I've just ordered a pair of Franks and am also worried about tube issues. Not sure if Takatsuki will last long enough. :) |
By the way, in the review by Dick Olsher, it states that Franks are easy on 300B and the anode dissipation is only 25W. Strange... |
I wonder if a tube radiator (like o ring, or Kryna) helps the matter... |
Charles, thanks for sharing. For Coincident Frank MK II, do you roll 6EM7 tubes as well? What is your pick? Thanks. |
Charles,
Thanks. I am using a First Watt J2 to drive Voxative/Lowther full range drivers. The source is Lampizator Big 7 with volumn control. I do have quite some 5U4 type rectifier to roll and will roll some output tubes on Big 7 as well. I have ordered a pair of Elrog.
I am thinking maybe I should try a Coincident Frankenstein MK II someday. And since I have 5U4G/27B rectifiers and 300B already, I thought maybe I would ask about 6EM7 as well. I do realize that there are no much 6EM7 to choose though.
Thanks again. |
Charles and Joe,
Thanks a lot. I just read the short comment about J2 vs Frank. I like my J2 and Voxativ combo a lot. Nothing beats a single ended class A amp and a high efficient driver/speaker combo in terms of naturalness, ease, dynamics and musicality. When listening at a low volumn, I feel there is a bit of everything/anything and I often wish to be drawn into something more closely.
However, when I turn up the volumn a bit, something a little harsh begins to appear. I am not sure if this is the inescapable charaterists of electronic sounds or it is because my room has not been treated (glass wall behind the speaker, smooth and hard floor surface and non-treated side walls). I am guessing both factors matter.
I did find respectable reviews saying that Frankenstein almost get rid of any trace of electronic sounds and that has been why I plans to try it out. :)
Thanks a lot again.
Wenye |
My recently acquired Elrog 300B replaces Psvane WE101D replica on Lampizator Big7 as output tube (Big7 has a switch to take either lower current or higher current tubes).
Initial impressions are very positive. Right now it is not as refined as 101D but it dwarfs 101D in every other areas. Sound stage expands dramatically; more details (and 101D was reported to be utterly detailed on Big7); better depths (but filled with information) and more holographic; more sense of realism on vocal.
I suppose that it needs burn-in to be more refined. Also my system needs tweaking. But certain details and depths already show how capable Elrog is. I am looking forward to trying them on tube amps sooner.
Thanks again to Charles and fellows for all the inputs. :) |
One of my Elrog 300B's also died on Lampizator Big 7 recently. Fortunately, they were still within warranty and I returned them for a refund.
I surely hope that Elrog could sort out the issue. They were sounding fantastic. |
Some post back, there was suggestion of modding the Frankenstein monos by adding about 200ohm of resistance somewhere. Instead of modding the amp, is it possible to simply make a tube converter/adapter that wire a resistor to the pin of anode (or pins of filament)? Will that take care of the issue (without modding the amp)? Thanks. |
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I bought my Takatsuki pair from pricejapan. Their price after fees is actually the same as the price + fees quoted from amtrans. However, amtrans won't accept paypal payment and I really don't want to wait in the banks to wire transfer and thus I bought them from pricejapan. Anyhow, the price has increased by 10% since I bought them and the wait time has been much longer.
Too bad I cannot and may never be able to do a Taka vs Elrog comparison - my Elrog pairs died on my Lampizator Big 7 and they were sent back long ago. But I do prefer Taka a lot to EML 300B XLS on Frankenstein. Maybe a tiny bitter worse than EML for big scale but everything else better.
I am now settled with Taka but I do hope that Elrog could fix their reliability issue. They were top 300B tubes for sure.
By the way, the Takatsuki 274B is also great but also expensive (priced close to vintage WE27B NOS). |
Charles, I still keep J2 but I do feel that Frankenstein is a better amp driving Voxativ. It is significantly more responsive to source component change than J2.
Dracule1, thanks. I suppose that might be the cause then. I am also aware of Elorg/Lampizator issue reported by other users.
The silly thing is, after Elrog failure on my Lampi, I am reluctant to try Takatsuki on Lampi, and reluctant to try Elrog on Frankenstein. Maybe I should give these a try some day. |
According to what I read on tube asylum, Elrog is expected to fix the failure issue by now. Any news on that?
Charles, I keep J2 only because I occasionally build loudspeakers and I need J2 to tweek and burn in some components. It is a very good SS amp though, top in its class. :) |
Dracule1, Elrog is the best tubes that I heard on Lampizator. I don't even need to A/B with Psvane 101D 1:1 replica to know it is way better. Psvane has been a great performance tube and was my reference before. |
Elrog 300B's were dead quite on my Lampizator big 7. I still missed their sound very much! Sigh.
I do believe that Elrog and Takatsuki are the best current production 300B's. Takatsuki 300B's on Frankensteins and Voxativ reproduce the best treble that I can imagine. The flute sound is so sweet and delicate that it is almost unreal! |
Similar experience here. Good right out of box. :) |
I was courageous enough to put the Takatsuki 300B on Lampi briefly.
Well, the difference from Psvane WE101D 1:1 replica was very subtle if any.
I guess I am really missing Elrog 300B's. They were the most resolving tubes on Lampizator.
Maybe after I settle down with my system, I will buy another pair and see if the issue has been fixed. |
Dracule1,
Sorry for the bad news. Elrogs are supposed to be great even without breaking in. And their sound signature doesn't change much during burnt-in process.
I am not sure if Elrog change the formula a little bit and cause the difference.
WYAN |
Hello, Dracule1, have you solved the issue? What is your impression of the sound?
I am eager to know, since I hope that they don't alter the tube too much for longer use, at the cost of sound. Like I said, I really miss them on my Lampi. :) |
Hi, Dracule1,
I am glad it works out for you. I totally understand your absence. :p
Elrogs produce the lowest sound floor on Lampi compared to other tubes. And thus the details and transparency. Like I said, you don't even have to a/b to hear the difference from 101D. Go out for a long trip, come back and plug in 101D instead and you immediately realize. I don't have golden ears but it was just so obvious.
I really really hope that they will give you a long long period of musical enjoyment. |
Hi, Dracule1, we pm'ed about rectifier at another forum (I was not able to registered for the same user name). Anyhow, 5z4gy -> Cossor 53KU / WE422a -> WE274A/B & Takatsuki 274B. I am now using Takatsuki 274B and like it. No chance to compare it with WE's though. |
Hi, Dracule1, Glad it all works out for you. I am going through a long system upgrade/transit. After I am settled, I will try Elrog again. Cheers. |
