What tubes are you using?

Printable View

  • 09-02-2009, 09:00 PM
    Happy Camper
    What tubes are you using?
    As the title says, what tubes are you using in your pre/phono/amp?

    For my DAC, I'm using a 6072 GE Command 5* blackplate/triple mica in place of a 12ax7. I wanted to get more focused and open sound and this has been a nice upgrade from the standard 12ax7.

    In my headphone amp, I'm using a 2c51 adapter with a WE 2c51 driver and two TS 5998 output tubes. My amp offers many a tuberolling options as quoted below.

    "In addition to the stock driver, you can also use a NOS 6SN7, 6SL7, 6188, 6SU7GTY. With optional ECC type 1 adapters you may implement the 12AT7, 12AU7, 5814, 5965, 6414, 6829, and 7062. Or, our ECC type 2 adapters are also available for the 6ES8, 6DJ8, 6922; 6DJ4, 6DJ8, ECC189, ECC88, E88CC; and Osram PCC88. Our third adapter type will allow for the implementation of the 5687, ECC182, and 7119. Other adapters available include 6CG7/6FQ7, 6GU7, and another for the 6350 and 6463.

    The following NOS output tubes are available additionally for purchase: Raytheon 6080; GE 6080; Bendix 6080, 7802; RCA 6AS7; Tung-Sol 6080, 7236, 2399; IBM 5998(straight bottle), and Tung-Sol 5998(shoulder type)."

    See any tubes in the lists above that has a better sound?

    Edit: corrected my DAC tube.
  • 09-03-2009, 05:28 AM
    Feanor
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Happy Camper
    As the title says, what tubes are you using in your pre/phono/amp?

    For my DAC, I'm using a 12ay7 GE Command 5* in place of a 12ax7. I wanted to get more focused and open sound and this has been a nice upgrade from the standard 12ax7.

    In my headphone amp, I'm using a 2c51 adapter with a WE 2c51 driver and two TS 5998 output tubes. My amp offers many a tuberolling options as quoted below.

    "In addition to the stock driver, you can also use a NOS 6SN7, 6SL7, 6188, 6SU7GTY. With optional ECC type 1 adapters you may implement the 12AT7, 12AU7, 5814, 5965, 6414, 6829, and 7062. Or, our ECC type 2 adapters are also available for the 6ES8, 6DJ8, 6922; 6DJ4, 6DJ8, ECC189, ECC88, E88CC; and Osram PCC88. Our third adapter type will allow for the implementation of the 5687, ECC182, and 7119. Other adapters available include 6CG7/6FQ7, 6GU7, and another for the 6350 and 6463.

    The following NOS output tubes are available additionally for purchase: Raytheon 6080; GE 6080; Bendix 6080, 7802; RCA 6AS7; Tung-Sol 6080, 7236, 2399; IBM 5998(straight bottle), and Tung-Sol 5998(shoulder type)."

    See any tubes in the lists above that has a better sound?
    What's next? I'm basically on my first tube component so I can't be expected to have heard if all, but this is the first I've heard of adaptors to permit different tube types interchangably in the same device. (I have heard of adaptors that permit single opamps to replace dual opamps.)

    But to your question, in my Sonic Frontiers Line 1 preamp I use six 6922s. In the gain stage specifically I use a pair of these Amperex USA white label 'PQ's. I bought them used, not NOS which would have been 4x the price, however they are working well and are very quite.

    http://ca.geocities.com/w_d_bailey/AmperexPQ.JPG
  • 09-03-2009, 09:33 AM
    Happy Camper
    The adapters are usually built with load adjustments on the circuit to run with the power supply. I'm on my first tube component as well. Tube rolling is so damned addicting. I have the 2c51 & ECC1 adapters. I have 5 different 6sn7s which is what the amp was designed with and 20+ au, av tubes and 5) 2c51 variants. The nice thing about these adapters is fitting a gain tube to meet the weaknesses of the headphone.
  • 09-03-2009, 01:41 PM
    TheHills44060
    Using stock McIntosh 12AX7's in the pre and phono stages. My phono stage tubes recently died so i'm on the lookout for something interesting. Haven't quite decided yet.
  • 09-03-2009, 03:04 PM
    E-Stat
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Happy Camper
    As the title says, what tubes are you using in your pre/phono/amp?
    I recently replaced the Electro Harmonix 6922s in an ARC preamp with NOS Amperex gold pin 7308s. With the Manley DAC, I bought a supply of used 60s RCA Clear Tops. The 12AT7s and 6350s in the VTL amps are presently current production, but I also bought some NOS Sylvania and RCA flavors for the next retubing. Finally, I use an Electro Harmonix 12AX7 EH in the Bellari Phono preamp in the garage.

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Happy Camper
    For my DAC, I'm using a 12ay7 GE Command 5* in place of a 12ax7. I wanted to get more focused and open sound and this has been a nice upgrade from the standard 12ax7.
    Its fine to move to a lower gain factor tube. That is if you have no trouble losing gain in the application! Mine uses 12AU7s which are already a low gain factor (19 vs 100 for the AX and 45 for the AY), but offer good low impedance drive. In my case, the DAC drives a Threshold power amp directly.

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Happy Camper
    See any tubes in the lists above that has a better sound?
    My systems have a minimum of gain blocks and don't have excess gain to throw away. Consequently, I tend to focus on finding the best version of the tube designed for the gear. Which usually means locating NOS flavors. I don't have the patience to run through all the permutations to see whether or not a pin compatible tube actually works worth a darn in a different circuit. It would take you quite a while to explore all the possibilities available limiting your choice to the original 12AX7 tube here. :)

    rw
  • 09-03-2009, 03:45 PM
    Happy Camper
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by shodulik
    Using stock McIntosh 12AX7's in the pre and phono stages. My phono stage tubes recently died so i'm on the lookout for something interesting. Haven't quite decided yet.
    I'd love to hear one but they are a bit pricey.

    http://www.techtubevalves.com/index.php