I have the PSVANE Horizon 805 installed in my Willsenton R800i 805 and like them a lot. More open mid and high end and a little less but more detailed bass. Intend to replace the 300b sometimes soon.
Can’t speak for the Horizon series, but have the Psvane 12au7-s Art series and these are great, the best I tried in my Primaluna gain stage. Tried Gold lion’s, NOS and a few others, and the Psvane suits my hears better. I am thinking of trying this brand for the power tubes as they now have a series the replicate the originals English Mullard. Thanks for sharing your views.
Thanks for your review. It’s certainly appreciated. In any of my tubes amps, power tubes are current production, preamp tubes are NOS, although some current production are very nice, and rectifier tubes mostly NOS as well. Power tubes aren’t going to be as sensitive when it comes to general sound character where preamp tubes shape the sound more.
I’m a big fan of the Psvane sound. On the warm side of neutral. Euphonic. Quiet. Extended. Just put in a pair of 12Au7 Horizon in the driver section of my Prima Luna Proligue Premium integrated, with Gold Lions in the gain and Psvane EL34 power tubes. So far , I am not disappointed They replaced Brimar NOS. I prefer the Psvane. More open and dynamic without any glare. Dynaudio Excite speakers. Analogue front end. I listen to mostly blues/rock.
Do you expect your samples were taken off the production line at random? I love tube rolling but I never expect the random sample of tubes I have to be a good representation of the sonic differences between manufacturers. It is part of the fun of tube rolling that we are essentially entering into a lucky dip each time we buy tubes! It also means that any differences we hear between tube samples could be down to normal variations in their construction. Quality control standards only go so far.
Good question. This is why I ask people who own the tubes to post comments. Likewise, I see what people are saying on the forums. The vast majority of manufacturers aren't interested in trying to cheat though. Putting all their efforts into making a good product brings the best long-term returns. Reputation is important.
I got sucked into vacuum tube (aka valves by our British mates) when I purchased the xDuoo TA-26 and TA-26. I've been procuring NOS and "UOS" (Used Old Stock?) far beyond the tubes needed for the two tube amps I own. If I can get a deal on popular audiophile tubes I will get them. I have this idea (fantasy?) that I will eventually get a tube amp for which I can use the tubes. Worst case - just resell them. I have also procured no fewer than four tube testing devices. Two very popular brands which can test a variety of tubes and two rather obscure tube testers which after doing some research are found in radio museums here in Sweden. I'm still at the early stages of learning how to use them. I have a large number of used tubes which I can sacrifice if I make a mistake in my trial-and-error journey. When it comes to new stock tubes I have been looking at KR Audio out of Czechia and the new Western Electric tubes like the 300B. The initiated will know just how expensive NOS Western Electric 300B tubes can be. Thousands of USD, like 10,000 USD. That's nuts but hey, supply and demand. So a new stock 300B for "only" 1,500 USD is a bargain by comparison. I just wish I had the funds for an amp to put them in such as those from Woo Audio. Those monoblock amps look really sweet but at 16,000 USD (maybe less if you ask to purchase them tubeless) they are eye-wateringly expensive. I will almost certainly never own them, opting instead to experiment with several other lower-tier tube amps without coming anywhere near 16,000 USD in outlay. But damn those Woo Audio monoblocks are so tempting, but no, I cannot afford them. Well, I could if I saved and saved but that means sacrificing a whole lot of other things over an extended period of time. Back to Western Electric, the last I read in an article with may have been dated by the time I read it was that they planned on venturing into production of several other popular tubes like the ubiquitous ECC82/12AU7. There are so many of this tube type on the NOS market with some being reasonably priced and some rare ones costing thousands of USD. Because of their ubiquity I have managed to secure a good number of NOS ECC82's from most of the big-name manufacturers. I put the NOS tubes, especially the more expensive ones, into storage and tube-roll with used old stock. Why "ruin" expensive NOS tube when there are so many used tubes, great used tubes, on the market at a fraction of the cost? My advice to anyone getting into tube amps (and sometimes tube DACs) is to purchase used old stock. You can get some very, very good tubes on the cheap. Look at it this way: The burn-in is already done. Regardless of how many hours of use remain on the tubes you will still get bang for your buck. Get several tubes (or pairs) from different manufacturers so that you can experiment and have backup inventory if a tube craps out. You absolutely do not need to get expensive NOS tubes and then immediately destroy their value by using them. After experimentation you can decide which tubes you like best. While a tube may not necessarily sound the same in different amplifiers it still helps you to get closer to the sound signature you prefer. Then when you get the best tube amp you can afford and really like, go ahead and treat yourself to some NOS tubes. Then I think it's worth it to use NOS tubes but that's just me. I mean, if you can get the NOS tubes then get them. I'm not saying not to. I'm saying you don't need to use them right away as you have the option to experiment with many great used old stock tubes at up to 1/10 the cost of a NOS equivalent. If you're flush with cash and money is no object then do whatever, man. Bully for you. For the rest of us, however, start with used old stock, especially if you're just getting into tube amps on the lower end like those from xDuoo and other Chinese manufacturers. I'm in the EU if anyone wants to hit me up. I'm also on the regular audiophile forums.
