Lampizator Valve / Tube Rolling Review Thread

[cpcat]

Have a brand new matched quad of KR242s on the way. Thanks to Greg at G-point audio.

 

[Sampajanna]

Hard to come by. treasure them. I was on the hunt but decided to go to the Horizon instead. Let us know how they sound!

 

[plasmod3]

I was primarily using 242s in my Pacific running direct into a 300B SET amp that has a gain control, so no preamp needed. This gave me the very best sound. Recently I bought a pair of PX 25s from someone on this forum, and I’m very impressed by it as well. Almost as dynamic as the 242s, but warmer tonality. It’s midway between the 300B sound and the 242s. I used to be a strong believer in using preamps, especially ARC Ref tube preamps that I have long used since their original Ref 1 from 25 years ago. But I can now see the veiling introduced by the preamp. If you have speakers efficient enough for a (parallel) SET amp (mine produces 20 watts) or listen at low enough volumes, as I do, then I see little need for a preamp. When I listen to vinyl, I hook up my ARC Ref Phono 3SE direct to my SET amp and use its gain.

I did say the px25s are better within the px25s the gec are the best. Osram a second

 

[Holli82]

Just got my 596 USAF with Woo Audio adapter. Totally shocking how big of a difference the rectifier tube makes in Pacific…. Defies logic. Very different soundstage from the RK 5U4G…. Not sure there is a “better” here. Perhaps the RK works better with the other 4 RK power tubes I have in, but this 596 is special in its own way, More forward and wider soundstage, crisper & brighter by a tad.

Tube rolling is just plain fantastic. Often I find that upgraditis is just a craving for different and a nice tube change can satisfy the old itch like nothing else….

This observation is true for the GG 2 as well. I switched out my RK 5U4G for a Takatsuki 274. Different sound in my setup with 274 but not better than 5UG4.

 

[Cellcbern]

This observation is true for the GG 2 as well. I switched out my RK 5U4G for a Takatsuki 274. Different sound in my setup with 274 but not better than 5UG4.

GEC/Marconi/Osram U52 5U4G was the best 5U4G variant I'd ever heard until I tried the Sophia Aqua 274B.

 

[jbrrp1]

This observation is true for the GG 2 as well. I switched out my RK 5U4G for a Takatsuki 274. Different sound in my setup with 274 but not better than 5UG4.

I definitely have found a need to rotate through my rectifiers to find the best match for any given output DHT's in my Lampi's - - the matches/pairings seem to be very specific. With my GG 1 I found the same as you, staying with the RK 5U4G, and regardless of the DHT's I rolled. With my Pacific, this changed. I am running KR 242's and the Tak 274 is unbeatable, IME. Cellcbern is getting me to think I should revisit the Sophia Aqua 274B that I have in my stable, and perhaps give it more time to blossom.

 

[Holli82]

I definitely have found a need to rotate through my rectifiers to find the best match for any given output DHT's in my Lampi's - - the matches/pairings seem to be very specific. With my GG 1 I found the same as you, staying with the RK 5U4G, and regardless of the DHT's I rolled. With my Pacific, this changed. I am running KR 242's and the Tak 274 is unbeatable, IME. Cellcbern is getting me to think I should revisit the Sophia Aqua 274B that I have in my stable, and perhaps give it more time to blossom.

I think the RK 5UG4 and KR 272 pairing is special. I have no volume control on my unit so I had too much gain with the 272's Instead, I'm using KR 45's for my DHT's. Not too much talk about the 45's but they work well in my set-up.

 

[plasmod3]

Anyone want to buy a pair of kr 150? New in box

 

[Labpro]

I think the KR 5UG4 and KR 272 pairing is special. I have no volume control on my unit so I had too much gain with the 272's Instead, I'm using RK 45's for my DHT's. Not too much talk about the 45's but they work well in my set-up.

I use the Cunningham 45’s in my Big 7 with great success. Reciter is a U52 Marconi. Nice pairing.

