X-Can V2 | matched pair of Amperex Bugleboy 6dj8
X-Can V2 | matched pair of Amperex Orange Globes 6dj8, X-Can V2 | matched pair of Mullard 6dj8
?? | matched pair of Sylvania Gold Lable 5751
YS-Symph | single Telefunken ribbed plate 12ax7
YS-Symph | matched pair Telefunken smooth plate 12ax7 YS-Symph | single Amperex Holland 12ax7
I just popped in the Sylvanias, I've never heard my system sound so good. IMHO they destroy the Telefunkens and that's saying something.
Lemme see if I have this right:X-Can V2 | matched pair of Amperex Bugleboy 6dj8
X-Can V2 | matched pair of Amperex Orange Globes 6dj8, X-Can V2 | matched pair of Mullard 6dj8
?? | matched pair of Sylvania Gold Lable 5751
YS-Symph | single Telefunken ribbed plate 12ax7
YS-Symph | matched pair Telefunken smooth plate 12ax7 YS-Symph | single Amperex Holland 12ax7I just popped in the Sylvanias, I've never heard my system sound so good. IMHO they destroy the Telefunkens and that's saying something.
So I take it the 5751s are substitues for 12AX7?
Getting time to try out some new tubes in my Symphonies - where'd you get 'em?
Now to cast out the evil hum demon !
Shielding and filtering and rerouting the ground loop wiring.....ughhh !
The guy that built this was a business major I think.
Actually the tube breakdown goes like this:
X-Can V2: Amperex Bugleboys, Amperex Orange Globes, Mullards (all 6DJ8)
Symphonies Input: Amperex Holland 12AX7 and Telefunken Ribbed Plate 12AX7 (singles)
Symphonies Output: Telefunken Smooth Plate 12AX7 and Sylvania Gold Label 5751 (matched pairs)
The 5751 tubes have lower gain than the 12AX7 tubes but are otherwise completely compatible. There is a whole lot of information about the 5751 tube family on the audio asylum tube forum, most seem to either love them or hate them depending on their setup. I haven't had a lot of time to do a lot of critical listening but so far I absolutely love them. The midrange is amazingly smooth and rich, the bass is tighter and a bit more defined, the highs are nice but don't have the same sparkle as the Telefunkens. As a whole they seem a bit more focused and defined than the 12AX7s, the difference isn't subtle at all. I should mention that I'm talking about the 5751 as the output tubes and the Amperex 12AX7 as the input tube, I'd like to eventually try a single Sylvania 5751 as the input as well but my funds are a little low after my spending spree.
Brian are you still using the stock Chinese tubes? If so you should definately look to replace them, even current production tubes are a significant improvement over what the Symphonies came with. I recently tried out the current production JJ Electronic tubes which are copies of the older Telefunkens and they weren't quite on the same level at the NOS tubes I've been using but they are lightyears better than the Chinese tubes and only will set you back $25 - $30.
Like Trey said I've had very positive experiences with Triode Electonics, they're located in Chicago so you won't even have to pay shipping. :)
I just got some rather cheap Electro Hamonix 12AX7 EH (3 total for input and output) to try out as I read some more reviews of different tubes in the YS Symphonies. They are still burning, but the improvement was immediate! Completely destroyed the chinese stock tubes! I may also upgrade the caps as I have read they make quite an improvement as well.
As for the Bottlehead Foreplay, most of them have a hum before some of the upgrades are added in. I have already done tube-rolling with the Foreplay and absolutely loved the RCA clear-tops (12AU7) in there after all of the upgrades had been done. I heard the Telefunken's sound great in the Foreplay, but I never got around to buying them!
Definitely full and warmer in the bass than some 12AX7s, but I wouldn't characterize the tube as "loose" in the bass. Perhaps your PrimaLuna is loose in the bass to begin with, and that's too much of a good thing. With my ARC VS55, which is punchy and also full in the bass, the 12AX7EH warms it up and gives it a tad more weight--nothing over the top (or under the bottom as it may be)
This is why there's no definitive "best" tube for everyone, and why tube amps rule... You can tailor your sound just to your liking or mood, if you're industrious :)
You've inspired me. I'm going to order some tubes ;D
Good question. I have been investigating power tubes for awhile, and am considering:
Tung-Sol 6550 Black Plate (duh, the "real deal" bend-me-over) NOS
GE 6550A if I can find them NOS
TS6550 Russian Tung-Sol "reissue"
Svetlana 6550C or whatever they're called now, which I have not heard yet in my amp (new prod.)
