Yes was a little underwhelmed weren't ideally placed ,klipsch cornwalls impressed me a lot more and ns1000 and ns2000 .some absolutely beautiful kensingtons at wam show [ i think thats what they are ] anyone heard them ?
post 81
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Dilemma: Klipsch Cornwall IV vs Tannoy Kensington SE
- Thread starter Mike Hanson
- Start date
Tony L
Administrator
if it's up to that number, jolly good, and the always-existent exception's just been found
The original TL12.1 is an extraordinary amp, a true no-compromise design of its era that cost a fortune then and still does today. Lots of info on 44BX including the manual and quotes from period reviews. It appears it comfortably met its 0.1% figure in 1948! The Stereo 20, TL12 Plus etc were later and cost-cut in comparison, but did benefit from later technology and I’d be amazed if they didn’t meet their ‘Point One’ marketing. This stuff mattered back then, if a company lied they’d be called out on it as it was still a highly technical hobby at that point. I’ve got a full bound set of Gramophone magazines from 1954 to 1981 or so, so I’ll inevitably have reviews of the TL12 Plus and Stereo 20, but finding anything is a total nightmare as it has no proper index!
wd40addict
pfm Member
Doesn't look like they tested them, but they did test the Varislope preamp in November 1960.
Reviews in this era certainly normally included technical tests. This was especially true in the 'Tape Recorder' reviews where Alec Tutchings would really lift the drains. They didn't spend a lot of time worrying about which mains lead sounds best!
Reviews in this era certainly normally included technical tests. This was especially true in the 'Tape Recorder' reviews where Alec Tutchings would really lift the drains. They didn't spend a lot of time worrying about which mains lead sounds best!
Mike Hanson
Trying to understand...
Thank you for that! I swapped the tubes and the hiss swapped channels.
The current tubes are Electro-Harmonix 6922. Any suggestions?
OzBrit Audio
pfm Member
I don't think its as simple as thatall valve amps measure (in a sense) poorly - but, just as in the article, for they produce even harmonics (2nd, 4th, etc.) the ear takes them not as distortion (up to a certain level) but, rather, as added musical content
Most research has shown that the human can't detect THD much below 1% so I don't think THD figures even whether they are predominantly even or odd harmonics can explain what makes an amplifier sound 'good'
The problem with measurements is that they don't reflect the nature of music reproduction into a typical loudspeaker load - ie a constantly changing amplitude into a highly reactive loudspeaker which will put back emfs from the loudspeaker woofer onto the loudspeaker terminals which inevitably will make it back into the sensitive feedback circuit of the amplifier (at least in solid state amplifiers - valves are a different story with that great big chunk of iron in the way).
All tests are done into a fixed load, usually 4 or 8R, using either a sine or square wave, totally unrepresentative of real world listening conditions. These measurement usually lead to didly squat when it comes to telling how an amplifier will actually sound.
coltrane
electrobaroCKjazzer
I believe I didn't say measurements mean anything really regarding what we experience as reproduced music - rather, I believe my ears
(even with mains cables 
)OzBrit Audio
pfm Member
I'm no expert in valves but I have a couple of valve pieces in the past and electro harmonix generally produce a good valve.
I had a Woo Audio WA7 headphone amp (wish I'd never sold it now) and tube rolling for that showed an electro harmonix gold plated cryogenically treated produced the best sound. In fact it was sublime come to think of it.
I also used electro harmonix ECC83 on a Roth Audio class A and the results were also very good.
Others will have comments I'm sure but I'd start with a replacement Electro Harmonix tube to get rid of that hiss and then consider tube rolling after doing your research
Your thread got me thinking with my system and Avondale builds (my speakers Buccards S400 II and updated Klipsch RF8000). Searching the Naim forum there are others saying the same about Klipsch Heritage although Heresy speakers seem to work well with the Uniti range. Steve Huff (is that his name?) loved the Atom with his Heresy IV's although he did say sometimes he found the sound a little thin.
