PSVANE "Horizon" 12AU7: Listening Impressions - Review
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- Опубліковано 14 жов 2024
- Today we are doing a review of the new Psvane 12AU7 tube via a subjective listening test in my zero feedback "color" pre-amp amp I have previously featured on this channel. This pre-amp is designed to "hear the tube" and makes a great platform for evaluating this new 9 pin small signal tube.
I believe I have one of the first batches of this new line of high end tubes being released this summer by PSVANE. You can buy them at my affiliate link on Amazon here:
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That colour preamp really looks nice! Of course, the mono blocks are beautiful as well.
Those amps do look gorgeous! Glad to hear this review, I have a set of these and the 2A3's for my Elekit TU8900.
I love the Psvane Art series 12AU7s in my Muzishare X7. Best ones i've heard in those slots, even better than the RCA clear tops, so keen to try the new Horizons. Great review, thanks Skunkie 👍
I got the PSVANE Horizon 300B tubes and love them. I hope they soon do a KT120 tubes for the mono blocks. Thank you for the review.
Wow, that set up looks great. I will say that I would not want any equipment that was dependent on NOS tubes. If it's not decent with current production I don''t see any logic in it, but that's just my opinion.
We didn't have that problem before covid , it's scary when you're seeing 1970,s mediocre pioneer receivers go for 3000 dollars
Decent vs the best it can sound? Of course you can use current production tubes :)
@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics
Hey, I just turned 73, have tinnitus, and can't hear above 14 kHz. So yeah, decent is good enough, lol.
There really isn't much going on with most music over 9-10K. 6K and below is where the magic happens.
@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics
I do like magic in my music. 🙂
My god those are nice. Wow. I’d buy that.
nice work Skunkie
i just purchased the 2a3 psvane horizon and I can confirm:they are very quiet and have a nice and detailed presentation.
Perfect timing, I'm looking for a quad match set for my preamp. I will check these out. I feel more comfortable spending the money now.
Maybe try and review some CryoTone tubes in your gear for us? They seem to be trending and well-regarded so far. Higher cost, but as an option, I would be interested in your opinion.
If someone has some and is willing to pay for back and forth shipping. There is only so much stuff I can buy myself to make content with :)
“Trending” 😕
O Doge 8 usa 4 tubos 12at7 na linha e estava com GE12at7wc. O som era brilhante e nada especial. Resolvi experimentar 2 tubes CEI 5963 e 2 tubos 6189 Sylvania, ambos compatíveis com tubos 12au7 e... UAU!! Som impressionante 3d e acolhedor. O interessante é que não percebi falta de ganho.
I agree with your opinion on the RCA Clear Tops, I settled on some for a year or so in my Muzishare X7. They were horribly microphonic with poor quality recordings. Although they did get better after a few months of use. I'm thinking the Horizons might be a bit keen in my set-up in the 12au7 position, but I think I'll get some 12ax7 for my phono. They're also definitely on my list for my KT88s when the Treasures finally go.
I’m glad you made this video.
Great information. 💜
Mullard CV4003 was always my favorite 12au7, along with Radiotechnique 6189 in the vinyl bag. Of course, equipment is big factor
These new PSVAYNE 12AT7 tubes, Hifi red silk screen, and Horizon are as good, or better than any NOS 12au series I've used for the past 25 yrs. In my Advance Paris Audio A10, I took out the PSVAYNE 12AT7 and put in Amperex Buggle Boy (holland) a lot of sibilence in the upper frequencies. These Horizon 12AT7 s give me the wonderful midrange and 3d dimensionality that I had from the mullard cv4003 (different preamp), dead silent, superb extension, top to bottom .
I'll say this. With my use of the KT88z and these, I think I'm going to depart from NOS. I'm truly impressed
Nice review. Keep up the good work. I remember those 70's Civic's when they were new, everything was wrapped in plastic, sounds like Laura Palmer wasn't the only one ......
I still own a 1977 Civic in mint condition :)
When I built my color pre I wired one tube for voltage amp and a second for a buffer. So far I found that NOS RCA clear tops best. Even Conn organ 12au7 work great. But I am enjoying a sovtek 6sn7 with adapter in the first position.
