Eico HF-81 question for those that have one and moved on from it or returned


I've been running a restored, complete stripped chassis upgraded wiring/resistors/caps, Eico HF-81 since 2000. It's running NOS Mullard 12au7, 12ax7 and Tungsram EL-84 tubes and Telefunken 12ax7 pulls from a Fisher tuner in the phone section. Sounds wonderful with Bozak 302a and N.E.A.R. Model 80 speakers. My source is mostly vinyl on a Thorens TD 126 MkII with Ortofon Super OM-40 and a Musical Fidelity A2 CD. I do stream Pandora through a tube buffered DAC on occasion.

I've got the itch to try something else but am wondering if I'll be chasing my tail and end up right back with the Eico after having spent a bunch of money.

I'm considering a Mapletree Ultra 4C preamp as I have a good supply of NOS 12sn7/12sx7  tubes. Amps I'm looking at is a Bob Latino ST-70 or Primaluna.

Listening material I'm classical, jazz, country, opera, big band, choral, etc...

So for you that have had a HF-81 and moved on what did you go to and was it a real improvement? Those that returned why did you and from what?

Thanks


gawgaboy

Showing 2 responses by atmasphere

@gawgaboy  Just be careful to be sure that the power transformer can support the extra filament current.
A Stereo 70 will have more power of course.
But if your Eico is as heavily rebuilt as you say, the sound differences will be mostly about the output transformers and other parts quality. Eicos came stock with ceramic disk caps for coupling caps but it sounds like those have all been changed out; OTOH the HF-81 had pretty good output transformers. The only big difference I see is the Mapletree stuff uses the 6SN7 family which IMO/IME is a better sounding tube than 12AU7s.
So my opinion is that you will be making a bit of a change for more power, not more bandwidth and otherwise slightly different sound (you'll have to play with interconnects between the preamp and amp which will affect things). I don't think it will be a dramatic improvement; with your amp you don't have to deal with the interconnect issue. It might be possible to have your amp set up with 6SN7s - that would be possible if the power transformer can support their filament requirements.