RFT.....Really Fantastic Tubes
May 16, 2013 23:46:57 GMT
Post by Deleted on May 16, 2013 23:46:57 GMT
Is that what RFT stands for? 'Cause they really are fantastic tubes in my gear. East Germany circa 1960's and 70's. Mine are one ECC82, two ECC81's, and one ECC83. Has anyone else heard these and are using them?
I've been on a mission to dig around and find a brand of vacuum tubes (valves) that are really good and that I don't own, yet. On a hunch and a recommendation on a website...I bought an RFT ECC82 from an American dealer for the AudioNote DAC Kit 1.1. I had a slightly microphonic Tele in there previously, along with a 5963 sometimes, a 5814, and a 12BH7, too....the Tele being the more definitive, even with that slight microphinic tendency (some even want that slight bit in there). There were concerns of maybe a slight "hardness" to the RFT sound....but, just the name AudioNote precludes any "hardness" to the sound. And, yes the RFT is definitive, clear, and non-microphonic in that DAC. Big smile.
So, with success with the ECC82 and AudioNote...I proceeded to look for RFT ECC81's for the Croft Polestar1 power amplifier and it's mate, the Croft Micro Basic + linestage. I found them on another tube dealer website and just last week got them into my gear. Again....clean, non-microphonic, and not "hard" sounding at all. A definite "great match" with the Crofts.
The last "12" series piece of tube equipment I have is the Vincent KHV-111 (Big Ol' Box) headphone amplifier (hybrid). So, that ECC83 arrived today and I'm listening to the RFT/Vincent combo as I write this. Being very familiar with all of my "12" series tubes previously used in this amp....I can say with hand on heart...This is clean, clean, clean and again, clean sounding. It's a keeper. The other '12' series tubes used previously in this amp.....Tele's, Mullard's, Amperex, G.E., ECC83's....Sylvania 12AD7's....G.E. 7025....RCA, G.E. 5751's....even 12BH7's (I know, but I love that tube).
So, I guess this is a very positive review of RFT valves, er...tubes. There are some available here in the States, but I see more adds for them from Eastern Europe. Is the U.K. lucky to be able to get them? How about Western Europe? Asia? A definite sleeper and a keeper.
J
I've been on a mission to dig around and find a brand of vacuum tubes (valves) that are really good and that I don't own, yet. On a hunch and a recommendation on a website...I bought an RFT ECC82 from an American dealer for the AudioNote DAC Kit 1.1. I had a slightly microphonic Tele in there previously, along with a 5963 sometimes, a 5814, and a 12BH7, too....the Tele being the more definitive, even with that slight microphinic tendency (some even want that slight bit in there). There were concerns of maybe a slight "hardness" to the RFT sound....but, just the name AudioNote precludes any "hardness" to the sound. And, yes the RFT is definitive, clear, and non-microphonic in that DAC. Big smile.
So, with success with the ECC82 and AudioNote...I proceeded to look for RFT ECC81's for the Croft Polestar1 power amplifier and it's mate, the Croft Micro Basic + linestage. I found them on another tube dealer website and just last week got them into my gear. Again....clean, non-microphonic, and not "hard" sounding at all. A definite "great match" with the Crofts.
The last "12" series piece of tube equipment I have is the Vincent KHV-111 (Big Ol' Box) headphone amplifier (hybrid). So, that ECC83 arrived today and I'm listening to the RFT/Vincent combo as I write this. Being very familiar with all of my "12" series tubes previously used in this amp....I can say with hand on heart...This is clean, clean, clean and again, clean sounding. It's a keeper. The other '12' series tubes used previously in this amp.....Tele's, Mullard's, Amperex, G.E., ECC83's....Sylvania 12AD7's....G.E. 7025....RCA, G.E. 5751's....even 12BH7's (I know, but I love that tube).
So, I guess this is a very positive review of RFT valves, er...tubes. There are some available here in the States, but I see more adds for them from Eastern Europe. Is the U.K. lucky to be able to get them? How about Western Europe? Asia? A definite sleeper and a keeper.
J