SDS, Supra, MPX tuberolling, the new global, improved thread - Page 44

9 pin tubes dont have bases. So, you have to find some type of 9 pin base .... say from a socket saver .... to use for the base. This makes going from 9 pin tube to anything hard to do. I know that it can be done though.

Recently I had the good fortune to give the 2c51 Tung Sol tube a try in my MPX3 SinglePower amp. I used it to sample the following recordings with the Senn 600 headphones:

Diana Krall – Only Trust Your Heart
Miles Davis – Miles Ahead
Harnoncourt / COE – Beethoven 5th Symphony
Klemperer – Bruckner 6th Symphony
Elvis Costello – My Aim Is True
Led Zeppelin – At The BBC

While the 2c51 sounds nice, it doesn’t displace any of my favorite tubes from the “nine pin family”. I compared it to the 12au7 RCA “Clear Top”, which I've always liked, on the above recordings. What I learned is even further appreciation and respect of the “Clear Top”. The RCA tube was better in most everyway. I especially found this true in the area of the mid range, which was richer & fuller.

The 2c51 has gained an enthusiastic following recently which peaked my interest in it. As always I’m hoping that the newest un-tried tube will take me to that next level of audio nirvana. In this case, for me the search continues. As it stands now, excluding my favorite Octal & Loktal tubes, the tubes I prefer are; the 12az7, 6414 & the 12au7 RCA “Clear Top”.

Happy listening

- augustwest

I bought 10 or so RCA BLACKPLATE 5814's the other day .... nice tube.

"I bought 10 or so RCA BLACKPLATE 5814's the other day .... nice tube."

I just took delivery of (4) really nice Raytheon 6414 JAN tubes, black plate. They sound outstanding. I like these much more than the GE's that I also have.

A few more thoughts on the 2c51. One area that I felt that they excelled was in it's treble presentation. To my mind that is a short coming of many of the "nine pin" family of tubes. The 2c51 has nicely controlled treble, that is smooth and a pleasure to listen to. However, for overall performance I still prefer the tubes cited above.


- augustwest

Triple mica?

I agree. And for the driver in my PPX3 SLAM I just tried two other 2c51 variants, an Ericson 396a and a United 5670, and none of them beat my favorite, the 6922/7308 class nine-pins, for clarity and emotion. I'm in the midst of comparing several, and my favorite at the moment is a Philips tube. But I still want to obtain a Mullard made in Metcham for audition. Anybody willing to loan me one?

Has anyone tried the E80cc?

You can also use the 6BC8

I found a very nice combination tonite... Tung-Sol 5814a + RCA side-getter 6BL7GTA on high-voltage setting.. Extremely impressive low range extension and a nice warm midrange... really helps out digital sources in my opinion. I also played around with a RCA 12au7a clear top and I love the clear, fast highs, but the midrange is lacking somewhat... absolutely painful with my CD player, but a very nice combination with my vinyl setup.

I simply love the RCA side-getter tube and I feel that I can definitely tell a difference between it and my other 6BL7 tubes. Has anyone else tried these output tubes on the high gain setting?

I like the 6BL7GTAs, too. I had heard that the manufacturer wasn't a very large factor in the sound; I'm not sure what I have, but I think they're Sylvanias.
I also like the 6414a driving them.
I've been listening to a GE 5 star 6829 driving them and this is a great combo that, to me, has a similar signature to the 6414a. It has a little more detail but doesn't tame overbright recordings as much. Here's a link on a shootout of some other similar tubes: http://www.artsandmedia.com/5965.html

Right now I have the 6829 driving my TS BP 5687s and this is quite good, too. Seems like less slam, tho, which is odd given that this is the SLAM's default output tube. But more detail. The 6414a was very good with the 5687s, too.

Soooo many good combos!

-=A=-

Amperex PQ 7316 with ECC#1 adapter in MPX3 ?

