Wavac 833s

[plasmod3]

Anyone own these beasts here?

Wondering if you have tube rolled those 833 valves? Keen on experiences and happy to share mine too

 

[jeffreybehr]

Well, I've seen one! A late friend had a collection that included an 833 lamp.

 

[plasmod3]

Amazing just trying to figure out tube rolling the 833s and wondering if someone has done that before in the past with experiemce to share

 

[mtemur]

I guess only option apart from NOS RCAs are new Chinese tubes. I can not say I like new tubes on them. RCAs were a little bit better. I think it’s something about the sound of the amplifier.

 

[plasmod3]

Quite a few more

USN 833 has this different plate coating on it
Amperex
Westinghouse
Iec

 

[SVS]

Soviet GU-48 is an analogue of 833.

 

[plasmod3]

Soviet GU-48 is an analogue of 833.

Yup. Have you heard the other western ones with impressions?

 

[SVS]

Yup. Have you heard the other western ones with impressions?

I heard 833 GE and RCA. I think that big balloons steal microdynamics, GU-48 too.

 

[plasmod3]

Ahhh didn't experience that. What, amp were those balloons in?

 

[SVS]

Maybe these are personal preferences and are not up for debate. It can be roughly estimated as the sound of the DAC on the TDA1540, it does not reproduce many subtle nuances of the sound, but it is very melodic and many like it.

 

[plasmod3]

Like a 300b... Still back to the topic. Has anyone tube rolled the 833s between the different brands out there?

 

[mtemur]

I heard 833 GE and RCA. I think that big balloons steal microdynamics, GU-48 too.

I’m not sure whether the tubes or the amplifier itself steal micro dynamics but as a result the whole package sounds awful. I’m sorry to use such a strong term but that’s the only way I can explain what I hear from wavac 833.

 

[SVS]

I’m not sure whether the tubes or the amplifier itself steal micro dynamics but as a result the whole package sounds awful. I’m sorry to use such a strong term but that’s the only way I can explain what I hear from wavac 833.

I'm not thrilled either, even though I've heard 5 or 6 different amps with the 833/GU-48.

 

[plasmod3]

Stay on topic lol it's about 833 rolling not your impressions on the 833 amp. Gosh can't be that hard is it

 

[Ron Resnick]

I’m sorry to use such a strong term but that’s the only way I can explain what I hear from wavac 833.

Interesting. A number of members here use Wavac 833s.

 

[plasmod3]

Not many use the sh833 though. And I found my answer as well. The amperex 1950s 833 sound the best. Having said that other equivalents are the tb3/1000 and the t400. Those who say big tubes steal microdynamics probably don't hear what me and mf both can hear. Avoid the Chinese fu833...

 

[bonzo75]

I’m not sure whether the tubes or the amplifier itself steal micro dynamics but as a result the whole package sounds awful. I’m sorry to use such a strong term but that’s the only way I can explain what I hear from wavac 833.

if you are used to smaller triodes lower watt amps, the bigger tubes with high wattage amps would sound less micro dynamic. Not sure if it is the tube alone or the fact that to supply the higher voltage to the bigger tube more complicated circuitry is required…though that means it is still the tube. A small tube amp is relatively simpler.

that’s why the most nuanced sound I have heard is with the the 1.25 and 3 watt Thomas Mayer 46s. It just made every other amp sound slow and lacking lots of musical micro dynamic detail. Similar thing happened when I compared NAF 2a3 on Devore orangutans to multiple higher powered amps which I had previously liked on more inefficient speakers

 

[mtemur]

if you are used to smaller triodes lower watt amps, the bigger tubes with high wattage amps would sound less micro dynamic. Not sure if it is the tube alone or the fact that to supply the higher voltage to the bigger tube more complicated circuitry is required…though that means it is still the tube. A small tube amp is relatively simpler.

that’s why the most nuanced sound I have heard is with the the 1.25 and 3 watt Thomas Mayer 46s. It just made every other amp sound slow and lacking lots of musical micro dynamic detail. Similar thing happened when I compared NAF 2a3 on Devore orangutans to multiple higher powered amps which I had previously liked on more inefficient speakers

That is not the case with Wavac 833 amps. It is not a matter of personal preference or familiarity with high power tube amps. IMHO Wavac 833 is not a good sounding amp. Both two pieces and four pieces versions.

 

[Ron Resnick]

The amperex 1950s 833 sound the best.

Thank you. What does "sound the best" mean here? What do you hear the Amperex 1950s 833 doing sonically versus the tube it replaced?

 

[Ron Resnick]

That is not the case with Wavac 833 amps. It is not a matter of personal preference or familiarity with high power tube amps. IMHO Wavac 833 is not a good sounding amp. Both two pieces and four pieces versions.

Which SET amp over 100 watts do you prefer?

Do you prefer the AM 833 Ultima? NAT Magma? Trafomatic Elysium (70 watts, I know)?