Apos Ray Tubes 12au7 and xDuoo TA-20 Plus

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Apos Ray Tubes 12au7 go for $179 a pair and these are my impressions. Read my written reviews with scores at iiwireviews.com/
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00:00 Apos Ray Tubes
01:53 With xDuoo TA-20 plus
08:12 vs Sylvania NOS
09:34 vs Siemens NOS
11:12 Conclusion
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Test system:
Eversolo DMP-A6: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DEh...
Gustard R26 DAC: bit.ly/3XLyNCF
Acoustic Invader AMP and PREAMP (Fulcrum version): acousticinvader.com/
Spirit Wind Speakers: • High End 2-way speaker...
KEF LS50 speakers: amzn.to/2ztRg0s
Head-Fi:
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Verum 1: www.verum-audio.com/store
Goldplanar GL2000: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DkW...
AKG K702: amzn.to/3TSlnUF
#hifi #audiophile #dac #stereo

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Опубликовано:

5 авг 2024

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Комментарии : 42

@PassionforSound 8 месяцев назад

This is really interesting! A viewer on my channel mentioned your results with the Apos Rays in the TA-20 Plus so I watched your take on it and then figured I'd better check my findings with the same setup. I retested the other day and found that there MIGHT be a slight improvement in staging and separation going from the stock tubes to the Apos tubes, but it's small enough that I wouldn't want to guarantee it with my sets of tubes (given the delay when swapping tubes). My point here is not to question your findings, Srboljub, but to combine our experiences to share with people. It seems that the stock tubes in the TA-20 Plus might have significant variance of quality. It seems like maybe they go from ok to excellent which is a good thing, I suppose. 🙂

@iiWiReviews 8 месяцев назад

Yeah, he wrote here earlier about your findings too, and it also made me retest them just to double check. 🙂 The difference was immediately noticeable in Taquito Militar by La Segunda (conveniently chosen for the way it's recorded) without much effort and I basically concluded the same - that stock tubes might be a bit of a lottery and you simply got a better pair.

@gilko61 7 месяцев назад

Try milspec Sylvania 5814s (12AU7 equivalent).

@avro66 8 месяцев назад

I have done some tube ,valve,rolling on my two xduoo dac amps, new old stock and some new ones, very good results from both tubes, well worth doing, always look forward to your reviews etc, keep up the good work.

@sloboat55 8 месяцев назад

My Tradutto loves tubes . Excellent vid. Cool runnings

@ancientalien815 8 месяцев назад

I just got the topping A70 pro today and I am loving this amp.

@Revan83 8 месяцев назад

Thank you for another great review! And my personal thanks for comparision with Aune S17 Pro, wich I have ordered not long ago.

@wooddragon576 5 месяцев назад

Another great review, I was looking at the Aune S17 and your review on it had me convinced until I checked its specs and realized that it was too big for the space I have on my desk, the Aune S7 pro fits but sadly not the S17, I had concluded that I prefer the ta-20 + to the aune s7 so the fact that with apos ray tubes I can start to get closer to the S17 is great news. I have learned to trust your opinions over the years as your comments are always spot on. Thanks

@asan1050 8 месяцев назад

iiWi Reviews , Thanks Much !.......

@aRc11-11 8 месяцев назад

Change the rectifier also!!

@bongofury3176 8 месяцев назад

may have to look into the Ray tubes as I have 2 amps that use 12AU7 - Xduoo TA20 and TA22. The TA20 loves new production PSVanes and the TA22 loves NOS Mullards and new production Genalex Gold Lions. Massive improvement on both amps from any replacement tubes as the stock ones are pretty poor...

@kevindewinter8235 2 месяца назад

Thank you for your clear experience! I am looking for tubes voor pro eq with douk audio t8 pro.. the Ray seems a good choice

@fletchermunson6225 8 месяцев назад

I had really bad experience with APOS returning a defective product. They refused to act to fix it until a third party got involved. I will have nothing to do with them. But dont worry they take good care of internet reviewers who help them make money.

@cobar5342 8 месяцев назад

Thank you for a good review They are a bit too expensive to me (I would like to see them make a 12AX7 - my preferred tube)

@bobb.9917 8 месяцев назад

I wish these tubes came in a 6SN7 variety. I would try a pair out for my Schiit Freya +.

@enricolisk1357 8 месяцев назад

@iiWiReviews is that from "Who Framed Roggers Rabbit" what a classic comparison.

@iiWiReviews 8 месяцев назад

Yes it is. 🙂

@tubefreeeasy 8 месяцев назад

I’m glad there’s a new tube manufacture that makes a high quality 12au7 tubes. They’re becoming harder to find. I know there’s Sophia Electric and PSVane. Maybe, one day, Ray will build a black or even blue glass versions of 12au7 tubes.

