Forums - Torii Mk2 questions

Alfa58

Verified Member

Posts: 18

Torii Mk2 questions
01/20/13 at 02:24:37

I just picked up a Torii Mk2, with 274B and Hazen upgrades. So far I am incredibly impressed with this amp! It is the most quiet and dynamic tube amp that I've heard, and did wonders for my system. Mates wonderfully with my Shindo preamp.

I'm wondering what power cord shipped with these amps originally, was it a standard generic power cord or the nice Decware power cable? Mine came with none.

It came with supposedly matched Siemens EL34s, although one channel sounds a bit stronger than the other, so I may have to swap the tubes around, or can I have these measured by someone to check them?
The 274Bs are Valve Art, anxious to do some tube rolling, as I have some 5U4 and 5AR4 tubes in my stash.

Glad to be here!
- Michael

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will

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Posts: 3045

Re: Torii Mk2 questions
Reply #1 - 01/20/13 at 05:11:07

Sounds fun and exciting! The shipped cords are standard quality cords.

Decware upgrade cords are well respected in this group, though I have others that are also good so can't personally comment further.

The tube compliment you have sounds quite good! Rectifiers definitely have a big impact on your amp signature. So roll on and see. Are your inputs stock 6N1P? From your description of tubes, your seller probably was pretty specific to tastes. Could be super-cryo'd 6N1Ps if they were from this forum like it sounds like.

If your room/system is very revealing, you will hear all cables...IC, power, speaker, and I enjoy best a blend of cable type/sounds for "final" synergy.

Good Luck and welcome to a great forum,

Will

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Alfa58

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Posts: 18

Re: Torii Mk2 questions
Reply #2 - 01/20/13 at 15:26:21

Thanks Will. Yes the input tubes are 6N1P, I suspect they are stock, no idea if cryo'd as it wasn't specified. They are Russian, I think as they are printed 6H1n-EB, the brand looks like OTK?. EL34s are Siemens (one is weak, so need to replace the pair). 0A3s are RCA.

The amp is definitely revealing. I'll need to do some cable rolling and see what works best. Right not I'm just enjoying it.

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will Seasoned Member Posts: 3045	Re: Torii Mk2 questions Reply #3 - 01/20/13 at 16:00:05 If the 6N1P are cryo'd by Ron Sheldon, they will say cryoset or super cryo or something like that on the boxes. 6N1P also ship with the amp, but not cryo'd. I am interested in what you find toward fine tuning synergy with rectifiers and cable rolling.
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Alfa58

Verified Member

Posts: 18

Re: Torii Mk2 questions
Reply #4 - 01/20/13 at 16:29:56

The boxes were plain white, so no cryo.

Right now I'm using DH Labs silver sonic interconnect wire with Eichmann Bullets (Tellurium/Copper), and Monarchy Audio power cable. I want to try some of the UP-OCC IC wire from Neotech with the silver Eichmann bullets.

I'm going to listen to it for at least several weeks or more before changing anything, other then the weak EL34 tube(s).

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will

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Re: Torii Mk2 questions
Reply #5 - 01/20/13 at 17:19:45

Sounds like a good idea to settle into the amp sound before rolling. And those sound like nice cables. I guess if you got a new pair of Siemens, and since the amp is self biasing, you could split the new ones by channel if need be. Did you switch channels with them to find out, and check out the other tubes? I think I saw some RFT Siemens at the tubedepot recently.

Cryo'd JJ 6CA7s are what I have been using for some time. They sound great to me once I got used to them, but took forever to burn in.

Anyway, have fun!

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Lon

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Re: Torii Mk2 questions
Reply #6 - 01/20/13 at 17:20:15

Congrats! I'm running my Mk2 (Torii Mk II) with "super cryo'd" 6N1Ps from cryoset, straight shouldered side getter RCA 5U4GB (the Valve Art 274B are too big and bold for my system, "hyper real"), Raytheon OC2, and JJ 6CA7 (this has become my favorite output tube for my Torris).

