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Eico HF-81

shacky

shacky

Addicted Member
Just picked up a great Eico HF-81 from fellow AK'er Narodow. He did a professional job of bypassing the tone controls and funky focus/balance. New caps and OP tubes from TAD - EL84 quad.

I am in tube heaven :banana: :music:

Wasn't sure I'd be happy without some added bass boost. I am very happy. Paired them with my recapped Dynaco A25's. I think I can finally stop looking for better sound.

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Wow, that one is a gorgeous specimen! I had one for a while that was a crusty old brick in comparison, but it sounded fantastic!

Nice. Very nice. Tube heaven, indeed. :yes:
 
Man, that looks SUPER! I really like the looks of that Eico gear. Never seen any in person. Enjoy that beauty!
 
dokblues said:
Nice! That should pair up nicely with those Dynaco`s. Warm and full.
Click to expand...

:yes:

I back down the tweeter attenuators to give a little more warmth.

Love it. And this is from a guy who's favorite was AR 3a's with Sui 9090DB. The sparkle of the Eico/A25 combo is much better for calssic rock. Like DSOTM and Santana Abraxas.

Another stand out is Pink Martini Sympathique.
 
It'll last you a lifetime... and probably satisfy you for a lifetime, too.
My favorite integrated amp to date.
 
Sweet looking amp!

I've yet to hear an Eico but I have 2 similar EL-84 integrated amps from Lafayette and Allied. I don't need them both but can't decide which to keep!
 
That is one beaut. I have one as well. I agree, your search for audio contentment has come to an end. :yes:
Oh, BTW, I used mine for a long time with A-25s. Great, great pairing. :thmbsp:
 
Thank you all for your comments!

I can't believe I listening to my music without loudness on or bass boost and not dissatisfied :no: Just hooked up my TT a BIC 980 with Ortofon F/FF. Listening to Pat Metheny Group First Circle. I want for nothing. Rich engaging. If I had bass control I'd turn it up a notch and probably mess up balance. So this keeps it simple.

Of course I do have some other speakers to try that I've found tube friendly:

JBL L36
Wharfdale W70D MK II
Wharfedale W40D
Possibly EPI 202's unless someone buys them

Maybe even try my AR 2AX though I think they do better with high output SS like my 3a's.

Once I sell some stuff I'd like to pick up tuner. Maybe that new Sony HD that's getting lots of praise.
 
I heard my first EICO HF-81 a few years ago. I've been looking for one ever since! Yours is a beautiful example! :thmbsp:
 
I have the Sony and the Sangean HD tuners, both are awesome
sounding units.
The size of Sony is compact but it does not maintain memory of
station presets if you unplug the power cord.
I do like that the LCD can be dimmed and it was cheaper in cost
compared to the Sangean.
The Sangean will maintain preset memory if unplugged from AC,
also think it has nice controls and very user friendly.
Both sound excellent.
I use them with A Fisher 400 through the aux input and with my
Maggie 9303 series chassis, very clean and clear with that deep
rich sound.
I know the Fisher 400 has A great tuner of it's own but I have
switched between them and the HD tuners just sound better to
me.
Commercial free HD-2 is killer and if you live in or near A large
city most of the Radio Stations transmit the HD-2 signal.
My Dad has the Eico HF-81, very nice sounding tube amp and
will hold it's value for A long time to come, nice score.
 
BrokenHill said:
I have the Sony and the Sangean HD tuners, both are awesome
sounding units.
The size of Sony is compact but it does not maintain memory of
station presets if you unplug the power cord.
I do like that the LCD can be dimmed and it was cheaper in cost
compared to the Sangean.
The Sangean will maintain preset memory if unplugged from AC,
also think it has nice controls and very user friendly.
Both sound excellent.
I use them with A Fisher 400 through the aux input and with my
Maggie 9303 series chassis, very clean and clear with that deep
rich sound.
I know the Fisher 400 has A great tuner of it's own but I have
switched between them and the HD tuners just sound better to
me.
Commercial free HD-2 is killer and if you live in or near A large
city most of the Radio Stations transmit the HD-2 signal.
My Dad has the Eico HF-81, very nice sounding tube amp and
will hold it's value for A long time to come, nice score.
Click to expand...