For my preamp, I think I'll probably buy a smattering of tubes and see what I like. 12AX7's, I need 3 of each variety. I haven't really started checking into these yet. Right now I run 12AX7EH which have warm and punchy bass, an excellent midrange, and extended if maybe a touch of sizzle in the highs especially on some digital material. I would like a more balanced approach, with better highs, maybe even at the loss of a little extension. I have been intrigued by the 5751's and will most definitely buy a set of these; probably some Sovtek 5751's to see what I think of this lower-gain tube.
I'm thinking the best bang for the buck would be some Svet or TS6550's in the power amp with some NOS in the pre. Toss in a smattering of new-production 12AX7's, also, for fun (and since they're relatively cheap). Any suggestions?
Also--I noticed you use a MF X-CanV2. I am considering the V3 version... How do you like yours? I just bought some Grado SR80's; I don't use headphones much anymore, but plan on using them when my wife watches dumb TV shows and the hifi is tied up :)
total tube n00b here,.... pardon my questions
You say $8 for a tube.
Is that standard?, low? I can only imagine that the sky is the limit in this game??
What would be considered expensive?
upscale Audio is a little over an hour from here, and has Soliloquys, and tube amps,.... hmmm??
must save for 722, must clear mind of other toys,..... must save, must save
Ha, funny you mention the JJ's... I just realized I have 2 JJ 12AX7's at home from an old Jolida... I'll have to buy another and see what I think.
I think I'll try those, some Ei's (they're cheap, too), and maybe some 5751s. And some new power tubes, I really can't decide on those. That shouldn't set me back too terribly much if I stick with new-prod. power tubes.
BTW--where do you buy your tubes? I have bought all my tubes in the past from Ned at Triode... But he's not carrying the TS6550's I'm looking for now, so I'm looking at Boi Audio Works (got them from the asylum).
As to the MF X-can; thanks for the heads up. I didn't think about the cost of NOS tubes... That sure would add to the cost of a $395 amp. Do you know anything about the ASL headphone amps? I am auditioning a few this weekend along with the MF (at different shops, unfortunately).
Moke: NOS means "New Old Stock" and yes, they're old. Many from the 40's 50's and 60's are popular! I used to scour antique shops around here and find old RCA cleartops and Telefunkens for $.25 a pop but boy are those days over...
Tom kinda scared me when I was looking towards purchasing the amp that I have now (plinius 8200 175w s.s, sssssss!). He got to speaking of this addiction to tweaking, and biasing, swapping and all this other stuff that goes with tubes, and it started sounding like $$bling$$.
upscale Audio is a little over an hour from here, and has Soliloquys, and tube amps,.... hmmm??
must save for 722, must clear mind of other toys,..... must save, must save
and before you knew it, Moke had highjacked another ts.com thread.
It can't hurt to look. :)
Yeah, right. I've told myself that before.
Is there a guide for tubes with pictures? I got extra sets of tubes from the previous owner of my amp and I can't read the labels on the small tubes, but maybe I can match up a pictures.
Are Ei tubes any good? Thats what KT90s I have in there right now.
you are a dirty slut Nick :P
This should be a fun little project and a nice reference to make sure you're getting legit tubes. I've got the following covered:
QuoteThis should be a fun little project and a nice reference to make sure you're getting legit tubes. I've got the following covered:
There are also some key things to look for with different brands (many were mfg'd by a handfull of companys then OEM'd to others):
Telefunken small tubes nearly always have a <> diamond set into the glass between the pins
Mullard EL-34s have a hole in the guide tube and usually an xf# date code etched in the glass
Telefunken (the good ones) EL-34s have double halo getters
Telefunken's ink sluffs off very easily especially when hot
GE etched their info into many older tubes
RCA etched thier info with a {} bracket around it
It can't hurt to look. :)
Yeah, right. I've told myself that before.
Is there a guide for tubes with pictures? I got extra sets of tubes from the previous owner of my amp and I can't read the labels on the small tubes, but maybe I can match up a pictures.
Are Ei tubes any good? Thats what KT90s I have in there right now.
What amp do you own? I'd be interested to see who's using these as stock items.
thanks Nick! +T for taking the time to review these tubes for us...
are the svetlanas treating you well?
thanks again!
they definitely effected my bass the most...
try the NOS though, you know you want to :P
http://vacuumtubesinc.com/
found this little gem and spoke with Jim today, very nerdy sounding, just like you want your tube guy to be.