I have the EVO 100 balanced. As I am just starting "Tube rolling" can you answer two basic points that I cant finde answers to. 1) Will any Single Ended Valve amp ,integrated or power only(I have a pre amp) , class A or class A/B be capable of using the same/most of the varieties of valves as my Prima Luna ?(Pref A/B). 2) 12AX7(p1) have more gain than 12AU7 (p2) if you change valves in an amp is that a relationship you must A) maintain p1>p2 ? B) If you want to change from EL34's to KT88's do you have to choose p1and p2(Regulators) types accordingly. Ps I have finally achieved the levels of clarity we all chase, so the next valves I choose will be for colour rather than a continued percute of clarity, I am not yet ready to try NOS as I prefer to learn what I am looking for first, and I would like to stick to matched quads , at least for now.
The answers to those questions depend on the individual amp. You'll have to ask the manufacturer specifically, if they don't have the information in the manual or on their web site about what tubes are compatible.
I have used the PSVANE 12Au7 and KT-88 products in my amps. Decent enough but went back to JJ gold pins after a year. Like the fact they are made in Slovakia which currently is a democratic republic, versus communist China. In my gear I also found JJ products to be more reliable and have a lower noise floor. Soley on sonic enjoyment, the best tubes I had in my rig are the New Sensor Gold Lion and Mullard reissues. I tend to avoid them though, albeit New Sensor is US owned they are still Russian made.
I have the PSVANE Horizon 805 installed in my Willsenton R800i 805 and like them a lot. More open mid and high end and a little less but more detailed bass.
Intend to replace the 300b sometimes soon.
Thank you for your purchase and endorsement.❤
Can’t speak for the Horizon series, but have the Psvane 12au7-s Art series and these are great, the best I tried in my Primaluna gain stage. Tried Gold lion’s, NOS and a few others, and the Psvane suits my hears better. I am thinking of trying this brand for the power tubes as they now have a series the replicate the originals English Mullard. Thanks for sharing your views.
Hope you can try our new HORIZON Tubes.🎉
@@PSVANE-officialCan you say when they're going to be available in Germany?
Thanks for your review. It’s certainly appreciated. In any of my tubes amps, power tubes are current production, preamp tubes are NOS, although some current production are very nice, and rectifier tubes mostly NOS as well. Power tubes aren’t going to be as sensitive when it comes to general sound character where preamp tubes shape the sound more.
I’m a big fan of the Psvane sound. On the warm side of neutral. Euphonic. Quiet. Extended.
Just put in a pair of 12Au7 Horizon in the driver section of my Prima Luna Proligue Premium integrated, with Gold Lions in the gain and Psvane EL34 power tubes. So far , I am not disappointed They replaced Brimar NOS.
I prefer the Psvane. More open and dynamic without any glare.
Dynaudio Excite speakers.
Analogue front end.
I listen to mostly blues/rock.
Thank you for your purchase and endorsement.🎉
It is so encouraging to see new tubes being made. NOS are expensive and can be of questionable quality. So GOOD NEWS
My TA30 has Sophia Electric Aqua Mark II 274 and Shuguang Black Treasures 12au7.
Very Helpful vid.
You mentioned a list of forthcoming Psvane Horizon tubes. Can you provide a link to that info?
Do you expect your samples were taken off the production line at random? I love tube rolling but I never expect the random sample of tubes I have to be a good representation of the sonic differences between manufacturers. It is part of the fun of tube rolling that we are essentially entering into a lucky dip each time we buy tubes! It also means that any differences we hear between tube samples could be down to normal variations in their construction. Quality control standards only go so far.
Good question. This is why I ask people who own the tubes to post comments. Likewise, I see what people are saying on the forums. The vast majority of manufacturers aren't interested in trying to cheat though. Putting all their efforts into making a good product brings the best long-term returns. Reputation is important.
