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You heard correctly in that the 181 has been redesigned slightly in the taper of the leadpipe into the first valve. This was done in order to help focus and center the attack as well as to improve the intonation. The Firebird is slightly more compact sounding with a more centered low range, especially the low C.

cjk wrote:Did anybody in the thread actually ask Miraphone about the 381 thingy?

Thank you for your interest in the new “Belcanto” F tuba line. Here is the required information which we posted on Facebook about an hour ago:

Greetings to you low brass folks out there!
Following up some rumors and questions about Miraphone's new rotary F tuba line "BelCanto" I'd like to make some general statements about these horns which might help to clarify a few things for everyone interested:
After two decades of continuous efforts to improve the classic 81 F tuba line step by step, recent evolutionary measures and changes applied have made it necessary to finally replace the existing model with a new name and item number. The former 81 tuba has ceased to exist!
Here are the two new F tuba competitors on the market:
1.) Miraphone F tuba 181 "Belcanto", item number 150181B (5 valves) or 150181C (6 valves).
2.) Miraphone F tuba 381 "Belcanto Solo", item number 150381B (5 valves) or 150381C (6 valves).
The outer measurements are the same as with the older 81 F tuba models. But here some significant changes which result in a much better flexibility, and improved quality of response, sound and projection:
Both "Belcanto" models 181 and 381 have the improved 1st valve bore (more solid in both intonation and centering) and an optimized leadpipe.
The 181 "Belcanto" comes with a free leadpipe (attached to the bell with only two braces) and the standard Miraphone receiver, the 381 "Belcanto Solo" has the leadpipe soldered onto the bell and comes with a receiver type that allows the leadpipe tubing to wrap directly around the mouthpiece shank (without the receiver being "in between"). Additionally the bell and bottom bow of the 381 "Belcanto Solo" are made from thinner brass sheets which increase the horn's potential t resonate and add color. The thicker material of the 181 "Belcanto" on the other hand enables effortless projection for big concert halls.
The 181 also comes with an optional bell wreath. For the 381 the wreath is standard. Both models are available in either gold brass or yellow brass, with 5 or 6 valves and in lacquer or silver plate.
As always it is impossible on my end to recommend the "best option" for everyone. The nature of preferences is to be subject to the individual musician's taste, playing habits, performance group settings and concert hall acoustics.
So please forgive me if I can only invite you go and try both horns and figure it out. They were just released. So best way to do it is to go to the next trade show and test play them at the Miraphone booth.
Hope you find this information helpful.
Keep up the hope for the perfect horn!
Markus Theinert