Verellen Octal

[WG Plum]

Phrasing.

 

[cfortner]

What do you mean? Sorry, I'm German.

 

[WG Plum]

What do you mean? Sorry, I'm German.

Oh, no worries, it's a childish joke about probing.

 

[baxter_x]

What do you mean? Sorry, I'm German.

I wondered the same thing

 

[tallchris]

Finally got a chance to try mine out in my 200 watt Meatsmoke at practice this week. Even in the context of loud guitar and drums, I could tell there was a little bit more volume and headroom. I want to do some more A/B testing with more of my amps, but I can't see going out of my way to put the Tung-Sol 6550s that have been in that amp for the last decade anytime soon.

 

[cfortner]

Uff, today I married my amp with the headshell:

The hum is very low, negligible and doesn't increase with master ore channel gain.

At monday I'll test it at rehearsal with a 215 Faital Neo.

And the three Noctua fans are nearly inaudible.

Edit: YAH means Yet Another Hiwatt

 

[gtirard]

Uff, today I married my amp with the headshell:

View attachment 7485853

View attachment 7485854

View attachment 7485855

The hum is very low, negligible and doesn't increase with master ore channel gain.

At monday I'll test it at rehearsal with a 215 Faital Neo.

And the three Noctua fans are nearly inaudible.

Edit: YAH means Yet Another Hiwatt

Nice!
Is it a new amp you just built? (in that case I suppose you cannot compare the sound with real tubes?)
Do the Octals glow when the amp is on (I imagine the "V" is glowing)?
Edit: and why "ForWatt 300" and "YAH400", is it 300W or 400W?

 

[cfortner]

I tested it with 6550, but it's long time ago. I don't believe I remember the sound with the valves.

The V is glowing, powered by the heater voltage.

The original Hiwatt is called Hiwatt 400 or DR405. Therefore I called it YAH400, but I measured it with approx. 300 W --> ForWatt 300

 

[Balog]

Any other reports from folks who’ve been able to use them a few months?

 

[LetItGrowTone]

They're back in stock at their website.

 

[Insouciance]

Any other reports from those who have tried the Octals? I have an SVT II Pro that is kinda my forever head and 6 Octals is gonna be about $1000 all said and done. If they can essentially turn my head into an Everlasting Gobstopper and the tone is still pretty much there (I do use a lot of pedals), then I'm sold.

 

[baxter_x]

Any other reports from those who have tried the Octals? I have an SVT II Pro that is kinda my forever head and 6 Octals is gonna be about $1000 all said and done. If they can essentially turn my head into an Everlasting Gobstopper and the tone is still pretty much there (I do use a lot of pedals), then I'm sold.

I have exactly the same expectations. I also own an SVT II pro and an Sadowsky SA200.

 

[baxter_x]

However I juste read that on their websites:

During our testing phase, we discovered that about 30% amps had internal problems. We can't be responsible for any resulting issues.

I think I'm going to wait for a moment before using them I guess.

 

[WG Plum]

"Internal problems" is vague enough to be utterly meaningless. I'm pulling for Verellen, but do they offer any specifics?

 

[baxter_x]

"Internal problems" is vague enough to be utterly meaningless.

Even with 30% of amplifiers tested?

 

[cfortner]

I just ordered a second sextet, they work very well in my Hiwatt DR405-clone at 650V anode voltage and 330W.

The test in a Fender Studio Bass did show problems with high frequency oscillations, Verellen has confirmed the problems with some ultra linear circuits.

Now I want to test them in a very Hiwatt similar design (but six KT120 and 500W at 800V anode voltage). The power tranny has several taps so I can test at aprox. 650, 700, 750 and 800 V. Verellen says, they can withstand voltages of up to 700V, we'll see.

Exciting! If it works, I espect less problems with high power valve amps.

Important:

The Verellen driven at that voltages do need active cooling by (silent) fans as shown in my earlier posts.

 

[baxter_x]

It seems like in the end, it might not be as plug n play as what I think it is.

 

[agedhorse]

It seems like in the end, it might not be as plug n play as what I think it is.

For those of us who understand the challenges, it's not surprising that they have encountered some issues. It's a LOT harder than it appears.

 

[cfortner]

That's right, but they are at the beginning of the journey.

I hope I'll have the time to take the Hiwatt clone hard at rehearsal.

 

[baxter_x]

For those of us who understand the challenges, it's not surprising that they have encountered some issues. It's a LOT harder than it appears.

Right, but should I assume it's too early from a player perspective to consider that device?