Psvane CV-181's, pricey and intially captivating, develop static around the 90-day mark. Psvane KT-88's in my experience are shoddily produced with little or no quality assurance testing, despite Rachel's claims. Upon receipt of 2 matched quads, one of them laid a 'lint short' on my VAC Phi 300, disabling it for 3 months. I notice now Psvane no longer offers the KT-88; they'd also changed their plate voltage to a value in excess of 100%, defying manual bias. Back they went, at my expense. Interestingly, Kevin no longer tubes his amps with Chinese tubes, deferring instead to Golden Lions.
Shuguang Black Treasure CV181-Z
I feel compelled to post here, having just replaced a stock Electro-Harmonix 6SN7 with a Shuguang Treasure CV181-Z this morning in my Blue Circle DAR integrated.
Good lord.
Probably the best $120 I have spent on my system. Massively improved sound staging, instrument separation, timbral accuracy...even power in the low end.
I'm actually kind of giddy sitting here listening. I knew things would get better, but this has been a revelation. YMMV, of course, but boy howdy...
Good lord.
Probably the best $120 I have spent on my system. Massively improved sound staging, instrument separation, timbral accuracy...even power in the low end.
I'm actually kind of giddy sitting here listening. I knew things would get better, but this has been a revelation. YMMV, of course, but boy howdy...
- ...
- 24 posts total
I’m a huge fan on Psvane Tubes Prima Luna Prolog 7 Mono Blocks 12axy & 12au7 TIl’s psvane-philips-holland-metal-base-replica-el34ph. Cary SLP 98 pre Amp x4 Treasure Globe 6SN7-SE ‘I have the CV181 TII’s as well but the globes are a little bit more refined. I have had previously used numerous NOS tubes, Winged C’s, Mullard, Jan, Raytheon, Svetlana,etc, and I prefer the Psvanes over everything else by a long shot. A broader deeper sound stage with a wider sweet spot is my favorite attribute with this tube combo, but a taught punchy low end and the sublime delicate highs are also worththe price of admission. I’ve stopped tube rolling I’m done. I was going to upgrade my mono blocks but I prefer the sound of mine to systems worth far more expensive components. They are not cheap but worth the investment. I have had 1 CV 181 get really microphonic after about 800 hrs? But that’s the only problem I have had. Great customer service and fast shipping are a bonus. I have lots of low hours NOS tubes for sake + KT88 x8 KT120 x8 New issues Mullard EL 34 x8 Numerous matched pairs of Raytheon, Jan, RCA, Gold lion 6ns7 tubes mostly brought from Upscake Audio or Tube Depot. ‘Numerous variants and quads of both 12ax7 & 12au7 tubes |
- 24 posts total