Darkvoice just released 332

[Godkin]

That's a damn disgrace - you shouldn't have to wait that long for tubes. The ones I ordered from Russia took about ten days. Although I had to wait for the 6J1P-EVs for about a month. Just not good enough!!!

The SVETs are brilliant valves. Very open and atmospheric - you actually get the feeling that you're in the room with the musicians and singers. The blue circle also suggests that there're New Old Stock (NOS), probably early 1980s. Try to get your hands on the "P-B" version - this should be even better.

The Ulyanovsk made tubes are brilliant as well, maybe a bit less "atmospheric", but more detail, and the separation of instruments is a little better.
The 6J1Ps should also make an improvement. But do get yourself some of the western equivalents, preferably the mil-spec versions: 6AK5Ws, 5654Ws or 5654SQs, the CV4010s, and M8100s. Truly, these make a great difference. The RCAs are, to my ears, the best so far.

[LifesGood]

Originally Posted by Godkin

That's a damn disgrace - you shouldn't have to wait that long for tubes. The ones I ordered from Russia took about ten days. Although I had to wait for the 6J1P-EVs for about a month. Just not good enough!!!

Godkin,
How are those 6J1P-EVs compared to the M8100s or the RCA tubes (6AK5Ws I supposed)?

By the way, just got my darkvoice 332 about 3 weeks ago.

[Godkin]

The 6J1P-EVs are very good, a good deal better than the stock 6J1s. Very crisp, open, good timbre to the instruments. I'd say they're about as good as the MULLARD EF95s, with perhaps less of the sweetness. So far, the M8100s and the RCA 5654/6AK5Ws are, in my opinion, the best, although I know some of the contributers on this thread are going to try tubes from SYLVANIA and RAYTHEON. LifesGood, If you want to get the best out of your 332 get some of these little beauties.

If you've got your 332 for 3 weeks now, you should've a good impression of the amps strengths and weaknesses, namely the rather harsh, glassy top-end. Try to get you hands on some good quality alternatives. You've probably read about the high quality Russian alternatives to the stock 6S19s - the 6S19P, 6S19P-B and 6S19P-V.

By the way, I've been trying to find western equivalents to the 6S19P. I so nearly found one - the GE7233. But the last two of the nine pins would need to be reversed. Damn!!! However, the search continues.

[budgetphile]

I have managed to have a little play with the DarkVoice today, using the tubes I recently received, my initial impressions are as follow:

Generic Russian 6J1: Sounds better than the standard Chinese tubes, but do lack colour.

Mullard 8100: sweet full bodies sound.

Sylvania 6AK5W: Slightly better sounding than the Mullards.

Selectron EF95: nice sound to them, nearly as good as the Mullards.

Svetlana 6S19P-V: Again, a vast improvement on the stock Chinese tubes.

Ulyanovsk 6S19P-V: are an improvement on the Svetlanas, with the limited tube replacements available for the 6S19P tube, I agree with Godkin that the Ulyanovsks are the best there are.

I also have on order some expensive vintage mid 40's 6AK5 Hytrons, which I am expecting to receive sometime next week.

One problem I've had with tube rolling is a constant hum that does not seem to be affected by the volume level when using some tubes, I suspect due to the AC heater supply interference since it disappears when the amp is turned off, (different tubes from the same manufacturer have different behaviour in this regard, some hum and some don't). I have been in touch which an old timer on this forum, who has better experience in tube matters, hopefully he will be able to recommend a cheap and easy capacitator mod that should clear this issue.

The more I listen to the 332 the more convinced I am that it certainly is as good sounding, if not better sounding, than designer tube amps that are sold for more than twice what the 332 is going for.

If sound quality is your main priority, and the "you won't believe how much I spent on my gear" brag factor doesn't mean much to you, the 332 is the way to go.

[Godkin]

Interested to see your thoughts on the SYLVANIAs. Must try and get my hands on a pair. If you ever come across the RCA JRC 5654/6AK5Ws (black-plates), grab them, they are simply fantastic in the 332. Can't wait to read your opinions on the 1940s HYTRONS. If the old adage is true - that older valves are generally superior to newer ones - then you're in for a real threat.

[MaloS]

Lurking over your guy's thread since start...damn temptation - waiting for Alex Zhou (ebay Chinese seller, 400 USD although I do not know where he will ship apart from USA, UK, and Continental Europe) to ship me a 332.

For those of you having issues with shipping from Russia - have some pity, even if the seller ships same 10 minutes that you paid, you still could get a month delay due to postal practices in Russia. (Best bet is Fedex, for which I justify them to charge you plentiful shipping as its tidy bit expensive there, and in the end, it still can get delayed, although 2 weeks is better than 1 month). If the seller only has access to regular postal service, all bets are off, you will get the item, but when is at question. (Sorry, I lived there for a while, had to send some things back and forth between myself and grandparents, we generally try to send packages with acquaintances who are going one way or the other now).

[Godkin]

Welcome, Malos. Good to see another member of the 332 club. Truly, you won't be disappointed. What cans do you have?

The stock tubes are 2X6J1s (Chinese) and 2X6S19s (also Chinese). Listen to them for a while, just to get the feel of things, then whip them out, pronto. Change to something better - no much choice on the power valves, but the choice you have a very good. My personal choice are the Ulyanovsk made 6S19P-Vs. But if you've been "lurking" for a while you'll probably already know that.

Plenty of choice on the smaller output tubes. My favourites are the RCA 5654/6AK5Ws (black-plates) and the MULLARD M8100s (black-plates). Plenty of potential for tube rolling. Budgetphile recommends the SYLVANIA 6AK5Ws, which I must try myself. There's tons of others as well - RAYTHEON, GE, SIEMENS, TUNG-SOL, JAN PHILIPS, the list goes on.

[MaloS]

I currently own hd595, 50 ohms. The plan was to do exactly what you said . I might go and change headphones to something with higher impedance later on though. One thing that I did not really notice while reading through is how do you guys note individual tubes by sound coloration? Or is there any real difference in such a subject?

[Godkin]

The 332 does work better with higher impedance cans. Certain guys I've talked to say the output stage is designed with higher impedance types in mind. I've actually heard that SENNHEISER HD650s were used by DARKVOICE in the production of the 332. Personally, I'd get myself higher impedance cans like the HD580s, HD600s or HD650s, or even some BEYERDYNAMIC cans.

I suppose all tubes "colour" the music in some way. The question is, can you live with the way they present the music. The most uncoloured I've heard are the Russian mil-spec 6J1P-EV. The MULLARDs have a lovely warmth to them, but the bass is very deep and solid, the midrange open and top-end detailed and sweet. The RCAs are pretty much the same, but they lack some of the sweetness of the MULLARDS, and, to my ears, are more crisp and forward.

[jamesp]

Some Mullard M8100 came today from England...I will give ti a try tonight when I have time and report back...base on what I read here, I'm certain that it would be great

[Godkin]

Last night I dreamt I was in heaven.



DARKVOICE nirvana.

[Norman]

That is HOT.

[MaloS]

all thats missing is dt880, k701, hd650, w5000 plugged into them...that picture is beautiful.

[upstateguy]

Originally Posted by Godkin

Last night I dreamt I was in heaven.



DARKVOICE nirvana.

Great Picture, but do you think they are burning them in with no resistance......?

USG

[minden]

After some delay (not due to seller, he even offered to split customs charge if that was the hold up, thankfully no customs duty charged) my 332 has arrived.



Will let you know my feelings as we get to know each other, I am looking forward to comparing it to the uber neutal Corda and trying out my HD650, DT880, AT900, HF-1 and soon to arrive 325i.

Love the glow........