@gilko61 7 месяцев назад

Try Amperex 6922s in your tube DAC!

@marcelootto676 4 месяца назад

Ray's problem is that it's almost half the price of the ta-20 plus, it's a lot of money for a pair of valves to produce little effect as many are saying.

@jacobpaternostro9109 Месяц назад

Anyone know how the Rays compare to Genelex Gold Lions?

@D1N02 8 месяцев назад

Most of those NOS tubes were never meant for audio so if they sound great it is hit and miss I guess. I suspect the Ray Tubes were burnt in before sale (which will be part of the high price), and the stock ones aren't They really should sell those amps without tubes or give the customer a choice. I may be getting that AUNE S17 pro just to use it as a pre-amp. Do think that is a good Idea?

@enricolisk1357 8 месяцев назад

100% agreed. Sell it as 2 options. 1, just the base. 2 base + stock. Secret to have many happy customers.

@peter-mathijslinsen8219 8 месяцев назад

Hi, can you use xDuo as a pre amp?

@doanhuan151192 8 месяцев назад

certainly not possible😮

@jazzabana 4 месяца назад

You can, it has rca in and out.

@Ravenblues 8 месяцев назад

Change the rectifier to mullard, its night and day :)

@NeilBlanchard 8 месяцев назад

If you are keeping the TA-20 Plus for a while, I would appreciate to learn how the volume pot works over time? If it stays quiet, then great!

@iiWiReviews 8 месяцев назад

I'll keep using it for some time since I don't have enough space for Aune S17 pro on my desktop, but I have for this one.

@NeilBlanchard 8 месяцев назад

@@iiWiReviews Thank you!

@kennethoransky4881 8 месяцев назад

Interesting. Another reviewer this same day released a video where using the same amp, he found very little difference between the Ray tubes and the stock tubes.

@iiWiReviews 8 месяцев назад

Just watched it but it isn't easy to speculate how that happened. Maybe the default TA20 tubes quality is a bit of a lottery and he got better ones. With the ones I got, Ray Tubes compare quite favorably - clearly faster, and have more resolution. EDIT: I just rolled them once again. I only needed this first track - Taquito Militar by La Segunda - to notice increased clarity and speed, and the soundstage expands quite noticeably too. That was with Goldplanar GL2000 headphones and SMSL DO400 as a DAC.

@D1N02 8 месяцев назад

Was that Passion for Sound? I can't watch him, because I can't stand how he talks.

@kennethoransky4881 8 месяцев назад

@@D1N02 Yes it was.

@gilko61 7 месяцев назад

Zdravo again! It's a shame that for that crazy high price, the tube pins aren't even straight.😂 There are simple devices to straighten them. My Hickok tester has one built in. I would have spent less on packaging and more on better quality control.

@f7p1764 8 месяцев назад

Best dac under 1k$ 👍?

@goodsound4756 8 месяцев назад

Go for AKM or R2R and avoid ESS Sabre.

@D1N02 8 месяцев назад

Aune X8 XVIII + linear PS and Sparkos SS3602 op-amp. That's even under 500. You could also look at geshelli labs j2 akm also with Sparkos. Both are a bit of the beaten track but great Value. I haven't really seen any comparison's for the Geshelli though except from CheapAudioman who is a bit limited in his musical taste, so I wouldn't go by what he says. It will sound good for Rock music though.

@frankgeeraerts6243 Месяц назад

Sylvania was maybe not fresh .........especialy their GB label was more than exelent and musical. Those new tubes may sound good , bur for how long ...........I have only nos tubes ever since and some are used for over thirty years without need change , many are still within spec and better sounding than all current production .....even those who aged stiil sing . But indeed if those tubes sound good they may please audiophiles as the real good nos is rare and almost obsolete ....... Best sounding ECC82 are the 5814A triple mica black plates command series RCA, ECC82 and ECC802s TELEFUNKEN....and some others. Conrad Johnson and Luxman used ECC82 from RFT , relabeld with the CJ or Lux brand.........nobody complained ! Have a nice day

@frankgeeraerts6243 Месяц назад

Use NOS exclusively and only in the top gear............it's like wasting pearls to feed the pigs.

@Pimy13 8 месяцев назад

This looks like an advertisement for Apos, These tubes are not available in Europe, really disappointed in you, this is not ethical behavior

@iiWiReviews 8 месяцев назад

It's pity they don't ship outside of US for now. Luckily for US based viewers that make majority on my channel, I'm not particularly "ethical" about that. Soon, I'll review Geshelli Labs DAC that can't be bought in many countries either, mine included, and Pateon had to help me with that purchase. I hope someone would appreciate the trouble... But you feel free to be offended by that one too.