What's everyone using?

Most interested in rectifier/input tubes.

Interested in impressions on the Psvane 4U4G that comes in the tube compliment.

Yes.  I came back from the fest and ordered one.  I heard things in the amp that I haven’t heard in other Decware amps.

It’s a stretch for me (especially this year) so I am parting with some equipment.  I sold my trapeziums (mistake) and will also sell one of my Rachael’s and a couple of power plants (premiere and 300).  All of these are not getting any use so I am trying to let go.

You're going to love the 25th Anniversary. And I hear you about selling excess. I sold a Torii Mk II and a CSP2+ this month. I need to sell another CSP2+ and a Torii Mk III, and probably my Traps as well. . .hard to part with these things but what the heck, they do no good sitting around.

Best of luck, and welcome to the wait, I'm waiting too.

Second the Sophia Electric Aqua 274B and that’s a given for me now.  The power tubes are stock and the input tube I’m using is a Telefunken PCC189.  The VR Tubes are a pair of CEI OA3 and a Sylvania OD3W.  The VR tubes made more of a difference than I though they would.  

As I rolled I also rolled the input tube in my CSP3.  You can really fine tune to your liking, hard to go wrong with the UFO25. I think you’ll be surprised.

I've used several types of Type 80 tubes in the 25th Anniversary amps (and Decware preamps and Torii and Taboo amps). They're very nice but ultimately I feel they are a bit too "romantic" and make the sound a bit claustrophobic.

If you like the Valve Art 274B I think you would LOVE the Sophia Electric Aqua 274B. Interestingly it too is a 4 pin tube but does not need an adaptor in our amps. It has all the qualities of the Valve Art cryo'd but is more . . . refined is perhaps the best word, controlled is perhaps a fitting word. The treble is freer of grain, the midrange is exceedingly open and the bass is deep and tight. They're expensive. . . but I bet they last for years and in these Anniversary amps they're worth the cost for what they bring. The Anniversary amps show you so much that I keep futzing with them, and I've rolled five tube types in them and different brands of most all the tube types and keep coming back to these Aquas. They give the best to the input and voltage tube choices in my experience, a stable clear platform for the rest of the complement.

And after a few decades of preferring the Svetlana SV83s to the military type, I've come to the conclusion that Steve's tested and matched red-tipped tubes are the best option so I'm just sticking with those and will order more pairs from him (though I have about 25 pairs of other types on hand!)

Palamino,  I'm using either Mullard or telefunken PCC189 inputs. Mullard GZ32 or Philips 5R4GYS (from upscale audio). They are all great tubes. Everything I put in the 25th sounds good with subtle differences (all NOS).
But, I've settled on the Mullard PCC189 and GZ32 for the last 3 weeks and am getting consistently amazing sound day in and day out. Might just go back to the TF for final comparison!

I hope. Seems to me that the waiting is going to be longer this time. . . .

Very nice! I'm sure you'll report your findings. I think you'll love it.

Great news! I imagined you would find it great in the Rachael and I bet it will really bring out the best in the 25th. I know they really sing in my Monoblocks.

One of the attributes I appreciate most about this rectifier is the pop the low bass has. Like the kick drum.  It helps to drive a lot of songs forward and increases the engagement.  

Some of the best bass and kick drum separation I have heard.  

I am now experimenting with input tubes.   I’ll have to start over with the 25th but some of what I like may translate.

I’m starting out with an OA3 because I liked that sound at Decfest but those tubes are easy enough to find.

I agree with you on the midrange clarity.  It can almost be a little intense for lack of better words.  Not to be confused with midrange glare.  It has me wondering about input tube pairing.  Now that the rectifier has a little more time on it I’ll start experimenting.

Are the OD3W tubes the ones mostly covered by bakelite?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Radio-Tubes-0D3W-0D3-VR150-30-Marshall-JAN-CCSB-NOS/350...

Also, the Aqua has improved with time.  Mellowed but still has good punch.  I also went to a kinder, gentler input tube with it which helped.

