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Author Topic: Eddie Current Balancing Act Output Tube Rolling  (Read 2185 times)

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Marvey

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Eddie Current Balancing Act Output Tube Rolling
« on: July 30, 2012, 06:54:03 PM »
Eddie Current Balancing Act Output Tube Rolling. Results on ECBA may differ on other amps.

In order of preference (after a few nights of direct comparison when I had all of them in front of me.) Just some notes from a few months ago which I figure I should post.
  • Osram PX25. Dynamic hard hitting bass, clarity, silky treble. Narrow but deep headstage. Otherwise known as the "Super Tube." Craig called me in to his place when Kiertijai loaned him a set of these.
  • KR PX4. Neutral. Good bass, clear sounding, and harmonically rich.
  • EML 300B Solid Plate. Wide headstage with precise instrument placement. Some upper bass and lower mid bloom. Good tight bass. Treble can be a little bit solid-state sounding
  • EH Platinum. Surprisingly good in all areas. Just a little bit less clear, less tight, less detailed, etc. compared to the better tubes. I wouldn't mind using these in a heartbeat.
  • EAT 300B. Doesn't do anything terribly wrong other than being extremely mediocre in all aspects. Surprisingly disappointing considering price. Mushy, muddy, and lacking detail compared to any of the above tubes. Reminds me of the RCA5692 red base, which is not my preference at all.
  • TJ Full Music 300B. Limp, wierd, willowy, romantic? I'm thinking some people may love it.
  • Sophia PX4. Clear and lean sounding, but otherwise not impressive at all. At least not on the BA. They sounded pretty good on the Apex Pinnacle.
Special Mention:

KR PX25. Does not sound like vintage PX25. Impressive is that it is very clean and extremely detailed in the treble, but also very dry sounding with zero hit of PX4's richness. Recommend if you like that sort of sound.

Also have heard Psvane, Royal Princess, in less ideal settings, although impressions of those escape me for some reason. Vintage Marconi (non globe) was bleh.
« Last Edit: July 31, 2012, 02:22:12 AM by purrin »
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Tari

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Re: Eddie Current Balancing Act Output Tube Rolling
« Reply #1 on: July 30, 2012, 07:25:44 PM »
Thanks for the comparison.  Someone I just loaned my KR PX4's destroyed them by taking them from his place to his girlfriend's on a motorcycle, so I'm in between and looking for some new tubes.  I've been looking for a pair of the Osrams forever (year and a half) and haven't managed to find anything, so I may as well just buy another pair of KR's from RAM.

Edit- Also, have you ever tried the EML Mesh?  Found someone selling in 9/10 for $350 and thinking it may be worth a try.
« Last Edit: July 30, 2012, 07:31:59 PM by Tari »
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Marvey

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Re: Eddie Current Balancing Act Output Tube Rolling
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2012, 02:16:35 AM »
Oooh, you should buy those before I do. They work better with PX4 bias or something a little higher than the regular 300B. I haven't heard them, but Craig liked them and felt that they really opened up with the PX4 bias.
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Tari

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Re: Eddie Current Balancing Act Output Tube Rolling
« Reply #3 on: July 31, 2012, 04:32:09 AM »
I'm buying from a guy in California, you want to try them on the way here?

Edit - crap, he sold out from under me while I was considering his offer.  Still, the Euro is super low right now and they go for ~$570 new on Jac right now.
« Last Edit: July 31, 2012, 04:34:07 AM by Tari »
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rosgr63

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Re: Eddie Current Balancing Act Output Tube Rolling
« Reply #4 on: July 31, 2012, 04:51:00 AM »
Don't forget the AVVT PX4 mesh.
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Marvey

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Re: Eddie Current Balancing Act Output Tube Rolling
« Reply #5 on: July 31, 2012, 05:55:12 AM »
Craig also had AVVT 300Bs (don't remember which variant) which I thought were pretty good sounding on the BA. A very modern sound with little coloration and good tight bass. Not as rich sounding as the KR PX4s which I feel are hard to beat. I think a 2A3/45 BA would be really interesting.
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