either Thomson CSF 5687 or Tung Sol 6SN7 GTB black plates, although all have their strength and weaknesses.

The TS 6SN7s are lovely in the midrange, but a bit rolled off in the highs and somewhat loose in the low end, and not quite as transparent or resolving, but really nice on lots of music. The 5687s are transparent and resolving, but not as saturated or quite as extended as the Beckman 6922s, which have more weight and a taughter low end.

I would love to get opinions on how the Beckman's sound compared to other 6992/E88CC variants such as various 7308 and CCA versions, or other ones folks believe to be of note. Also, I realize the TS 6SN7 GTBs are not the last word in 6SN7s, so I would be curious to know if variants exist (perhaps vt231s or TS black glass) that are more transparent and less rolled off, or whether I am hearing something common to that type of tube.

I should mention that nearly all of the above observations are while using a Tak 274B and TS KT170s.
 
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dminches

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Oct 22, 2011
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So after spending some time listening to three different small signal tubes in my H DAC, my favorite so far are Beckman 6922s (which I believe were made by Amperex as an "instrument quality" tube?). I find them to be amazing sounding, and more to my liking than either Thomson CSF 5687 or Tung Sol 6SN7 GTB black plates, although all have their strength and weaknesses.

The TS 6SN7s are lovely in the midrange, but a bit rolled off in the highs and somewhat loose in the low end, and not quite as transparent or resolving, but really nice on lots of music. The 5687s are transparent and resolving, but not as saturated or quite as extended as the Beckman 6922s, which have more weight and a taughter low end.

I would love to get opinions on how the Beckman's sound compared to other 6992/E88CC variants such as various 7308 and CCA versions, or other ones folks believe to be of note. Also, I realize the TS 6SN7 GTBs are not the last word in 6SN7s, so I would be curious to know if variants exist (perhaps vt231s or TS black glass) that are more transparent and less rolled off, or whether I am hearing something common to that type of tube.

I should mention that nearly all of the above observations are while using a Tak 274B and TS KT170s.

There is a big difference between the TS GTBs and BGRPs. The latter have no weakness to my ears.
 

Golum

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christoph

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Dec 11, 2015
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I would love to get opinions on how the Beckman's sound compared to other 6992/E88CC variants such as various 7308 and CCA versions, or other ones folks believe to be of note
I didn't even know that you can use those types in the Horizon :D
Do they need adapters?
 

dminches

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Oct 22, 2011
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I didn't even know that you can use those types in the Horizon :D
Do they need adapters?

Yes. The only tubes that don't need adapters are the 8 pin tube types like 6SN7, etc.

All of the 9 pin small tubes need adapters.
 
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christoph

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Dec 11, 2015
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Yes. The only tubes that don't need adapters are the 8 pin tube types like 6SN7, etc.

All of the 9 pin small tubes need adapters.
Thanks for the info.
So ECC88/6922 et al can be used in the Horizon with the suitable adapter (6922 to 6SN7 ?) ??
That opens up another plethora of possibilities :eek:
 

dminches

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Oct 22, 2011
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After listening to the Tung Sol VT-99s for a week or so I am back to the TS 6SN7s. I am not sure any other tube will beat it.
 
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Steve Rowan

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Feb 12, 2012
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I’m wondering which version of the TS 6SN 7s’
All from Tung sol below

6SN 7 GTB Chrone Topped D Getter
6 SN 7 GTB Elegant
6 SN 7 GTB Round plates

there are several variations on eBay.
 

dminches

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Oct 22, 2011
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I’m wondering which version of the TS 6SN 7s’
All from Tung sol below

6SN 7 GTB Chrone Topped D Getter
6 SN 7 GTB Elegant
6 SN 7 GTB Round plates

there are several variations on eBay.

These are the types that I like in other applications (not the specific auction though).

https://www.ebay.com/itm/334450146643?hash=item4ddec83d53:g:6xoAAOSwzAViipnv - very nice sounding tube.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/144551489008?hash=item21a7f0adf0:g:BkMAAOSwbzBifW5d - these are great sounding

https://www.ebay.com/itm/224940247678?hash=item345f7bca7e:g:lYgAAOSw5BZiWkrs - probably the best of the best

If people are looking for the “black glass, round plates” variety I may have a pair or 2 to sell. I haven’t gone through everything I have but I know I have some “extra” pairs.
 

dminches

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Golum

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Jun 7, 2018
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Guys please someone try out 6n1p if you have them...they really do sound great and they are dirt cheap. Adapter needed (6922 to 6sn7)
 
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