Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphone Amps (full-size) › SDS, Supra, MPX tuberolling, the new global, improved thread
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

SDS, Supra, MPX tuberolling, the new global, improved thread - Page 33

post #481 of 780
2/7/07 at 12:16pm
Thank you for all of your suggestions. I will try them when the additional tubes arrive from Mikhail, and I will also obtain other tubes as needed. I will report the results, when I have them, and hope that the SDS/R10 setup performs as well as the HE90, when it's driven by the McAlister amp, and by the Woo Audio amp, which I will receive in a few weeks. Thanks again.
Reply

Head-Fi's Best Sellers

post #482 of 780
2/7/07 at 1:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeg View Post
I'm currently operating the amp in the high voltage setting, and using Sylvania 6BL7GT output tubes, and a Tung Sol 5687 tube (with adapter) as the power tube.
The 6BL7GTA is a much better tube than the 6BL7GT. That's one possibility. However, another major improvement I've made very recently is to finally stop using the 5687 as the driver. Mikhail now has a 2C51 adapter, and the 2C51/5670 driver really enlarges the soundstage, and appears to fill in the low end. There's also an apparent increase in clarity. I've only been listening to this for a day or two, but the 2C51 in front of the GTA's seems to push the R10 better than anything I've used previously, but this is a first impression. I'll need some time to figure out if I've traded anything off that I don't realize yet.
Reply
post #483 of 780
2/7/07 at 1:56pm
Quote:
The 6BL7GTA is a much better tube than the 6BL7GT. That's one possibility. However, another major improvement I've made very recently is to finally stop using the 5687 as the driver. Mikhail now has a 2C51 adapter, and the 2C51/5670 driver really enlarges the soundstage, and appears to fill in the low end. There's also an apparent increase in clarity. I've only been listening to this for a day or two, but the 2C51 in front of the GTA's seems to push the R10 better than anything I've used previously, but this is a first impression. I'll need some time to figure out if I've traded anything off that I don't realize yet.
Hirsch,
Have u tried the 6414 with your SDS? What are the differences b/w the 6BL7GT and 6BL7GTA?
Reply
post #484 of 780
2/7/07 at 2:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by purk View Post
Hirsch,
Have u tried the 6414 with your SDS? What are the differences b/w the 6BL7GT and 6BL7GTA?

The 6bl7gt is a lot darker sounding tube than the 6bl7gta. I have a 2c51 driving 6bl7gta's in one of my original MPX3's and the synergy is extremely good. In fact, I can remember the amp ever sounding as good. I definitely think the 2c51 is the best place to start with the 6bl7gta/ 6bx7gt tubes.

I would say I like the 2c51 as well or better than the 6414. But there are some other "sleeper' tubes I have been using of late as well. The GE 5965 is very much like the GE 6414 grayplate tube .... and the GE 6829 triple mica tube sounds as good or better. The 5965/6414/6829 all use the ECC type #1 adapter. Any of the three tubes will really wake up the dynamics and soundstaging; the only downside is if they are to bright for your taste.
Reply
post #485 of 780
2/7/07 at 2:38pm
Quote:
The 6bl7gt is a lot darker sounding tube than the 6bl7gta. I have a 2c51 driving 6bl7gta's in one of my original MPX3's and the synergy is extremely good. In fact, I can remember the amp ever sounding as good. I definitely think the 2c51 is the best place to start with the 6bl7gta/ 6bx7gt tubes.

I would say I like the 2c51 as well or better than the 6414. But there are some other "sleeper' tubes I have been using of late as well. The GE 5965 is very much like the GE 6414 grayplate tube .... and the GE 6829 triple mica tube sounds as good or better. The 5965/6414/6829 all use the ECC type #1 adapter. Any of the three tubes will really wake up the dynamics and soundstaging; the only downside is if they are to bright for your taste.
So with the adapter already in place, I should be able to buy those tubes for rolling?
Reply
post #486 of 780
2/7/07 at 3:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by purk View Post
So with the adapter already in place, I should be able to buy those tubes for rolling?

For the 5965, 6414 and 6829 .... YES. There are also two other excellent tubes .... the 7062 and 12av7 .... that can be used with the ECC type #1 adapter. Plus, I just discovered there is a blackplate version of the 6829 made by Raytheon. I dont have any of the 6829 blackplates .... yet.

So many tubes so little time.
Reply
post #487 of 780
2/7/07 at 5:32pm
yea! ecc #1 adaptor arrived today! It seems much nicer than my 5687 adaptors, and has the Singlepower logo on the center.. My only complaint would be that it would be cool if there were slots or notches on the bottom of the adaptor so when it's pressed down, the adaptor doesn't rest on top of the two screwes near the socket, but the chassis instead.

okay, back to listening!
Reply
post #488 of 780
2/7/07 at 5:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by purk View Post
Hirsch,
Have u tried the 6414 with your SDS? What are the differences b/w the 6BL7GT and 6BL7GTA?
Actually, I would need to alter the bias on the output tubes of my SDS to use the 6414 (I'm way off of Mikhail's standard biasing). However, the 2C51 works perfectly at the biasing I've already got. I felt that the GTA version of the tube had a more linear frequency response. There was some kind of coloration present with the GT's that's hard to describe, but it just sounded wrong. Switching to the GTA got rid of it.