Thanks  Tube rolling fun.  I am due to go on the bench next week (I hope).

I just got the notice that its On Bench.  I don't know what the lag is but maybe 1-2 weeks.

I picked up an  OD3W for $16 to give it a try.

My amp quickly moved to testing but has been there for the week.  Could be three weeks which will be a killer.  I am killing time working on my speakers and fiddling with the room.

I am headed that way the weekend of the 8th.  Not sure if a weekend pickup is possible.  Eric also volunteered to pick it up on his way back from Peoria.  I am always paranoid about UPS.

Actually I may have been a little over the top when I said a UFO-25 or nothing.  A pair of UFO-25’s would be an acceptable alternative... I think.

I can relate.  This is my second Decware new amp (and 4th overall) and it can be a bit maddening.

Based on my memory from Decfest and hearing the 25th at CDApS, I have tried to keep busy by looking for tubes and prepping my speakers and room.  The Zen is different from my other amps and it forces you to re-evaluate everything. I’m trying for good synergy right off the bat but it’s hard not having the amp.

My speakers still aren’t done but I should have them finished in the  :-Xnext week or so. I have also played with speaker wires, DACs and ICs.

Also, my Rachel is sounding the best it ever has so that’s helping with the wait.  I have done a series of upgrades including some that are “25th” in nature.   The addition of the rectifier was a significant leap forward.  I am to the point now if wondering how much better will the 25th be.

Anyway, all this has kept me occupied during the tedious wait.

That's awesome Tom, you're well prepared.

The output tubes from Steve will need about 50 hours to "bloom" and the amp itself will really start to "sing" after 300 hours or so. My suggestion, what I did with mine, was to follow fairly closely Steve's recommendation of "Five hours on, five hours off, five times" as a starting point and then just play the heck out of it all you can, leaving it running as much as you can.

My Monoblocks went through some serious phases and the "seasoned" sound is very different than the initial sound (less thick and congested sounding) even though the initial sound was exciting. You're in for some really fun sessions.

Good idea, another system that you can curate well for break-in.

I'm a fan of fuses. I've used Furutech and Audio Magic to good effect in Decware products.

Doesn't Steve recommend playing a single pure tone?  

Sounds good.  Just got the word from Sarah it ships tomorrow.  I should have it on Friday.  What a long strange trip it's been.

I meant to keep a journal because I did do a lot of things in anticipation of getting this amp.  As I stated in an earlier post, the zen line of amps are different to me and I have tried to adjust speakers, ICs, speaker wires, etc. anticipating what it will sound like with 25th.  

I wasn't completely shooting in the dark though as I heard Eric's pre25th and Aaron's 25th in my room at various times.

I just had too much going on at work so I never recorded it all.  It will be interesting to see how right (or wrong) I was.

I'm looking forward to hearing your impressions... I put about 45 hours on it before deciding it was a keeper.

-Steve

Hi
A few days ago I received the Sophia Electric Aqua 274b and have been listening to it since. When I first fired it up in my SE84UFO25 I noticed a vivid improvement right away. I agree and understand the SQ observations from some of the posters on this thread.

The 25th Anniversary is an amazing amp I have been listening to it for about a month now and it is really starting to open up. The Aqua 274b adds a little extra refinement

I think I will keep the Aqua 274b as my default rectifier tube. It is expensive but what it brings is worth the $$$

I would like to thank Lon for his help in this matter !

Thanks
Bob

👍👍👍

HK

I'm using the 25th Anniversary version of the SE84UFO3 Monoblocks, and they use different regulator tubes for the positions, but I agree that the regulator tubes are extremely influential with these amps, though all tubes are. Once I've anchored the amp with rectifier and regulator tubes that I really enjoy the sonic nature of I find that input tubes are the final determinant of the ultimate sound I like. I've tried a number of different types and brands from Russian 6N1P, 6N5P and 6N6P, to ECC189, E288CC, 6922, 6Dj8, PCC189 and keep coming back to the 7308, Amperex Holland in particular. But I wager each room and treatment and source and speaker etc. will determine which tube stays in.