@Skunkie. Very interesting testing around the 12AU7. I didn't know that this tube had issues with microphonics. But then again, I mostly see it lower gain applications, such as follower stage or splitter. Nice to see that your testing revealed the new PSVANE Horizon 12AU7 to be a good tube to compete with the NOS tubes. Now, I have a question for you. What are your thoughts if one was to build your color preamp, but to use 6SN7's instead? I have a boatload of these and would be curious to how they would perform in the role of the color preamp. I also like octal tubes better :).
That is a project I am working on!
@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Sounds great! I definitely would be up for a 6SN7 version of your color pre-amp.
I got my pair of Psvane Acme 300b. My first impression was they gave more distortion than my 2024 Western Electric 300b. After 5 days, I feel less distortion than the first day and more well balanced than the 2024 Western Electric 300b. l can't really tell which pair is better. Really can't complain when the 2024 Western Electric 300b price can buy 2.7 pairs of the Psvane Acme 300b.
I love the looks of those monos and the pre….!
Thanks!
Nice to hear that some new stock are an option
Very helpful video again. Thank you Stephe.
Im looking forward to the kt88 review.
Also, will you do a psvane 12at7 review on your ear834? I'm very curious how that will turn out.
Yes, soon but they use 12AX7/7025 tubes
Really like and have learned from your channel!
Hi Stephe, My past thought on PSVANE started off that they put way too much emphasis on fancy packaging, witch I would pay if I became a customer. (Whats wrong with a rolled up piece of corrugated carton?) But getting this kind of information from you and others shows there is some substance behind the boutique image they portray.
Thanks for that.
Thank you so much❤❤❤❤❤❤
Love your content. Perhaps you can do a video on the Qucksilver Mid Mono amplifier ($2000/pr), which is a hand wired tube mono amp producing 40w/ch at an incredible price. Made in America. Or their integrated ($2495), which makes 80w/ch from 10 tubes. Some of the best bargains in tube audio to my knowledge by an American company with an actual warranty and a phone number and service desk!
If someone sent me some to review I would. Obviously they would need to pay shipping both ways.
If you are getting good tone from your power amps & if you haven't already I'd say try a Sylvania 6189 or maybe they are 6189w...from the 80's so still easy to find. Around 40 bucks. Balanced, decent dynamics, pretty quiet depending on the tube of course. I prefer them over the Clear Tops. Thats just my opinion though. Other people have told me to try the New production Apos Ray 12au7.
That set up you have on display is Fantastic looking!!
Thanks for the tip, I can see a future review happening.
I usually like RCA 5963 black plates for the gain stages, and RCA Command 5814A for the cathode follower (or phase inverter for PP)..
BTW, what did you use as a Clamp for the ASC motor run cap on top for your Globe 47 SET amp?
It was an exhaust pipe clamp for an RC boat I found on ebay, fit perfect!
Hi, i bought a tube power-amp from some guy at my local market place. It is hand build with some enormous transformers. It is a triode amp, not push-pull. The sound is so amazing and " live "' but because i use a very old Superscope €10 flea market amplifier as pre-amp, the stage and dynamics are not there. The guy i bought it from had a Conrad-Johnson pre-amp worth more i can afford in the next years. What you think is the way to go to get the best out of this power-amp? The sound now with the amp only is way better then i've ever experienced. But because i listened at the sellers place i know there is so much more in it.
Some sort of nice tube pre-amp is probably the way to go?
Those KT120 monoblocks and color pre is now my screensaver. No joke. They’re just so beautiful. Have you tried, cuz I’m sure you’ve thought about it, but using 6sn7’s in the color pre, or would you just use one of those 6SN7 to 12au7 adapters? I just get a bit weird about using those adapters, as they don’t necessarily seem like the most optimal implementation to get the most out of the color pre.
Thanks, Stephe.
I am working on a 6SN7 version of it!
@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics No way! That’s awesome, Stephe! I started a color pre using 6sn7’s, but that’s a Skunkie piece I’d be absolutely honored to own.
Those are big guns
That T shirt, is that a Honda CVCC Civic? I drove one until my Brother totaled it.
