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Tube choice

post #1 of 18
2/12/10 at 3:44pm
Thread Starter 
I have Denon d7000's on the way. For the time being I'll be using my mpx3. At some point I'll buy another amp, but I'd like some advice on tubes to use until that happens. I have 6sn7, vt-231, 6f8g, 7119 and 5687. I've been using a tung sol 6f8g in front of two amperex 7119 with my hd600's. I'm willing to buy tubes/adapters, but for obvious reasons I don't want any tubes that are going to stress the amp. Thanks.
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post #2 of 18
2/23/10 at 4:53pm
Thread Starter 
I think I'm probably just talking to myself, but I'll post what I've learned in case someone else is in a similar situation. The tubes I was using with the senn hd600's were not good with the denon d7000's. I switched out the 7119's for 5687's and the sound immediately improved. I was still less than happy with the bass--a little too 'muddy' for my taste. I switched out the 6f8g and rolled in a sylvania vt-231 and it was FANTASTIC. Cleaned up the bass beautifully. Great impact and a lot of fun. I also tried a raytheon vt-231 but while it was good, it didn't do as well as the sylvania. For comparison I tried a sylvania vt99 and the sound was also fantastic--almost indistinguishable from the vt-231. However, I've noticed that the vt-231's are dead quiet while the 6f8g/vt99 have a very slight hiss/background noise with the denon's.
As of now the sound is so good that I don't feel the need to get another amp.
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post #3 of 18
2/23/10 at 11:20pm
I think you already answered your own question..

Quote:
As of now the sound is so good that I don't feel the need to get another amp.
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post #4 of 18
2/24/10 at 12:19am
Hard to beat the Sylvania vt-231. One of the best 6sn7 types ever made. Look for some early Tungsol 5687. I've played with a lot of 6sn7 and 5687 types, and it would be difficult to think of a better combination ( unless you've got money to burn for 6900's)
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post #5 of 18
2/24/10 at 12:51am
I have some Sylvanias VT 231 in my collection and yes they are very very nice. I could live with them forever and never really complain. A great workhorse. If it sounds great you don't need to change your amp assuming that it is safe and inspected.
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post #6 of 18
2/24/10 at 1:49pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tosehee View Post
I think you already answered your own question..
lol. so far so good.


<<Hard to beat the Sylvania vt-231. One of the best 6sn7 types ever made. Look for some early Tungsol 5687. I've played with a lot of 6sn7 and 5687 types, and it would be difficult to think of a better combination ( unless you've got money to burn for 6900's)>>

I've been using TS d-getters and they are fantastic. I couldn't agree with you more.

In a few hours I'll have a few different input tubes as well as some different output tubes. Should be interesting.

I started this thread hoping someone would do this work for me. That would have been a huge mistake. I've been trying tubes that I hadn't even considered for at least a year. Rolling my (relatively limited) collection of tubes with a new set of headphones has been interesting, instructive and fun.
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post #7 of 18
2/24/10 at 3:24pm
Thread Starter 

2c51 and 6bl7gta
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post #8 of 18
2/24/10 at 3:32pm
Be careful with the 6BL7's - that may be more that the MPX3 can safely handle.
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post #9 of 18
2/24/10 at 3:52pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab View Post
Be careful with the 6BL7's - that may be more that the MPX3 can safely handle.
I am, thanks.
transformer is just as cool (barely over room temp) as it's been with 6sn7, 7119 and 5687's.
Good advice though.
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post #10 of 18
2/24/10 at 3:56pm
OK that's cool. Just not sure everyone recognizes that the 6BL7GTA draws almost three times the heater current that a 6SN7GTA does.
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post #11 of 18
2/24/10 at 4:07pm
Thread Starter 
Yep.
Maybe you can answer a related question for me. I've seen all the problems with the Extreme as well as with many highly customized/upgraded SP amps. Have there been reports of problems with stock ppx3 or mpx3 amps?
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post #12 of 18
2/24/10 at 5:08pm
There were some serious potential problems with the MPX3:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/my-...ht-too-437344/

My MPX3 transformer ran pretty hot - that's why I got rid of it. I did have my Extreme modded/repaired - and it sounds great with the bigger trafo.
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post #13 of 18
2/24/10 at 5:17pm
Thread Starter 
I consider the Supra to be customized/upgraded. The high voltage options and supposedly upgraded transformer options seem to have been a HUGE problem.
After reading hundreds of posts I just am not sure that I came across problems with 'stock' ppx3 or mpx3's.
Was your mpx3 stock?
I've, obviously, been concerned because I own, use and love my mpx3. I'm just trying get a better handle on the issues involved.
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post #14 of 18
2/24/10 at 5:26pm
Yeah, my MPX3 was stock. And I loved it too, but the trafo ran too hot for me to be comfortable with it, and so when I decided to have the Extreme fixed, I dumped the MPX3

I replaced it with a RSA Stealth, which with my cans actually sounds better, IMO.
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post #15 of 18
2/24/10 at 5:38pm
Thread Starter 
That is one nice looking amp. I'd be afraid to listen to it though. I might like it too.....

Anyway, I just pulled the 2c51 and replaced it with a 6gu7. It's a little less exciting than the 2c51, but still packs a punch. Seems a little more 'distant' than the 2c51. Maybe more air?

Seems to tighten up the bass even more, but with slightly less oomph. Still a very nice tube with the denons.

I haven't reached for the hd600's in the last week. Once I have the tubes dialed in with the denons I'll be curious how these new tubes sound with the senn's.
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