Has anyone tried a 7316 with the ECC #1 adapter in the MPX3 (gain position)? I have read some different opinions about the 7316 being an acceptable 12au7 substitute.
If you have used it successfully, what output tubes have you used with it? How did it sound? Thanks

I am *loving* my 6829 + 2x6BL7GTA (RCA side getters) combo.
But, as a TR addict, I'm still curious about what I may be missing. Has anyone who likes the 6BL7GTA sound found really good drivers for it, or other output tubes that sound better? I've tried 6BX7s, and they are not nearly as good... they are very rough sounding. Ick.
So far I like the 6414, the 7119 (5687 family) and TS-12AY7. All are basically similar, each doing some things better and others worse. At this time, I have no desire, other than curiousity, to change out the 6829 and BLs.

-=A=-

MarconiSalad:

I've played around with the Amperex 7319 and haven't found much that it sounds good with.. one thing for sure, don't pair it with Amperex 7119 output tubes not a pretty sight... also, I didn't really care for it with the 5687... shrug, just haven't found a good combo yet... I think my favorite was a pair of 6SN7s as output, but this was a while back... I also haven't had much luck with the Amperex 7062 either...

Amarok:

well, since you have my favorite 6BL7GTA (the RCA side-getter) let me recommend a RCA black plate 12bh7 as driver, which I'm actually listening to now Also, a Hytron 5814a and Siemens ECC83 are others favorites with the above output tubes... so many choices...

oh! also the TS that I mentioned a few days ago is nice if you like a similar sound and drive that the TS 5687 offers as output... when I rolled it in, I honestly thought I was still using the 5687 output and hadn't pulled them out from when a friend was over and wanted to rock out on my MPX3

Also, are you running these at the high gain setting? If not, that may be why the 6BX7GT tubes sound lifeless and rough... I've really all but given up on other output tubes, as I'm so happy with these two at the high gain setting.

I have a few tubes I haven't listened yet, perhaps a gem is waiting?:

GE 6189W (12au7 replacement I believe)
Sylvania 6189W (12au7 replacement I believe)
GE (labeled IBM) 6350 (I believe I need another adapter for this one?)
Sylvania 7058 (I'm not sure if this will even work
GE 5965A (a 12av7 replacement I believe)
GE 5963 (12au7 replacement I think?)

anyways, I'm still rolling along!

the Sylvania 6189W sounds pretty nice, better than the other 12au7 variants I've tried... I have a GE as well that I'm listening to now, which lacks some of the dynamics and hard-hitting sound of the Sylvania, but still not a bad tube.. both are very quiet..

Amperex 12AT7 France/SELECTED + 2x 12SX7 == mvsik!

Similar to the 6BL7GTA, but more extended highs, more sparkle and shimmer.
Cymbals are beautiful.

Love this addiction!

=====

I just listened to _Terrapin_Station_ by the Grateful Dead. I'm not a big
fan of the GD, but this album is great. Especially the song _Terrapin_Station_. It is actually very progressive. Anyway, the recording is excellent and the combo lets it shine. The cymbals are simply beautiful. In their decay you can hear the beats caused by the different modes in the metal. It even seems like a slight Doppler shift caused by the motion of the cymbal. I'm only describing this analytically here. While listening, it just sounds right. And it's this kind of unobtrusive, subtle detail that makes it sound right.

_Going_for_the_One_ by Yes was recorded in a Swiss cathedral. And you can tell. The sense of space is palpable. In _Awaken_, there is a quiet section in the middle. Rick Wakeman is playing the pipe organ and he strikes some short, sharp notes. The reverb is beautiful. Hearing the sound rebound (more echo than reverb) from the far walls brings a smile to my face.

Mmmmmm tubey goodness.

-=A=-

-=A=-

Did a search on google on tube+sockets+adapters,and found this thread..and you guys seems to have found sommething.Is there any info on this adapters sommewhere,who is Mikhail?

Åke