Yep, I still own my 1977 1200 Civic I bought in the early 80's
70s civic are a lot of fun to drive.easy to work on too .if you have round top carb, make sure bolts and grommet that attach air cleaner to valve cover are good as vibration can break air cleaner stud.stud can then end up in cylinder.piece of air cleaner lid can also be found in cylinder of Honda and other 70-80s imports with loose air cleaner.
Are you familiar with this new company calked Apos Ray who “make” 12au7 and 6SN7 tubes so far. They look like Chinese tubes but they apparently only choose the top 10% or something high to the customer. There’s a few reviews out there about them, but they seem to be those scripted and payed for reviews, which is why I’d love to know your thoughts on them.
Yeah not sure on that, I think if you buy enough tubes they will put ay name/branding you want on them. They could be great, I don't plan on buying some to find out.
@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Oh geez! Scratch that last comment of mine. I just saw what they’re asking for them, and it’s completely outrageous. I mean, not even based in reality. Get this….$480 for a matched pair of 6SN7’s! WTF?!
That was helpful. Thanks.
The PSVane horizon were too sharp for me in a Woo Fireflied 3rd gen but their Art series was better than all rivals including the RCA clear tops, JJ and Genelex.
Interesting, might have to give a pair of those a try! These are "sharp" for sure.
My Rogue rp-7 was supplied with 12au7 JJ tubes from the factory, they're not that good at all, I have yet to see anyone like them.
I'm back to using the stock JJ's again! I purchased 6 nos tubes from reliable sellers and all have went bad on me, or at least several have went bad, I've pulled them all. I'm done buying these expensive tubes and them lasting a year or less. I'm gonna try these Psvane's as much as I hate buying from China.
Where do I buy these from? I don't buy from aliexpress or Amazon, where do I buy them as I've had a hard time finding a dealer!
I think they have focused on selling in the US through Amazon.
@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics someone on audiogon was saying that they were more expensive on Amazon than from aliexpress. I guess it's Amazon then.
I'm sure they are, aliexpress you are basically buying without the free return option + you sometimes are paying $$$ for shipping once you get into the checkout window. For many items the shipping is more than the item! I once tried to return a pair of defective tubes to china, the return shipping cost was more than the cost of the tubes so I just threw them away.
you said the vocal is forward, dose that reduce the volume/details of background instruments/bass? What i found is if the vocal is pushed forward sometimes the details of other instruments would be weaken
That's hard to describe. It seems like the vocals are more focused if that makes sense? Depending on the music it might be better or worse. I didn't notice the detail or the bass being reduced.
@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics interesting, for me if I have higher gain/volume on my amp and lower gain/volume on the preamp then the vocals get sweeter and more forward (the center image is taller as well). But if I do the reverse the soundstage is wider but the vocals are further and not as focus, but the bass and other background details are more prominent
That works well then ! :) Give you some adjustment.
@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics but I want the best of both worlds like tall imaging and boom
Thanks for that! Is there a schematic for the preamp somewhere?
ua-cam.com/play/PLtEhh3UpOsiBkQPULTwRi9-OvvaIx1swq.html
@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Thank you! Appreciate that! (Not sure how I missed it…) Is there a schematic for the power supply also, or did I miss that too…
It should be in there. I need to make a page for my website on this build, shoot me an email and I can give them to ya.
@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Thank you! Will send off an email shortly.
Hi, why are the rca connectors on top instead of the back.? Thanks
Short signal path and keep the signal away from the AC power, function over form.
0k that explains it. Thanks
How do they compare to the art series?
Just ordered a pair to try.
@@SkunkieDesignsElectronicsAnd how did they compare?
So I know what I'm watching, could you say at the beginning of these reviews, either notate "paid promotion' or say you bought these tubes/products unsolicited with your own money? thanks
"Paid promotion" means it's a paid commercial. That I'm being paid to promote a product with no reservations. This is still a review.
Oh my! Those Horizon tube are a bit pricey. But to be honest, I am a bit of a cheap bohemian music listener.
Any progress on the MP301?
Yes, output transformers took a while to get, a couple of final parts arirving today.
Aww - thank you - so kind!
🐈⬛🐈⬛🐈⬛💪