FS: LOESCH Full-Function Tube Preamp

[Stephen Marsh]

This is the design you’ve read about on r.a.t. as having the
best-sounding phono stage in the world. It is Dick Olsher’s (reviewer
for Fi magazine) reference.

This is the latest version with dual-mono outboard Genrad 1201B tube
power supplies. It has the WE417A (selected for low noise) / 6GK5 phono
stage and the 5687 line stage. The line stage is not run with the 5687
sections paralleled. Silver wire from phono input to WE417A. Copper
wire through rest of unit. Unit was professionally built by John
Wiesner. In other words, the build quality and layout are excellent.
Coupling caps have been upgraded to Infinicaps. The power supplies also
have all of the recommended parts upgrades, including new
electrolytics. This unit functions perfectly and is ready to plug and
play. Supplied with copy of schematic.

$2,400 or best offer above this amount in a reasonable time period.
Buyer pays shipping.

[Randall Bradley]

Or you can buy mine, as the *sub-chassis* only plus the
two regualted supplies for only $1200.00 and put the thing
in your own box, as you wish!

(Sorry Steve ;) )

This is the identical inner guts.

_-_-randy

[Randall Bradley]

BTW, I have one that I use here, so Steve's got to have
gone wacky to sell his!!!

:)

_-_-

[Stephen Marsh]

Andy Evans wrote:
>
> >This is the design you’ve read about on r.a.t. as having the
> >best-sounding phono stage in the world. It is Dick Olsher’s (reviewer
> >for Fi magazine) reference.>This is the latest version with dual-mono
> outboard Genrad 1201B tube
> >power supplies. It has the WE417A (selected for low noise) / 6GK5 phono
> >stage and the 5687 line stage. The line stage is not run with the 5687
> >sections paralleled.
>

> These seem pretty esoteric tubes - two not in the Svetlana index. What are
> all the tubes and what's their likely availability? In or out of production?
> Why do they sound better than the usual 12AX7/6DJ8s? Andy

Andy,

You must be a relative newcomer to r.a.t. This preamp and the tubes
have enjoyed lengthy discussions here. FYI, the WE417A is used in the
Audio Prism phono preamp. The 6GK5 is used in some Conrad Johnson
preamps and was also used as the phono stage tubes in the Melos GK-1+1.
The 5687 is quite a favorite for line stage designers. Where you been,
man?

Regards,
Steve

[Stephen Marsh]

Hi Randy,

Could be!

Regards,
Steve

[Andy Evans]

[PReese270]

This is not such a newcomer question. FYI, I have already purchased most of
the good NOS 5687s still extant. I am a tube hoarder and they are not for
sale, even at unconscionable prices. It will do you no good to beg, so don't
bother.

[André Jute]

> Andy Evans wrote:

> > >power supplies. It has the WE417A (selected for low noise) / 6GK5 phono
> > >stage and the 5687 line stage. The line stage is not run with the 5687
> > >sections paralleled.
> >
> > These seem pretty esoteric tubes - two not in the Svetlana index. What are
> > all the tubes and what's their likely availability? In or out of production?
> > Why do they sound better than the usual 12AX7/6DJ8s? Andy
>

Get a Billington catalogue, Andy. Their address is on my netsite in the
Tubes section. If Billingtons haven't got it, and they can't get it,
then and only then is it out of production. Their catalogue is so
presented that duplicate and sub and mil numbering is cross referenced
though only for scarce tubes (they're the only ones for which it
matters!).

5687 are common as dirt, 417A/5842 are widely available if getting more
expensive and more difficult to find ones everyone else hasn't picked
over for low microphonics. Don't do phono, so I don't know anything
about the 6GK5.

Andre
--
Andre Jute an...@indigo.ie COMMUNICATION JUTE
--see our pages for music lovers, writers and audiophiles at
http://indigo.ie/~andre/ComJuteF1.html

[Thor...@tnt-audio.com]

Hi there,

> These seem pretty esoteric tubes - two not in the Svetlana index.

Well, most interesting valves are not in the Svetlana Index....

> What are all the tubes and what's their likely availability?

I had no problems BTW, to buy a job-lot of the valves for the Arthur Loesch
Pre.... The 5842's have been exchanged for Mullard E88CC's but I still have
some of the 6GK5's around....

The Arthur Loesch Circuit was the beginning of my own Preamp.... I felt the
5842's where too inconsistent and noisy and the phono-Stage was too Dark....
So I redesigned it....

> Why do they sound better than the usual 12AX7/6DJ8s?

They don't neccesarily.... It's all in the application....

Later Thorsten

Visit TNT-Audio on the Web - the only advertising
free audio web-zine. http://www.tnt-audio.com

PS A Schema for the Arthur Loesch Circuit is here:

http://machmat.student.utwente.nl/schema/other/loetsch.gif

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[Andy Evans]

How do tubes compare with gold, silver musical instruments and other
hoardables? With those mentioned the market demand will be relatively
constant, but how does one work out the investment potential of tubes? The
collectable/classic sportscar market, for instance, has fluctuated quite
severely in Europe. I assume you are hoarding for intelligent reasons, not
sheer bloody mindedness! Andy

[PReese270]

I would guess that good NOS audio tubes are as good a buy as any antique type
collectible. After all, if the NOS factory in the Bahamas is not reopened,
there will be no new production, and world wide demand seems to be getting
stronger. For enough money, new tube production can replicate the fine old
stuff, but how can you beat listening to tubes which are older than you are?

BTW, you are wrong. I hoard strictly based on madness, and no one has ever
accused me of being intelligent. My primary motivation is not financial, but
to prevent RAT members from listening to great old tubes.