$189 APPJ ( Miniwatt N3 ) Single Ended Triode

[LeRoy]

A mini update. New tubes arrived yesterday evening. All I can say is WOW. What a difference tube rolling can make in a system. Last night I only changed the stock AX7 with the new one, Northern Electric 12AX7.

With the new AX7 in place I now have bass weight in the piano notes (listening to Jaime Cullum-Twenty Something) and without smearing or distortion all the way to 12:00 on the volume pot. Playing the CD, Holly Cole- Temptation, there is a lot of female baritone and great stand up bass. All of it sounded very natural with great clarity, pitch is well delineated, and timbre sounds correct to me.

It's amazing that the MW can overcome my inefficient 84db S-A. speakers! I can hear no amp strain whatsoever. My speakers no longer sound puny.

So, this morning I replaced the stock EL84's with the Preferred Series 7189 (EL84). Now I have more top end resolution and overall balance, and a more forward presentation. The character of the sound of the amp in terms of warmth is now where I want it....somewhere between a hybrid amp and the warmth of a Marantz electronics ( I don't like Marantz for 2ch but like it for HT).

Another amazing thing about the MW is it really does not need to warm up a long time to sound great....its good to go after just a couple of minutes being powered on.

Now the challenge I will have is trying to roll tubes on the Rogue in attempt to get it sounding as good as the MW!

The MW is one heck of an audio bargain.

[Ajani]

You could just sell the rogue.

Glad to hear you're getting good results with the mini watt.

[LeRoy]

You could just sell the rogue.

Glad to hear you're getting good results with the mini watt.

Thank you Ajani. Yep, selling the Rogue has crossed my mind a few times ever since I got the MW in.

I think I will try to roll the trio of AU7's in the Rouge and then listen for the changes. If that does not do it then I will roll the 2 AX7's and go no further with it. That's the plan at the moment.

[Poultrygeist]

Thanks LeRoy for the update.

I've been advocating for the MW here for several years and am glad someone finally took me serious. This pint size wonder is down right amazing and will get you hooked on the superior qualities of single ended tube amps.

The N3 will open up even more once the tubes season.

[LeRoy]

Thanks LeRoy for the update.

I've been advocating for the MW here for several years and am glad someone finally took me serious. This pint size wonder is down right amazing and will get you hooked on the superior qualities of single ended tube amps.

The N3 will open up even more once the tubes season.

Your welcome. Until you posted the link for the ebay sale I don't recall seeing anything about the MW. I guess I just bypassed the other threads you may have posted about it.

Yes, the MW is quite the pint size wonder. Now if they would only make a 10-15 MW amp that certainly would open up greater possibilities for speaker selection matching.

Toward that end, yesterday, I placed an order for a pair of Dali Ikon 2 mk2 in black. Should have them in about a week. I will have to choose between Dali or System-Audio speakers on the Rogue and the MW. I got it sooo bad

[Poultrygeist]

LeRoy,

Your MW would love these and so does Art Dudley who owns a pair.

the horn shoppe

[LeRoy]

LeRoy,

Your MW would love these and so does Art Dudley who owns a pair.

the horn shoppe

I will check out all the reviews.

[LeRoy]

Mini update- I had no idea just how sensitive or much more sensitive cables impact a tube amp. The MW definitely prefers the Neko XLR with RCA connectors to the amp over the Virtue Audio I.C.'s. The fullness of the lower midrange and bass in general is present with the Neko. With the V.A. cables it sounds more natural but with a loss of dynamic expression--too soft with the V.A. cables.

For the moment, I will keep the System-Audio Aura 1's with the Neko cables to complete the MW system.

[andyalls]

Hi LeRoy. I was interested to see your post regarding rolling onto the Northern Electric 12AX7 tube. I've been trying to find out info on that tube after seeing it on sale at one of the online stores, and could only find negative comments on another thread complaining that the tubes are Chinese. I gather you purchased the Preferred Series from the same shop, have you tried their 12AX7 tubes? If so, what did you think? I quite keen to try in my amp.

I'll probably buy both anyway just to try them out.

My Yaqin MC-100B uses:

4 x Electro Harmonix KT88
4 x Sylvania 6SN7GTB chrome domes (1950)
2 x Brimar 12AX7

I currently use two of the new Russian Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 gold pin tubes in the pre-amp.

[LeRoy]

Hi LeRoy. I was interested to see your post regarding rolling onto the Northern Electric 12AX7 tube. I've been trying to find out info on that tube after seeing it on sale at one of the online stores, and could only find negative comments on another thread complaining that the tubes are Chinese. I gather you purchased the Preferred Series from the same shop, have you tried their 12AX7 tubes? If so, what did you think? I quite keen to try in my amp.

I'll probably buy both anyway just to try them out.

My Yaqin MC-100B uses:

4 x Electro Harmonix KT88
4 x Sylvania 6SN7GTB chrome domes (1950)
2 x Brimar 12AX7

I currently use two of the new Russian Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 gold pin tubes in the pre-amp.

Yes, I bought the tubes from 12AX7 / 7025 / ECC83 Tube Types.

Please take any comment I have about the N.E tube with a grain of salt. I am new to tube amplification and the N.E. tube was my first experience with tube rolling of any kind.

To answer your inquiry, the N.E. AX7 is a warm tube but much to my delight was significantly more complete in the lower mids and bass over the stock tube ( which are simply stamped 12 AX7 China).

I don't know where the N.E. AX7 is made though. I have had no microphonics or noise issues with this tube since I installed it. I also am utilizing EL84's with the AX7 in the MW. The EL 84's really are dominant over the AX7 in that it they took out a lot of the warmth of the AX7. I don't like a bright or overly warm sounding system so the blend of the two works for me. I did lose some soundstage when I put the Preferred Series 7189 (EL 84's) but the lower mids and bass were not diminished.

Hope this info helps you out.