OzBrit Audio
pfm Member
Definitely agree on mains cables. Particularly when it comes to digital gear.I believe I didn't say measurements mean anything really regarding what we experience as reproduced music - rather, I believe my ears
My Atom HE sounds anything between sublime and a screechy transistor radio depending on the quality of the mains supply and probably what's coming down the coax (my internet interface). I have some MCRU mains cables which tame this a bit but doesn't fix the problem totally. Have tried a PS Audio regenerator which helps a lot but is more expensive than the Atom so is a no go for me.
Next steps a seperate mains spur and if that fails I intend to build my owns mains regenerator using a 2KW pure sine wave inverter and a car battery (about 10% of the cost of the PS Audio solution)
Back to mains cables I don't find they make difference for power amps but for digital gear the effect is very noticeable.
Fun and games eh!
Nagraboy
Ausculta fili
I’ve tried my Cornwall III with a few amps:
Leben CS300XS
Leak 20 (with passive)
Audion 300B
Quad 303 (with passive)
Quad II (with passive)
Only the Quad II has avoided causing audible noise at the listening position, although at good volume levels it’s still audible when playing vinyl.
I did manage to get virtual silence with the 7Wpc Audion but only when I connected my CD player directly to it, using the Audion’s volume pot. The noise might be because I can’t position my SUT in such a way that avoids hum pick-up entirely. I think the TD124 motor is a bit of a problem in this way.
Mike Hanson
Trying to understand...
After changing the 6922 input tubes on my Cary SLI-100, there is dead silence (other than the music, of course).
Which ones did you go for?
Mike Hanson
Trying to understand...
Sorry, I thought I had posted that earlier. I went from the prior Electro-Harmonix 6922EH to their Gold version.
I considered others, but many are stupid expensive. This seemed like a reasonable step up, and I'm quite happy with the results. Overall, I would say the amp sounds even better than it did before.
Maybe one day I'll experiment with rolling tubes, but not today.
Tony L
Administrator
They really aren’t. Good signal valves last an astonishing length of time. I have a set of three used 1960 Mullard ECC83s (Blackburn I61 type) in my phono stage that I have run for best part of a decade now, and they were well used before they came into my possession. They just refuse to die. I test them every year and they measure the same and keep sounding great! This is in a valve preamp with an inbuilt phono stage, so they are powered on doing their thing even when I am playing CD or other line sources. They are older than I am and I bet they’ll outlive me!
Their Gold tubes are generally very good. I tried quite a few NOS and expensive new before settling on EH Gold 6SN7s. Like yours, ultra quiet and great soundingSorry, I thought I had posted that earlier. I went from the prior Electro-Harmonix 6922EH to their Gold version.
I considered others, but many are stupid expensive. This seemed like a reasonable step up, and I'm quite happy with the results. Overall, I would say the amp sounds even better than it did before.
Maybe one day I'll experiment with rolling tubes, but not today.
chiily
PFM Special Builder
6922EH are equivalent to ECC88s/E88CCs/6DJ8s, from what I've read. Plenty of those to choose from Mike, even some choice NOS Mullards. I've done some tube rolling with that type in a pre amp and my preference is for a Tungsram E88CCSorry, I thought I had posted that earlier. I went from the prior Electro-Harmonix 6922EH to their Gold version.
I considered others, but many are stupid expensive. This seemed like a reasonable step up, and I'm quite happy with the results. Overall, I would say the amp sounds even better than it did before.
Maybe one day I'll experiment with rolling tubes, but not today.
mikeyb
pfm Member
Matsushita 7DJ8s are excellent too, I used them instead of 6922s in my pre amp a while back, I didn't like the EH6922s at all.
PCC88/7DJ8-NATIONAL MATSUSHITA
Original National PCC88 made by the Matsushita Corporation of Japan. These have had rave reviews all over the Audio world as a replacement for the ECC88, E88CC and 6922 family of valves. The only difference is the PCC88 has 7 volt heater whereas the ECC88 & 6922 family of valves has a 6.3 volt...
watfordvalves.com
Mark Packer
All Rev'd up!
So, I’m wondering Mike, has the Cary solved the issue you were experiencing? And, are you pleased and happy with the outcome?