LampizatOr Horizon - Tube Rolling Paradise

[Golum]

I didn't have much time before to roll tubes in H but in the last few days I kind of did my fair share of exploration primarily in the double triode position and a few rectifiers while constant was a quad of KT170. I tried el156 before and they are great but from "moral" reasons I don't want to use them and same goes for Siemens f2a.

To sum up I tried: NOS 6n1p, Philco 6sn7, TungSol 6sn7GT round plates, TungSol VT99 round plates, Mullard ECC32, Thompson 5687, Siemens e182cc. From new production only Psvane CV181 Black Treasure was in the rotation. Rectifiers i tried so far - Taka 274b, Hytron 5u4g and RCA 5u4g both with top getters, Pope 80, RCA 80 Globe, EML 274b. Didn't try heavy lifters like WE274B engraved base, GEC U52 and I'm not sure if I will as I extremely like what I hear now.

First of all what I need to say is that Horizon despite being ultimate tool for rolling nutheads is quite boring in this game as with any tube set I tried sounds fantastic. Even with on paper cheapest tubes basic threshold line is very high which in my experience with other Lampi DACs is not the case to this extent, so it may be easily said that this one is perfect DAC for non tube rollers. Plug/play and forget about it variant which is good.

Rectifiers wise I was using Taka for certain period and it does sound exceptionally good but for my system maybe a tad too dark and heavy which I don't need so I've sent it back to power supply of my Tobian SC12 where it rocks and instead I'm happily using my trusted RCA 5u4g. Hytron and Pope 80 also great but RCA is just more airy and punchy - not a lot but sufficient to stay.

Double triodes - for my liking and system Mullard ECC32 is the torch bearer - phenomenal dynamics, bass which moves your intestines with every drum kick, very detailed and airy at the same time and all of this wrapped with extreme musicality. Small step behind are TS 6sn7/TS VT99 & Thompson 5687 where I guess depending on the system someone will for sure prefer or choose one of those even maybe above ECC32. Step behind are Psvane CV181 and 6n1p which for the money they cost are actually price/performance winners in my book.

I'm certain there are other options to explore (actually I know that for a fact ) but for a time being I believe its time to settle down and enjoy the music.

 

[Steve Williams]

First of all what I need to say is that Horizon despite being ultimate tool for rolling nutheads is quite boring in this game as with any tube set I tried sounds fantastic. Even with on paper cheapest tubes basic threshold line is very high which in my experience with other Lampi DACs is not the case to this extent, so it may be easily said that this one is perfect DAC for non tube rollers. Plug/play and forget about it variant which is good.

i totally agree that any tube sounds good however there are a few nuggets that truly were an epiphany to my ears. I have my fixed set with plenty of matched set backups so I’m sailing off into the Horizon. I’m have no further interest in tube rolling but to all intents and purposes I do admit that I lust after WE274B engraved base

 

[heihei]

What are the stock tubes the Horizon is shipped with?

 

[Golum]

Usually Psvane 6sn7 aka tennis balls, latest I've seen KT88 Gold Lion and rectifier I have no idea - maybe EML 274b

 

[Alex Sound Technology]

i totally agree that any tube sounds good however there are a few nuggets that truly were an epiphany to my ears. I have my fixed set with plenty of matched set backups so I’m sailing off into the Horizon. I’m have no further interest in tube rolling but to all intents and purposes I do admit that I lust after WE274B engraved base

Hi Steve,

It is very interesting to wait for your comparison regarding WE274B engraved base and your favorite TA-274B

 

[Steve Williams]

Hi Steve,

It is very interesting to wait for your comparison regarding WE274B engraved base and your favorite TA-274B

Hi Alex. The Takatsuki 274B which I bought from you was the one tube with the biggest epiphany to my ears, so my quest for a WE274 engraved base is semi serious as I love your rectifier. For any one reading this pst I can tell you that Alex is the real deal when it comes to tubes and he was the best and quickest source for the Tak 274B

 

[ctydwn]

Hi Alex. The Takatsuki 274B which I bought from you was the one tube with the biggest epiphany to my ears, so my quest for a WE274 engraved base is semi serious as I love your rectifier. For any one reading this pst I can tell you that Alex is the real deal when it comes to tubes and he was the best and quickest source for the Tak 274B

Mine arrives Monday from Alex. Will be very curious given Gollum’s post and Steve’s praise.

Current rectifiers:
KR 5U4G
EML 274

Other
KT88
TS KT170

5687s
Psvane 6SN7-BE
CV181-Z

 

[Steve Williams]

Mine arrives Monday from Alex. Will be very curious given Gollum’s post and Steve’s praise.

which rectifier are you using now?

Remember that a chosen tube set IMO is dependent upon room setup, system components and one's own ears so one man's passion can be another man's poison. Yet having said that there is so much meat around the bone with the Tak that it ticks every box in my list

 

[Sampajanna]

Excited to join the club and get started soon!

