Lampizator Valve / Tube Rolling Review Thread

[cpcat]

Speaking of awesome tunes, listening now to a great Ben Webster album with Gerry Mulligan on my Pacific playing a red book CD through my CEC TL0. Immortal jazz never sounded better on my Quads. Of course, I’m not drinking beer, but some rather fine Zinfandel red wine from a 100 year old Italian winery (Guiglielmo Winery) a mile from my house here in the San Francisco Bay Area. It’s right off of 101, so if you’re driving from San Francisco to LA, take a detour and sample some of the fabulous wines from our local wineries.

Vivations come from all different plants, and from both coasts, and from all around the world for that matter. I have loved California when I have been there.

 

[jbrrp1]

The 242's absolutely rule in my Pacific, no other output tube holds up when I swap them back in. It's like ~20% of the magic goes back in the bottle! That's a big impact.

I'm loving a turn through Mingus' "Blues and Roots", along with some decent enough bourbon and some Illinois legal obtained at Axpona last week ;-)

 

[heihei]

Which 242's are you using?

 

[jbrrp1]

Which 242's are you using?

Basic KR 242.

 

[plasmod3]

Which 242's are you using?

the kr one - there is only that one i understand

 

[cpcat]

RK 242 is the premium version - high vac, thicker glass, zirconium,etc

KR= standard version
RK= premium version

 

[cpcat]

See pics
Both are higher gain than 300b and PX25 types. Standard KR242 is the highest gain of all-haven’t heard it personally.

As far as relative gain KR242>RK242>RK/KRPX25>300b types >45 types

Haven’t had a PX4 so can’t say for certain but I suspect is similar gain to 45 or between 300b and 45.

 

[abeidrov]

OK, I give up With all this love for 242s expressed here, I could not resist it anymore: I put on my -10dB attenuators and replaced RK PX25s with standard KR 242s on my GG2. I must admit, that I really like what I hear, but the tone is quite different. PX25s are not just slightly darker sounding, they have different tonality! I could live with either, but which one is closer to the real thing?

 

[bonzo75]

Never heard them sounding good with external attenuators.

Unfortunately the only way to try us to rotate preamps till it clicks

 

[abeidrov]

Never heard them sounding good with external attenuators.

Unfortunately the only way to try us to rotate preamps till it clicks

Very funny And since not every preamp would work with my current amp, I will also rotate amps till it clicks and then speakers.

 

[jbrrp1]

Very funny And since not every preamp would work with my current amp, I will also rotate amps till it clicks and then speakers.

I don't think Ked's joking. By my fourth preamp I hit gold in the Pacific... No joke. (Of course, being an audio nut, I'm moving on to the Horizon!)

 

[abeidrov]

Ked never jokes, very serious guy
I already asked my Lampi dealer to adjust the output of my GG2 to work with 242s. He ordered some parts from Poland, they are still in transit. I wonder how many volts my dac will output with 242s after the adjustment.

 

[cpcat]

You could add a VC to the gg2 and then you will be set for anything

 

[Golum]

Or he could just get a Horizon and all the issues are gone

 

[abeidrov]

I’ll get Horizon, MSB Select, Wadax and rotate them till it clicks.

 

[Golum]

I’ll get Horizon, MSB Select, Wadax and rotate them till it clicks.

Great idea! Just do it

 

[jbrrp1]

I’ll get Horizon, MSB Select, Wadax and rotate them till it clicks.

Beautiful! Looking forward to hearing your findings!

 

[godofwealth]

Or he could just get a Horizon and all the issues are gone

But the Horizon doesn’t use direct heated triodes. Where’s the fun of that? The whole reason I bought the Pacific was the sound I wanted to hear with the DHTs like 300B or the 242s. It’s like my wonderful 300B JJ 323 amplifier. Produces only 20 watts but oh boy what glorious 20 watts they are from a pair of 300Bs per channel. The Audio Research Ref 210s I own are sitting unused in a corner now. Yes, they produce 200 watts per channel from 8 KT120 tubes per channel. More watts but pentode watts. Don’t want to go backwards. Now if Lukasz would design a DHT version of the Horizon, I’d be tempted. Otherwise, sorry, I’m passing on the Horizon!

 

[godofwealth]

I don't think Ked's joking. By my fourth preamp I hit gold in the Pacific... No joke. (Of course, being an audio nut, I'm moving on to the Horizon!)

I found that getting rid of my Audio Research Ref preamp and going direct into my JJ 300B amplifier, which has a convenient ALPS potentiometer for gain adjustment, produced the best sound. Gone was the veiling and glare from the ARC. All preamps introduce veiling. Best to eliminate an extra layer of processing, not to mention reducing cable effects. I think the Pacific balanced amps have a gain control built in as well. Some of the old McIntoshes do as well.

 

[cpcat]

But the Horizon doesn’t use direct heated triodes. Where’s the fun of that? The whole reason I bought the Pacific was the sound I wanted to hear with the DHTs like 300B or the 242s. It’s like my wonderful 300B JJ 323 amplifier. Produces only 20 watts but oh boy what glorious 20 watts they are from a pair of 300Bs per channel. The Audio Research Ref 210s I own are sitting unused in a corner now. Yes, they produce 200 watts per channel from 8 KT120 tubes per channel. More watts but pentode watts. Don’t want to go backwards. Now if Lukasz would design a DHT version of the Horizon, I’d be tempted. Otherwise, sorry, I’m passing on the Horizon!

This—and:

For all headed to the Horizon I’d be interested in your 242s