PSVANE "Horizon" 12AU7: Listening Impressions

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PSVANE "Horizon" 12AU7: Listening Impressions - Review

Рет қаралды 4,367

Күн бұрын

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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Пікірлер: 76

@brycejeannotte7699 Ай бұрын

That colour preamp really looks nice! Of course, the mono blocks are beautiful as well.

@marcbesner9457 2 күн бұрын

My god those are nice. Wow. I’d buy that. nice work Skunkie

@LoftyVisions Ай бұрын

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 👍

@chrislj2890 Ай бұрын

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.

@michaelorton9887 Ай бұрын

We didn't have that problem before covid , it's scary when you're seeing 1970,s mediocre pioneer receivers go for 3000 dollars

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Ай бұрын

Decent vs the best it can sound? Of course you can use current production tubes :)

@chrislj2890 Ай бұрын

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Hey, I just turned 73, have tinnitus, and can't hear above 14 kHz. So yeah, decent is good enough, lol.

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Ай бұрын

There really isn't much going on with most music over 9-10K. 6K and below is where the magic happens.

@chrislj2890 Ай бұрын

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics I do like magic in my music. 🙂

@Buddythunder1 Ай бұрын

Those amps do look gorgeous! Glad to hear this review, I have a set of these and the 2A3's for my Elekit TU8900.

@markmurante3609 Ай бұрын

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.

@AlanFenick Ай бұрын

Really like and have learned from your channel!

@clarencehoover6748 Ай бұрын

I’m glad you made this video. Great information. 💜

@rufiorules 8 күн бұрын

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.

@spotlightkid5763 Ай бұрын

i just purchased the 2a3 psvane horizon and I can confirm:they are very quiet and have a nice and detailed presentation.

@edsonricardo5359 Ай бұрын

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.

@chatrs1025 Ай бұрын

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.

@pyrolusite Ай бұрын

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.

@dmark2639 Ай бұрын

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.

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Ай бұрын

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 :)

@TheDjcarlos67 Ай бұрын

“Trending” 😕

@stephencosta6814 Ай бұрын

Thank you so much❤❤❤❤❤❤

@cobar5342 Ай бұрын

Nice to hear that some new stock are an option

@bobcooke4402 Ай бұрын

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.

@labalo5 Ай бұрын

I love the looks of those monos and the pre….!

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Ай бұрын

Thanks!

@jukingeo Ай бұрын

@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 :).

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Ай бұрын

That is a project I am working on!

@jukingeo Ай бұрын

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Sounds great! I definitely would be up for a 6SN7 version of your color pre-amp.

@marknielsen8977 Ай бұрын

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 ......

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Ай бұрын

I still own a 1977 Civic in mint condition :)

@MasterofPlay7 Ай бұрын

Those are big guns

@furiososso Ай бұрын

That was helpful. Thanks.

@anhdangduc1061 Ай бұрын

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.

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Ай бұрын

Yes, soon but they use 12AX7/7025 tubes

@NosEL34 Ай бұрын

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!!

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Ай бұрын

Thanks for the tip, I can see a future review happening.

@hugobloemers4425 Ай бұрын

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.

@scottwolf8633 Ай бұрын

That T shirt, is that a Honda CVCC Civic? I drove one until my Brother totaled it.

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Ай бұрын

Yep, I still own my 1977 1200 Civic I bought in the early 80's

@FlixTraveler Ай бұрын

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.

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Ай бұрын

Some sort of nice tube pre-amp is probably the way to go?

@rhwinner Ай бұрын

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!

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Ай бұрын

If someone sent me some to review I would. Obviously they would need to pay shipping both ways.

@NickP333 Ай бұрын

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.

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Ай бұрын

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.

@NickP333 Ай бұрын

@@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?!

@phantomplastics6582 Ай бұрын

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.

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Ай бұрын

Interesting, might have to give a pair of those a try! These are "sharp" for sure.

@NickP333 Ай бұрын

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.

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Ай бұрын

I am working on a 6SN7 version of it!

@NickP333 Ай бұрын

@@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.

@ToobTime Ай бұрын

Oh my! Those Horizon tube are a bit pricey. But to be honest, I am a bit of a cheap bohemian music listener.

@rickg8015 Ай бұрын

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?

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Ай бұрын

It was an exhaust pipe clamp for an RC boat I found on ebay, fit perfect!

@garyedwards9617 Ай бұрын

Hi, why are the rca connectors on top instead of the back.? Thanks

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Ай бұрын

Short signal path and keep the signal away from the AC power, function over form.

@garyedwards9617 Ай бұрын

0k that explains it. Thanks

@ceylonmooney Ай бұрын

How do they compare to the art series?

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Ай бұрын

Just ordered a pair to try.

@MasterofPlay7 Ай бұрын

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

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Ай бұрын

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.

@MasterofPlay7 Ай бұрын

@@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

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Ай бұрын

That works well then ! :) Give you some adjustment.

@MasterofPlay7 Ай бұрын

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics but I want the best of both worlds like tall imaging and boom

@lysippus Ай бұрын

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

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Ай бұрын

"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.

@ThePerkri Ай бұрын

Thanks for that! Is there a schematic for the preamp somewhere?

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Ай бұрын

kzfaq.info/sun/PLtEhh3UpOsiBkQPULTwRi9-OvvaIx1swq

@ThePerkri Ай бұрын

@@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…

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Ай бұрын

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.

@ThePerkri Ай бұрын

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Thank you! Will send off an email shortly.