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Re-tubing Head Direct EF-1, suggestions?

post #1 of 10
10/23/09 at 2:28pm
Thread Starter 
i am retubeing this head phone amp. It currently has the stock RCA version tube put in there by the Fangster. i have suggestion from a vendor of the following three:

-6189 RCA black vertical rib plate 3 mica square getter, NOS in a white box, excellent gain/Gm match and good section balance! - $34.50.

-Radiotechniques 960s vintage - $39.50 ea.

-RFT (German) tube -$24.50 ea.

I have Grado SR80s and Shure SH840s and listen to mainly 4-5 piece acoustic jazz and some rock. I like a mellow top end with defined mids and lean bass, just like everyone else, i suppose.
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post #2 of 10
10/23/09 at 5:08pm
There's already a thread dedicated to this topic: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/tub...on-ef1-408635/
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post #3 of 10
10/23/09 at 6:21pm
Thread Starter 
thanks. Can't find the tubes i listed on that thread. Not sure if that means anything or not.
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post #4 of 10
10/23/09 at 6:38pm
the RCA black plate should be good...creamy and lush mids and warm.
I once ordered one but got a gray plate instead (although it also sound very good).

I don't know the other tubes you mentioned.
the tung sol 12AU7's are also very good, especially the black glass tung sol.
the tung sol's are a great combination of bass and nice airy highs.
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post #5 of 10
10/24/09 at 1:06pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by plonter View Post
the RCA black plate should be good...creamy and lush mids and warm.
I once ordered one but got a gray plate instead (although it also sound very good).

I don't know the other tubes you mentioned.
the tung sol 12AU7's are also very good, especially the black glass tung sol.
the tung sol's are a great combination of bass and nice airy highs.
thanks...my tube guy doesn't have the black glass TSols.
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post #6 of 10
10/24/09 at 1:19pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by plonter View Post
the RCA black plate should be good...creamy and lush mids and warm.
I once ordered one but got a gray plate instead (although it also sound very good).

I don't know the other tubes you mentioned.
the tung sol 12AU7's are also very good, especially the black glass tung sol.
the tung sol's are a great combination of bass and nice airy highs.

Also, the EF-1 came with an RCA tube...how do i know if this is the one that you mention? Fang wouldn't ship the EF-1 with a $30-40 tube would he? Will the black plate RCA, if different, sound much more different than the current RCA i have?
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post #7 of 10
10/24/09 at 1:30pm
mullard m8161 (i think?) or mullard M8100 are two good places to start.
The dac in this is a bit bright, so a tubey tube will be a nice synergy
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post #8 of 10
10/24/09 at 1:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gnostic19 View Post
Also, the EF-1 came with an RCA tube...how do i know if this is the one that you mention? Fang wouldn't ship the EF-1 with a $30-40 tube would he? Will the black plate RCA, if different, sound much more different than the current RCA i have?
the rca blackplate should sound warmer and maybe less extended in the highs from what I read about it...again, I once bought one but got another rca instead so I can't tell you for sure.
anyway, the rca cleartop, the one you got, is also very good tube, one of the best I heard actually and have a very good reputation. it is considered a rather bright tube,extended in the highs...as contrast to the mullard for example which are consider warmer. so id you are looking for a warmer tone you can try out a mullard brand.
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post #9 of 10
10/24/09 at 3:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrGreen View Post
mullard m8161 (i think?) or mullard M8100 are two good places to start.
The dac in this is a bit bright, so a tubey tube will be a nice synergy
M8100 is for the EF2, it will not work in the EF1.
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post #10 of 10
10/24/09 at 7:33pm
Thread Starter 
i can't find anyone with the black glass TSols, so i assume if/when i find one it will be expensive.
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