 

[Holli82]

Hi Alex. The Takatsuki 274B which I bought from you was the one tube with the biggest epiphany to my ears, so my quest for a WE274 engraved base is semi serious as I love your rectifier. For any one reading this pst I can tell you that Alex is the real deal when it comes to tubes and he was the best and quickest source for the Tak 274B

Steve,
I can vouch for the service that Alex and his company provides. The Takatsuki 274B is the real deal, but the service I received was outstanding.

 

[Sampajanna]

Just rolled my first tube, The RCA ”Freddy“ 5U4G I had in my Pac…. very nice Recti. Have 4X TS KT170s in the mail as well and a pair of metal base Sylvania 6SN7 to try….

 

[marty]

Beware of Hanoitubes

I wanted to make members aware that i have had a very unpleasant interaction with Hanoitubes. I won't go into details but caught him in a clear bait and switch. It took 25 painful emails to straighten thus out as he is dishonest and not reputable. I know some of you may have had success with him, but you should know that he says he has 100% positive feedback because he scrubs his negative feedback. He scrubbed my negative feedback without any notice to me from him or Ebay. Ebay makes money on sellers not buyers. I complained to Ebay and they did nothing only to say they will keep an eye on him in the future. Yeah, right.

I would have let this issue go but I was speaking to another member who was interested in some Mullard ECC32s that Hanoitubes listed (for an outrageous price). However he noticed they have a black base. They are not Blackburn Mullards!! This is from Brent Jesse's (a fantastic seller) web site:

"Look for the early Mullard with the distinctive late 1950s brown micanol base with the "gold dust" appearance, of sparkling mica flakes in the brown matrix. Be careful when buying these! Later versions were made in Russia, but still say "Great Britain" on them! The Russian tubes have a rounded glass top, and a cup or square shape solid getter. They also often have a large, very shiny black base NOT made from bakelite but from an inferior plastic. We do not carry these types in our stock."

If its a genuine UK Mullard, this is what the base should look like!

 

[Sampajanna]

What? ebay allows sellers to erase negative feedback! That is awful. Also, thanks for the heads up!

 

[rau]

What? ebay allows sellers to erase negative feedback! That is awful. Also, thanks for the heads up!

eBay has always removed neg feedback if they feel it wasn't justified

 

[rau]

Beware of Hanoitubes

I wanted to make members aware that i have had a very unpleasant interaction with Hanoitubes. I won't go into details but caught him in a clear bait and switch. It took 25 painful emails to straighten thus out as he is dishonest and not reputable. I know some of you may have had success with him, but you should know that he says he has 100% positive feedback because he scrubs his negative feedback. He scrubbed my negative feedback without any notice to me from him or Ebay. Ebay makes money on sellers not buyers. I complained to Ebay and they did nothing only to say they will keep an eye on him in the future. Yeah, right.

I would have let this issue go but I was speaking to another member who was interested in his Mullard ECC32s that he has listed for an outrageous price. However notice they have a black base. They are not Blackburn Mullards!! This is from Brent Jesse's (a fantastic seller) web site:

"Look for the early Mullard with the distinctive late 1950s brown micanol base with the "gold dust" appearance, of sparkling mica flakes in the brown matrix. Be careful when buying these! Later versions were made in Russia, but still say "Great Britain" on them! The Russian tubes have a rounded glass top, and a cup or square shape solid getter. They also often have a large, very shiny black base NOT made from bakelite but from an inferior plastic. We do not carry these types in our stock."

If its a genuine Mullard, this is what the base should look like!
View attachment 97091

outrageous price ? Is he forcing you to purchase the tubes ? The seller has 100% feedback most likely because he's a good seller and then you came along and tried to destroy it . Also this story your making reference to is bs black vs brown . I was a power seller on eBay for yrs and always dreaded buyers like you .

 

[dminches]

ebay is inconsistent with respect to feedback. I had a buyer give me neutral feedback because he claimed the memory sticks I sold him didn’t work. He then realized it was his fault and they worked fine. He added more verbal feedback saying it was his mistake but ebay wouldn’t remove the neutral rating.

 

[Tuckia]

I asked an old friend who is a full time tube seller for the last 30 years. He has sold many hundreds of Mullard ECC32. He said 80% were black base; 20% brown base. All real Mullards.

Base color isn't the issue. Anyone have a photo to share of these phantom Russian ECC32? Or is this fear mongering?

 

[dminches]

I asked an old friend who is a full time tube seller for the last 30 years. He has sold many hundreds of Mullard ECC32. He said 80% were black base; 20% brown base. All real Mullards.

Base color isn't the issue. Anyone have a photo to share of these phantom Russian ECC32? Or is this fear mongering?

I have never seen a Russian made ECC32. They could exist but I have never come across one.

 

[rau]

ebay is inconsistent with respect to feedback. I had a buyer give me neutral feedback because he claimed the memory sticks I sold him didn’t work. He then realized it was his fault and they worked fine. He added more verbal feedback saying it was his mistake but ebay wouldn’t remove the neutral

Oh eBay isn't perfect that's for sure , neither is pay pal .

 

[dminches]

Oh eBay isn't perfect that's for sure , neither is pay pal .

On average, but definitely not 100%, ebay seems to favor the seller and paypal the buyer. It makes sense since those are their main clients.