[jonathan c]

We're all ears eyes ....

 

[jonathan c]

Or listening to Duane Allman solo for 25 minutes on a 1 chord vamp. Blissful...

... and at the other extreme, do without the drum solo for In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida ...

 

[JerseyD]

OK, I just bought one as well! Must experience the Footscray magic for myself...

The Brimar from Langrex arrived and I was so excited to try it. Loud immediate static out of the headphones, even with volume set to zero! Let it cool off, removed it, and re-seated it in the HP8. Same result. Hope they take returns. Back to the RCA 12AX7A 1960's vintage...

 

[infinity3914]

The Brimar from Langrex arrived and I was so excited to try it. Loud immediate static out of the headphones, even with volume set to zero! Let it cool off, removed it, and re-seated it in the HP8. Same result. Hope they take returns. Back to the RCA 12AX7A 1960's vintage...

It arrived last night and I’m experiencing something similar with the static. It only appears at the lowest volume setting, which is strange because this never happens with my Mullard 12AT7. There’s a high pitch ring when there’s a signal from Roon and when the volume knob is set past 3 o’clock. Fortunately there’s no noise or static at my comfortable listening level at 10 -12 o’clock, so I’ve been enjoying the Brimar so far. Was this the case with your new Brimar?

 

[JerseyD]

It arrived last night and I’m experiencing something similar with the static. It only appears at the lowest volume setting, which is strange because this never happens with my Mullard 12AT7. There’s a high pitch ring when there’s a signal from Roon and when the volume knob is set past 3 o’clock. Fortunately there’s no noise or static at my comfortable listening level at 10 -12 o’clock, so I’ve been enjoying the Brimar so far. Was this the case with your new Brimar?

I was afraid to turn the volume up at all. The noise was audible without the headphones even on my head.

 

[JonT]

Here is the Brimar 'Footscray' (made at the Standard Telephone & Cable Ltd Foots Cray plant in 1956). Langrex currently has 247 of them:

The Brimar from Langrex arrived and I was so excited to try it. Loud immediate static out of the headphones, even with volume set to zero! Let it cool off, removed it, and re-seated it in the HP8. Same result. Hope they take returns. Back to the RCA 12AX7A 1960's vintage...

It arrived last night and I’m experiencing something similar with the static. It only appears at the lowest volume setting, which is strange because this never happens with my Mullard 12AT7. There’s a high pitch ring when there’s a signal from Roon and when the volume knob is set past 3 o’clock. Fortunately there’s no noise or static at my comfortable listening level at 10 -12 o’clock, so I’ve been enjoying the Brimar so far. Was this the case with your new Brimar?

I'm sorry to hear this...

I had forgotten about the 12AT7 Brimar Footscray that I had purchased from Langrex in October 2022 - until you guys revived the topic! When I dropped it into my HP8 about 11 days ago, it sounded fabulous out of the gate.

No static or ringing.

Impedance setting 'High' (for 800S).

 

[geoffalter11]

The Brimar from Langrex arrived and I was so excited to try it. Loud immediate static out of the headphones, even with volume set to zero! Let it cool off, removed it, and re-seated it in the HP8. Same result. Hope they take returns. Back to the RCA 12AX7A 1960's vintage...

sounds like some bad tubes to me. So sorry!!!!

 

[lauthoerer]

Oof! Really sorry for you guys. I ordered same day as you and mine works just fine…

 

[Pharmaboy]

The Brimar from Langrex arrived and I was so excited to try it. Loud immediate static out of the headphones, even with volume set to zero! Let it cool off, removed it, and re-seated it in the HP8. Same result. Hope they take returns. Back to the RCA 12AX7A 1960's vintage...

ouch!

 

[cats4cans]

You guys have been waxing poetic about these CV455 for so long that the FOMO got to me. (Though to be honest I may have a low threshold.) I haven’t gotten around to getting an HP8 yet, because for some reason I keep buying other things first. I bought a pair to try in my LTA MZ3. I may need to buy a few more singles when I eventually get an HP8. I haven’t been listening long, but It seems a shame to break up the pair now.

How low gain of a tube will the HP8 work with? I know it’s common to substitute a 12AT7 for the stock 12AX7. And I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that a 12AU7 is too far out of spec. What about the tubes between T and U, like a 6414?

Tube mu
12AX7 100
5751 70
12AT7 60
5965 47
12AY7 44
6414 42.5
12AU7 20

 

[geoffalter11]

You guys have been waxing poetic about these CV455 for so long that the FOMO got to me. (Though to be honest I may have a low threshold.) I haven’t gotten around to getting an HP8 yet, because for some reason I keep buying other things first. I bought a pair to try in my LTA MZ3. I may need to buy a few more singles when I eventually get an HP8. I haven’t been listening long, but It seems a shame to break up the pair now.

How low gain of a tube will the HP8 work with? I know it’s common to substitute a 12AT7 for the stock 12AX7. And I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that a 12AU7 is too far out of spec. What about the tubes between T and U, like a 6414?

Tube mu
12AX7 100
5751 70
12AT7 60
5965 47
12AY7 44
6414 42.5
12AU7 20

You can only use the 12AT7 and 12AX7 on the HP8. Plus the 5751.

 

[Jay Smith]

I like this combination very much: Psvane Art series 12 AT7-S/ Psvane Cossor 6SN7/ Clear OG with Sheepskin perforated pads.

 

[Pharmaboy]

You guys have been waxing poetic about these CV455 for so long that the FOMO got to me. (Though to be honest I may have a low threshold.) I haven’t gotten around to getting an HP8 yet, because for some reason I keep buying other things first. I bought a pair to try in my LTA MZ3. I may need to buy a few more singles when I eventually get an HP8. I haven’t been listening long, but It seems a shame to break up the pair now.

How low gain of a tube will the HP8 work with? I know it’s common to substitute a 12AT7 for the stock 12AX7. And I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that a 12AU7 is too far out of spec. What about the tubes between T and U, like a 6414?

Tube mu
12AX7 100
5751 70
12AT7 60
5965 47
12AY7 44
6414 42.5
12AU7 20

I didn't even know there were tubes between 12AT7 and 12AU7 (ignorance ... catch it!).

I wouldn't mess with any of these tubes with lower gain that the 60 of 12AT7 in the HP8. I remember reading here and there that 12AU7s (for example) were really not a good idea. No sense stressing those pricey 6SN7 power tubes...IMHO.

 

[cats4cans]

I didn't even know there were tubes between 12AT7 and 12AU7 (ignorance ... catch it!).

I wouldn't mess with any of these tubes with lower gain that the 60 of 12AT7 in the HP8. I remember reading here and there that 12AU7s (for example) were really not a good idea. No sense stressing those pricey 6SN7 power tubes...IMHO.

I sometimes try to come up with a corollary for “writing about music is like dancing about architecture,” for those of us that read about more things than we experience. Nothing good yet.

I wish I had put together a stash of 6SN7 before the price hikes. I have a few singles, but most of my pairs are 12SN7 (for the MZ3). I need to start keeping an eye out for bargains.

 

[JerseyD]

I sometimes try to come up with a corollary for “writing about music is like dancing about architecture,” for those of us that read about more things than we experience. Nothing good yet.

I wish I had put together a stash of 6SN7 before the price hikes. I have a few singles, but most of my pairs are 12SN7 (for the MZ3). I need to start keeping an eye out for bargains.

How about... "Listening to tubes is like tasting your stove." Never mind, I'll show myself out...