Darkvoice 337 - A Review - Page 13

So far, with 2 hours of burn-in the NOS JAN-CRC RCA 6AS7G is a little less clinical. I do notice that is doesn't drive the HD600 quite as loud, but maybe only 1-2db less volume than before, and probably still 3-4db louder than my iBasso D1.

Also, saxophones are a little less squawky with more low frequency harmonics and not quite as high pitched. Piano's seem to have more realistic ambience, and now I can hear not just the higher piano notes towards the right and the lower keys towards the left; but the higher notes are closer to me than the lower notes, so the piano is actually on the stage diagonally. I had never noticed this before.

This is with JAN CRC RCA 6AS7G used in combination with a nice (read not cheap) Hytron-CBS 5692 brown base 6SN7GT type input tube, which the 337 doesn't use. The Hytron was just a bit warmer and more forward than the CBS 6SN7GTB I was using before. This is using a Sony D-303 optical out into iBasso D1 DAC, with DAC line out to the DV336i.

So, I am leaving this tube combo in place. I have a few 6080 and a grey plate RCA I can fall back on if I have trouble (plus some Svetlana 6AS7GT if I feel brave). After the weekend, I might try the 6080 again, and see what happens. (Skyab, why doesn't the Hytron brown base glow?)

heh heh,

Switching to my unburned-in Proline 2500, and it sounds like I went back to the old tubes... Yikes!

Ha! This opens up a WHOLE NEW angle of tube rolling possibilities. There must be a zillion 6SN7 tube options. Mike, do you think the slightly higher-gain 6SL7 would work even better?

Yeah, the 6AS7 is quite the current hog. I need to find a second CBS-Hytron JAN 5692 so I have a pair I can use in the 337. Very cool!

It does, it's just VERY hard to see. The construction of the 5692, along with the chrome top, makes it very hard to see the filament glowing. But it is in there.

I confess, I like to see tubes glowing. I like the Tung-Sol 6SN7GTB clear-top tall-bottle for this reason. Great sounding tube, and oh-so pretty Aesthetics are also one reason I like 6AS7's, in addition to their wonderful tone (but all that glowing in the 6AS7 is what makes them little heat pumps...)

I have been spending time finding my favorite driver tube for the 337, and I think I have. While the JAN Phillips 6SN7WGT's are terrific, the mesh-plate Tung-Sol JAN-CTL 6SJ7GT/VT-116A sound better to me. They and SOOO liquid and smooth in the mids, my gosh it's breathtaking. These are hard to find, alas, but they sound very, very good.

Can anyone compare the darkvoice 332/337 sound signature to the singlepower ppx3 slam? Especially concerning soundstage?

Great pic! I am going to try some of these driver tubes.

I will say the 6SJ7's are indeed a fussy tube, or "tricky" as you said while I think they sound excellent, I actually have had a very hard time finding ones that would completely quiet down. This has been a little frustrating, since I have been buying NOS tubes, and ALL of them buzz/hum like crazy for hours when first put in. Then it's a question of whether they ever get quiet, which some have, and others haven't. In my experience so far, it's been about 50-50, but it's a ridiculously time consuming process figuring this out, and of course you can't really listen to the amp while this is going on.

I now have two sets of good tubes, and I think I am going to stick with these until I have an actual need to replace them. So I may do some power tube rolling like you have been. I have a pair of nice brown-base 6SL7's coming, and I am going to try those.

Skylab, did you try dampeners for the 'fuzzy' tubes ? I am curious about how this effects the sound in Darkvoices.

Actually Malos that's a great idea, I will have to order a pair.

No, the 2500 was less warm and more clinical than my HD600. I only have about 24 hours on the Proline 2500 so far. I need 325 more hours on them...

I had a CBS 6SN7GTB black plate in the driver (a nice tube) before the Hytron 5692 Brown Base. I said above, "The Hytron was just a bit warmer and more forward than the CBS 6SN7GTB I was using before." i.e. better. Those are the only two driver tubes I have tried so far. The current 5692 driver tube was recommended by Skylab. I also have more driver tubes to try, like an Raytheon 6SN7GT from Skylab, A vintage sounding 1965 Radiator brand 6SN7GT, a TungSol brown base reissue (rec by Skylab), and a Sovtek 6SN7GT.

I mentioned before that I have a 336i, and was originally only commenting on the 6AS7G that the two amps have in common (bigger ST shaped tube) which is interchangable with the 6080. It was about the JAN CRC RCA 6AS7G being better than a 6080.

In the 336i the 6AS7G or 6080 is the power tube, and 6SN7GT is the driver (preamp) for the 336i.

i walked into a shop in HK, bought a 337, and now i'm happily in my room listening to it. fantastic stuff, even with just the stock tubes.

Glad you like it.
Wait till you start tube rolling, it gets even better :-)