Note: The 2C51 needs its own adapter, and will not work in an ECC adapter.
Reply
post #489 of 780
2/7/07 at 5:44pm
After reading the great info that's been posted in response to my question, I'm eagerly waiting for the tubes that Mikhail is sending. The following descriptors, that are included in some of the posts, are especially helpful in my effort to explain the problem: "clarity and detail, while retaining warmth"; "full bodied sound"; "more airty"; "better image"; "better separation of instruments"; "enlarged sound stage"; fill-in the low end"; "apparent increase in clalrity"; and "darker sound".

So far, in comparing the R10 system to the HE90 system, I'm satisfied that both systems provide a full bodied and warm sound, with a large sound stage, Their main difference is in clarity, detail, and airyness. The HE90 greatly surpasses the R10 with regard to clarity, detail, and airyness, and these are the criteria that I want to improve with regard to the SDS/R10 system.

One more observation. After listening to most of my CDs, I separated about 50 CDs for sale on ebay, because they sounded unsatisfactory on the R10/SDS system. But, after listening to them on the HE90 system, it turned out that 45 of them sounded just fine, and are therefore keepers. Thus, unless I can improve the sound of the R10 system, I think that it will never bring me the enjoyment that the HE90 system provides.
Reply
post #490 of 780
2/7/07 at 5:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hirsch View Post
Mikhail now has a 2C51 adapter, and the 2C51/5670 driver really enlarges the soundstage, and appears to fill in the low end. There's also an apparent increase in clarity.
I've also found this to be true.

What 2c51/5670's have you tried?
Reply
post #491 of 780
2/7/07 at 5:52pm
Quote:
Mikhail now has a 2C51 adapter, and the 2C51/5670 driver really enlarges the soundstage, and appears to fill in the low end. There's also an apparent increase in clarity.
I ordered the 2C51 also. Can't wait to get them.

Purk
Reply
post #492 of 780
2/7/07 at 5:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Turnaround View Post
What set of tubes do u guys recommend for my MPX3 SLAM to get a very "tubey" sound -- looking for lush, liquid and euphoric -- and a very solid state sound?

For me, I like having a choice of strong opposites, like having a pair of Grados and a pair of Senns rather than finding something in-between.

TIA
I think the most traditionally "tubey", dark and euphonic sound I have ever heard from a 12/6SN7GT type of tube is from the 12V equivalent of the B 65, namely the B 36. The one's I have are not of complete consistency in the sound, but most of them have that fairy-tail romantic shimmer. Especially the GEC and Osram's; the Marconi's to a lesser degree.
Reply
post #493 of 780
2/7/07 at 6:19pm
"The following descriptors, that are included in some of the posts, are especially helpful in my effort to explain the problem: "clarity and detail, while retaining warmth"; "full bodied sound"; "more airty"; "better image"; "better separation of instruments"; "enlarged sound stage"; fill-in the low end"; "apparent increase in clalrity"; and "darker sound"."

It sounds like you are on a quest for "holly grail" of tube sets hoping to achieve audio nirvana, just like the rest of us.

- augustwest
Reply
post #494 of 780
2/7/07 at 6:57pm
Actually, I think that I have achieved nirvana with the refurbished HE90. I'm just hoping that the R10/SDS combo is capable of achieving the same level of performance. I'm fortunate (or cursed) in having the HE90 system available as a reference standard. I guess that I would have happily remained in my state of ignorance, by thinking that I have achieved nirvana with my R10 system, had I not been able to compare it to the HE90 system for hours and hours.

Quote:
Originally Posted by augustwest View Post
"The following descriptors, that are included in some of the posts, are especially helpful in my effort to explain the problem: "clarity and detail, while retaining warmth"; "full bodied sound"; "more airty"; "better image"; "better separation of instruments"; "enlarged sound stage"; fill-in the low end"; "apparent increase in clalrity"; and "darker sound"."

It sounds like you are on a quest for "holly grail" of tube sets hoping to achieve audio nirvana, just like the rest of us.

- augustwest
Reply
post #495 of 780
2/7/07 at 7:21pm
Quote:
Actually, I think that I have achieved nirvana with the refurbished HE90. I'm just hoping that the R10/SDS combo is capable of achieving the same level of performance. I'm fortunate (or cursed) in having the HE90 system available as a reference standard. I guess that I would have happily remained in my state of ignorance, by thinking that I have achieved nirvana with my R10 system, had I not been able to compare it to the HE90 system for hours and hours.
I talked w/ Mikhail earlier today and he definitely put the R10 w/ SDS (SDS-XLR) and HE-90 w/ ES-1 as the two top combo. According to him, each combo sounds different but is in same playing field. I am so happy with my 6414 w/ 6BL7s right now, and can't believe that the 2c51 and 6BL7GTAs can take the R10s further.

Purk
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Headphone Amps (full-size)

Head-Fi's Best Sellers

Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphone Amps (full-size) › SDS, Supra, MPX tuberolling, the new global, improved thread