I got sucked into vacuum tube (aka valves by our British mates) when I purchased the xDuoo TA-26 and TA-26. I've been procuring NOS and "UOS" (Used Old Stock?) far beyond the tubes needed for the two tube amps I own. If I can get a deal on popular audiophile tubes I will get them. I have this idea (fantasy?) that I will eventually get a tube amp for which I can use the tubes. Worst case - just resell them. I have also procured no fewer than four tube testing devices. Two very popular brands which can test a variety of tubes and two rather obscure tube testers which after doing some research are found in radio museums here in Sweden. I'm still at the early stages of learning how to use them. I have a large number of used tubes which I can sacrifice if I make a mistake in my trial-and-error journey.
When it comes to new stock tubes I have been looking at KR Audio out of Czechia and the new Western Electric tubes like the 300B. The initiated will know just how expensive NOS Western Electric 300B tubes can be. Thousands of USD, like 10,000 USD. That's nuts but hey, supply and demand. So a new stock 300B for "only" 1,500 USD is a bargain by comparison. I just wish I had the funds for an amp to put them in such as those from Woo Audio. Those monoblock amps look really sweet but at 16,000 USD (maybe less if you ask to purchase them tubeless) they are eye-wateringly expensive. I will almost certainly never own them, opting instead to experiment with several other lower-tier tube amps without coming anywhere near 16,000 USD in outlay. But damn those Woo Audio monoblocks are so tempting, but no, I cannot afford them. Well, I could if I saved and saved but that means sacrificing a whole lot of other things over an extended period of time.
Back to Western Electric, the last I read in an article with may have been dated by the time I read it was that they planned on venturing into production of several other popular tubes like the ubiquitous ECC82/12AU7. There are so many of this tube type on the NOS market with some being reasonably priced and some rare ones costing thousands of USD. Because of their ubiquity I have managed to secure a good number of NOS ECC82's from most of the big-name manufacturers. I put the NOS tubes, especially the more expensive ones, into storage and tube-roll with used old stock. Why "ruin" expensive NOS tube when there are so many used tubes, great used tubes, on the market at a fraction of the cost?
My advice to anyone getting into tube amps (and sometimes tube DACs) is to purchase used old stock. You can get some very, very good tubes on the cheap. Look at it this way: The burn-in is already done. Regardless of how many hours of use remain on the tubes you will still get bang for your buck. Get several tubes (or pairs) from different manufacturers so that you can experiment and have backup inventory if a tube craps out. You absolutely do not need to get expensive NOS tubes and then immediately destroy their value by using them. After experimentation you can decide which tubes you like best. While a tube may not necessarily sound the same in different amplifiers it still helps you to get closer to the sound signature you prefer. Then when you get the best tube amp you can afford and really like, go ahead and treat yourself to some NOS tubes. Then I think it's worth it to use NOS tubes but that's just me. I mean, if you can get the NOS tubes then get them. I'm not saying not to. I'm saying you don't need to use them right away as you have the option to experiment with many great used old stock tubes at up to 1/10 the cost of a NOS equivalent.
If you're flush with cash and money is no object then do whatever, man. Bully for you. For the rest of us, however, start with used old stock, especially if you're just getting into tube amps on the lower end like those from xDuoo and other Chinese manufacturers.
I'm in the EU if anyone wants to hit me up. I'm also on the regular audiophile forums.
Edit/correction typo: TA-22 and TA-26.
I have the EVO 100 balanced.
As I am just starting "Tube rolling" can you answer two basic points that I cant finde answers to.
1) Will any Single Ended Valve amp ,integrated or power only(I have a pre amp) , class A or class A/B be capable of using the same/most of the varieties of valves as my Prima Luna ?(Pref A/B).
2) 12AX7(p1) have more gain than 12AU7 (p2) if you change valves in an amp is that a relationship you must A) maintain p1>p2 ? B) If you want to change from EL34's to KT88's do you have to choose p1and p2(Regulators) types accordingly.
Ps I have finally achieved the levels of clarity we all chase, so the next valves I choose will be for colour rather than a continued percute of clarity, I am not yet ready to try NOS as I prefer to learn what I am looking for first, and I would like to stick to matched quads , at least for now.
The answers to those questions depend on the individual amp. You'll have to ask the manufacturer specifically, if they don't have the information in the manual or on their web site about what tubes are compatible.
I have a Psvane Treasure Mark II 12AU7-T, this is not a good thing.
I have used the PSVANE 12Au7 and KT-88 products in my amps. Decent enough but went back to JJ gold pins after a year. Like the fact they are made in Slovakia which currently is a democratic republic, versus communist China. In my gear I also found JJ products to be more reliable and have a lower noise floor. Soley on sonic enjoyment, the best tubes I had in my rig are the New Sensor Gold Lion and Mullard reissues. I tend to avoid them though, albeit New Sensor is US owned they are still Russian made.
Psvane is pronounced puh-van
That fight is lost. 😁