@charles1dad I got the mesh plates today! I've got to just say they may very well end up being my new favorite. I perceive better transparency. Micro dynamics seem to be a little more pronounced, but not artificially so. Ambient information seems to be conveyed just better. What really seems to be noticeable is vocals are both startling explosive with dynamics and still nice and smooth. Effortless comes to mind. I might be trading a tad in overall dynamics, but the nuances of improvement seem to be totally worth it. I'm listening to Allison Krauss and Junior Wells/Buddy Guy and the instrumentals seem slightly better delineated with better tonal texture and colors. I hate to say a veil has been lifted because I hate it when reviewers say it ad nauseum, but it's as if I'm noticing an increase of subtle information that was being shadowed by the xls tubes. So far I'm liking the changes, but regardless of the words I'm using this is still a very incremental change at best. It's very much more similiar to the 300b xls than estranged. Startling dynamic vocals and certain instruments popping with more detail is probably the biggest takeaway with the mesh plate. I'm not really a big believer of power tube break in as much as I'm a believer that I adjust to the tubes sound over time. I'll monitor them and do some comparisons after the honeymoon is over and report back in a couple of weeks.
Elrog 300b's for sale. Your thoughts?
I noticed this morning an add for the new Elrogs. I and many others on the forum ran the experiment when the Elrogs were initially launched. We found the tubes to be superb sonically, but woefully unreliable. In fact, the early failure rate on those tubes was apparently 100%. I and others received replacements that were hand selected for suitability in our particular amps. In fact one individual had 3 pairs fail. In my case, I went so far as to purchase a PS audio power plant, having been assured that limiting incoming voltage to 115V would ensure reasonable lifetime for the Elrogs. Two days ago, one of my replacements failed, after having been nursed along carefully. Honestly, I doubt the tubes had 600 hours on them. So the Psvane T1s went back in and I began the period of mourning for my deceased Elrogs. This morning I awake to the siren song of an ad from a reputable dealer who is announcing availability of the new improved Elrogs with a 1 year warranty. My initial reaction was, "I don't think so. Someone else can run the $1200 experiment. Burned once and lesson learned." But here is the problem. If all of Elrogs former customers take that approach, the new Elrog will also fail even if the tubes are good for 10000 hours, simply because no one will buy them. The tubes are so good that it would be a tragedy if that happened. So the question to all of you who have already been down this road is this? What would it take for you to give these tubes a try again?
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- 80 posts total
- 80 posts total