 

[marty]

This observation is true for the GG 2 as well. I switched out my RK 5U4G for a Takatsuki 274. Different sound in my setup with 274 but not better than 5UG4.

FYI I "blew" my Tak274b on the Horizon 2 days ago after 3 mo of ~60% use. Fortunately the tube is being replaced under warranty. Returned to my Phillips Dutch GZ34 which I adore. They are different. The Phillips may get the edge in the midrange, but the bass (especially mid and lower bass) on the Tak 274b is a revelation. There is no bad tube set in the Horizon. Rather it is finding which recti works well with which pentode and triode. The USA Amperex 5u4G is also superb and may be the best value.

 

[Sampajanna]

You have so many tubes a full report of good configurations is in order!

 

[cpcat]

Look what DHL brought today.

Will be a fun weekend for sure!

 

[jbrrp1]

Look what DHL brought today.

Will be a fun weekend for sure!

What preamp, if any, are you using with it? If their gain is OK for your pre, I bet you'll love them!

 

[cpcat]

What preamp, if any, are you using with it? If their gain is OK for your pre, I bet you'll love them!

No preamp- just the VC in the B7 MK2 then on to a Pass XVR1 active crossover before feeding the amps and subs.

I haven’t used an active preamp in more than 20 yrs I guess. I used to use a Placette balanced passive for those years- but that has been retired to the closet since the B7 with VC arrived.

The XVR1, in addition to its primary function, acts as a buffer I would suppose to balance any impedance mismatch to the downstream amps -so best of both worlds? It works for me is all I can say.

 

[Sampajanna]

Congrats. New tubes are great! Happy listening.

 

[jbrrp1]

No preamp- just the VC in the B7 MK2 then on to a Pass XVR1 active crossover before feeding the amps and subs.

I haven’t used an active preamp in more than 20 yrs I guess. I used to use a Placette balanced passive for those years- but that has been retired to the closet since the B7 with VC arrived.

The XVR1, in addition to its primary function, acts as a buffer I would suppose to balance any impedance mismatch to the downstream amps -so best of both worlds? It works for me is all I can say.

Cool! Please post your impressions with the change once you've had a chance to take their measure.

 

[JSA]

Gents, if anyone is looking for Linlai Elite-274B or PSvane WE274B, PM me please. Both essentially brand new and under warranty. I am based in Europe.

 

[cpcat]

KR242s

Hmmmm. These are going to be very nice I think. I have around 40 hrs now. At first listen they sounded a little tight. Today over the last 2 hrs they have opened up and have also become much more layered front to back. The soundstaging may be the best I have heard with the B7 MKII. They seem very well balanced top to bottom as well, and very nice midrange presence but not overdone. I am told 100-300 hrs is required for full presentation so it is still early.

If anyone is interested the gain measures around 2 db greater than the RK242s, 5db greater than the RK PX25s, and thus around 8db greater than the WE300b reissue and other 300b types I have tried.

 

[Blake]

One option for owners who want to use 242 tubes in your Lampi, while using a separate preamp (and your preamp is not ideally matched for 242's):

Send your DAC to Lampizator in Poland, tell them you want to use 242's, provide the specs for your preamp and have them adjust your DAC by installing some high quality i/v resistors to match your preamp. That is what I did and I am very happy with the results.

 

[heihei]

One option for owners who want to use 242 tubes in your Lampi, while using a separate preamp (and your preamp is not ideally matched for 242's):

Send your DAC to Lampizator in Poland, tell them you want to use 242's, provide the specs for your preamp and have them adjust your DAC by installing some high quality i/v resistors to match your preamp. That is what I did and I am very happy with the results.

Or if you are running a server and software like Roon, reduce the output by a few dBs that way. Can be done on the fly album by album. My Pacific has a high and low output, and the low output is quite a bit inferior to the high output, so you want to maximise the output where possible.