I've tried about seven different power cords on my Toriis. The one I most prefer is a PS Audio Perfectwave AC-12; these are expensive even used but they really deliver imo. I have one on my Mk III and a PS Audio xStream Premier SC on my Mk II. Both of these really bring the amp to life.

Enjoy the amp, it's a wonderful one, a transporter to pleasant mental realms.

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Alfa58 Verified Member Posts: 18	Re: Torii Mk2 questions Reply #7 - 01/20/13 at 17:50:43 Yeah, the 274Bs are definitely big and bold. Tried the 5U4Gs that I have, seems to be a more laid back and "natural" presentation. So many options with this amp for fiddling around, which can be good, and also madness for a compulsive. Lon how would you characterize the OC2s vs the 0A3s? - Michael
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Alfa58 Verified Member Posts: 18	Re: Torii Mk2 questions Reply #8 - 01/20/13 at 19:27:31 I'm trying to find a solid setup to run for a few weeks to get a feel for the sound of the amp. Was noticing a slight bit of sibilance with the VA 274Bs, swapped in NOS RCA 5U4Gs, and voila the highs are smooth. Think I'll stick with those for now.
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Lon Seasoned Member "Love without guts is worthless!" Philip K. Dick Posts: 24846	Re: Torii Mk2 questions Reply #9 - 01/20/13 at 19:45:06 Alfa58 wrote on 01/20/13 at 17:50:43: Lon how would you characterize the OC2s vs the 0A3s? - Michael I'm sorry I meant OA2 tubes, not OC2. The Mk 2/II doesn't have the OA3 circuit, and OA3 useage isn't possible in these amps. The Mk III uses both the OA2 and OA3 tube types. . . . .
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Alfa58 Verified Member Posts: 18	Re: Torii Mk2 questions Reply #10 - 01/20/13 at 20:04:29 Lon - the Mk II manual shows 0A3 tubes as the proper regulator. I think you're thinking of the 0C2 in the Mk III? https://www.decware.com/newsite/TORIIMK2%20Owners%20Manual.pdf
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Rivieraranch Seasoned Member Posts: 2132	Re: Torii Mk2 questions Reply #11 - 01/20/13 at 20:07:01 What I read is that the rectifiers and inputs have more potential influence on the sound than the power tubes.
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Lon

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Posts: 24846

Re: Torii Mk2 questions
Reply #12 - 01/20/13 at 20:25:16

Alright, I no longer see the Mk II page. My Mk II was the first or one of the first made, it belonged to Zygi and Steve updated it to Hazen Grid mod status, and installed a treble cut circuit.. It does not have an OA3 circuit. It does have an OA2 tube in use. (Or perhaps it's an OC2; I can't see a type on the glass). I wasn't aware that mine was that different from the later units.

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Lon Seasoned Member "Love without guts is worthless!" Philip K. Dick Posts: 24846	Re: Torii Mk2 questions Reply #13 - 01/20/13 at 20:27:30 Rivieraranch wrote on 01/20/13 at 20:07:01: What I read is that the rectifiers and inputs have more potential influence on the sound than the power tubes. Personally I think each tube circuit influences the sound.
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will Seasoned Member Posts: 3045	Re: Torii Mk2 questions Reply #14 - 01/21/13 at 01:34:45 Agreed!
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will

Seasoned Member

Posts: 3045

Re: Torii Mk2 questions
Reply #15 - 01/21/13 at 02:13:18

I think the tube influence is a little hard to gauge. It depends on what effect each tube brings in part.

The Inputs type makes a big difference in general, while most within types vary too, sometimes a lot in terms of warmth, weight, clarity, brightness or dark, bass etc.

The Rectifier seems to share Input effects as well as the OA3 circuit effect, that is if the MkIII is regulating the Power tubes as it does on the MkIII.

The OA3, OB3, OC3, OD3 progressively reduce density and weight while adding clarity. Also, within the type, warmth and dark/bright and other general tube traits....

Power Tubes similar to Inputs also.....

Forgot the OC2. I usually leave in the Raythion (richer) but for some tube sets the RCA (cleaner). But a OB2...that will really open things up if you need it....similar to the OA3, OB2 etc. but in this case the reg is before the input I believe.

I think they all matter.

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