Apex Peak/Volcano Review - Page 16

I thought my amplifier ran hotter with Sylvania 6SN7GT than Shuguang Treasures CV181-Z.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audio-Omega 

I thought my amplifier ran hotter with Sylvania 6SN7GT than Shuguang Treasures CV181-Z.  

'tis true. Bigger bottle - more surface area to dissipate heat.

I recorded a temperature of 46.3 C / 115.34 F.  

How's the bad boy treating you? It's been almost a year and I can honestly say I used mine 90% of that time, and used the BT, Mouse Ears, Mullard CV181 the other 10%. I roll the others in occasionally and then go running back. The bad boy continues to impress me. 
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audio-Omega 

I recorded a temperature of 46.3 C / 115.34 F.  

According to the reference guide here my 1949 Sylvania is not a Bad Boy but I like it very much especially its soft treble.  The other tube worth mentioning is a tall Tung-Sol 6SN7GTB.  It's very similar to the 1949 Sylvania except its treble is a bit harder sounding.  I have to try Mullard CV181 one day !

I'm least happy with the mullard in this amp. It's smooth but the upper mids are little up front for my taste and the bass is lacking. I think it's good tube, just not for me. I'm probably gonna put up for sale one day soon. The mouse ears is easiest on my hearing. Recessed highs and upper mids, unbelievable mid-bass, but lacking in the lower bass. 
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audio-Omega 

According to the reference guide here my 1949 Sylvania is not a Bad Boy but I like it very much especially its soft treble.  The other tube worth mentioning is a tall Tung-Sol 6SN7GTB.  It's very similar to the 1949 Sylvania except its treble is a bit harder sounding.  I have to try Mullard CV181 one day !

Thanks for the information on Mullard CV-181, I will probably leave it for now and beside it's too expensive.  Vintage Sylvania tubes are nice sounding.  I have a 1944 Sylvania 6SN7GTA and it sounds very similar to the 1949, good resolution with tight bass and soft mid and treble.  

Tung Sol mouse ears is a nice, soft sounding tube with good resolution.  It's a tube that's easy to listen to however Sylvania 1949 is a bit better in most ways.  It doesn't have the clarity nor warm of that Sylvania.  

Yes, when I have ear pain or a headache and still want to listen, the mouse ears is the tube to use. But the sylvania has the superior sonics. I sometimes wonder what I'd do if the bad boy died and I couldn't get another one affordably. I'd probably sell the amp and go back to a darker, colored sounding solid state like a Ray Samuels. 

Which brings me to the question: Does anyone know the average hours of life for a tube? Or is it impossible to gauge on NOS tubes considering that they've sat in storage for roughly half a century?

Also, mine has a crack in the base. Does that mean a difference in life span I wonder?

Why don't you get another Bad Boy just in case ?  I was told that tubes could last 20,000 to 25,000 hours.  

I thought about that too. It's a possibility but I can't spend the money on something like that right now. 20K hours is pretty good though. Based on my use, I've got at least several years.

Originally Posted by Audio-Omega 

Why don't you get another Bad Boy just in case ?  I was told that tubes could last 20,000 to 25,000 hours.  

My favourite at present is a Sylvania 6SN7GT 1949 and I have a Sylvania 6SN7GTA 1944 as backup.