I see the Sangean "X" newer model dims. Almost twice the Sony cost but looks nice.

I see my local NPR has HD. Does it sound as good as good quality (not as compressed as most) analog FM?
 
Yes the newer Sangean's have the dim feature and that is nice.
I bought mine when they first came out and so far it has been
very reliable, with no problems at all.
I always thought the sound of FM multiplex receiver's or FM tuners
was lacking the quality of A record or CD, even MP3's from my
computer sound way better then analog FM and I have heard many
different receiver's and tuners over the years.
HD tuners also lack the quality of A record or CD. however, I do
find them to be very clean sounding with very good detail in the
music, definitely better stereo separation then analog FM.
The tone and bass is very comparable to most good FM multiplex
tuners I have heard.
When I have done side by side test switching between multiplex FM
and HD in every case I do find the HD to be A tad better sounding.
If you have A very good multiplex FM tuner the major thing you
would gain from HD is the HD-2 sub channels that have no
commercials and the text that the Stations can send such as artist
names song titles.
I did play around with the AM band and was A little surprised to
hear some AM stations come in HD stereo and that is A major
improvement over the sound of old school AM.
That Sony is A real bargain for the price if anyone would like to
judge HD Radio for themselves, it is better if you live in or close
to A city with many FM and AM channels because you do need
enough signal strength to lock in the HD signal.
 
Been there...

shacky said:
Just picked up a great Eico HF-81 from fellow AK'er Narodow. He did a professional job of bypassing the tone controls and funky focus/balance. New caps and OP tubes from TAD - EL84 quad.

I am in tube heaven :banana: :music:

Wasn't sure I'd be happy without some added bass boost. I am very happy. Paired them with my recapped Dynaco A25's. I think I can finally stop looking for better sound.
Click to expand...

That's a beautiful specimen which should bring you years of pleasure if properly restored and maintained. You are quite fortunate indeed.

I recently performed a ground-up restoration on my '81 and this afforded me the opportunity to audition many of the mods circulating throughout great forums like this. While my ultimate goal was to faithfully reproduce the circuit as EICO intended, I systematically experimented with the elimination of "superfluous" elements of the design. I always returned to the original design without hesitation. Removing these features introduced excessive gain and made the unit sound too "hot". I lost so much of the subtlety and grace that made these little integrated beauties the classic they've become.

After playing with so many of the "recommended" variables, I came to the conclusion that the circuit was designed with a holistic approach. To remove or tinker usually results in something somewhat less. Your mileage, however, may vary.

Regards,

Blair
 
blairm said:
That's a beautiful specimen which should bring you years of pleasure if properly restored and maintained. You are quite fortunate indeed.

I recently performed a ground-up restoration on my '81 and this afforded me the opportunity to audition many of the mods circulating throughout great forums like this. While my ultimate goal was to faithfully reproduce the circuit as EICO intended, I systematically experimented with the elimination of "superfluous" elements of the design. I always returned to the original design without hesitation. Removing these features introduced excessive gain and made the unit sound too "hot". I lost so much of the subtlety and grace that made these little integrated beauties the classic they've become.

After playing with so many of the "recommended" variables, I came to the conclusion that the circuit was designed with a holistic approach. To remove or tinker usually results in something somewhat less. Your mileage, however, may vary.

Regards,

Blair
Click to expand...


Blair,

Though I haven't heard my 81 before and after the mods I tend to agree with you. Mine is working so well with no hum that I can hear that I hate to change anything. But if I were to look at changes they would be returning the tone controls into the circuit, Focus, and maybe some vintage 6bq5's.

I work for GE and some original GE's would be very nice conversion piece.
 
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