Schiit Lyr - The tube rolling thread - Page 5

If it has a an auto-bias circuit, the tubes can be off slightly. I've bought some new Russian tubes 6N3Ps and 6P1P-EVs from ebay, they were shipped from Russia or somewhere from eastern Europe. I'm just providing this info here. You can buy your tubes where ever you want, its your money.

Edited by wuwhere - 4/24/11 at 8:10am

Nice post and photos LiqTenExp. It's interesting to read about other's experiences with different tubes. I'm new to all this, and so far I'm settled on trying out the 6N1Ps from Schiit. They should be good for both the HD650 and the HE-6 when I get that.

There are plenty on ebay for cheap (under 5 a pair).  Issue is they want 6+ to ship and then it takes a month because they are coming from russia.

 

 

 

 

Mine only took two weeks and this was during the last year's December holidays. It may be less now. But with the price of fuel going through the roof, well you know how that goes.

Plenty of tube sellers advertise their tubes as matched pair or match quad. They even specify which tube test equipment they use. What they don't state is how long ago or how often they have their tube testers calibrated. These test equipment are very old and I'm sure they get out of spec.

I will say that as it was only my second time sitting down with the Lyr, I thought it was a great amp for the money, actually quite impressed.  As for tubes I like all kinds of sounds and not particularly one.  My favorite are the Mullards, but they are either hard to find or expensive, and it depends on where you get them, as I've spoken to Skylab a few times about where to buy tubes.  I will buy tubes off of Ebay, but if you are new to tubes or don't have a tester, this is risky business, however good deals can be found here.  

 

Just so we make a clear distinction, as I really don't know the difference, the Mullards we used were halo getters, from the 60s, I have seen also dimple disc getters from the 70s but I didn't buy these.  I really just like the sound of most Mullard tubes in general.  It might seem a little snobby, because practically all Mullards are very pricey, but they tend to offer very good bass weight and sound, they have a slightly rich/lush presentation in the mids (which is perfect for my taste), and very detailed highs, but they are never bright (in my experience so far).  Again, these are my impressions of using all different types of Mullard tubes, and sort of an over generalization.   But I would say I liked all the tubes, they all just sound different.  

 

As for pair matching its all depends on the amps design if the tubes aren't run to their limits its generally not necessarily required they be matched.  In the NOS world its hard to find truly matched pairs, most places just try to get as close a match as possible. 

 

LiqTenExp and Wedge, thanks for the impressions.

 

How much do those Mullards tend to run?  I'd like to get a pair and compare them to the Amperex for myself.

Ive seen then run from $150 to $300 a pair.  Depends on the year, I noticed the 70s Dimple Disc Getter can be had for around $125 a pair.

Hmm. It is going to take a bad case of upgraditis or an itchy credit card to splash 30% the cost of a new Schiit DAC. Now I am even more interested to know how the mullards sound compared to the Schiit 6N1P's.

As for snobbery of tube brands, I get you. I have a soft spot for Tung Sols.

I have a similar soft spot for Tung-Sols, as can be seen by my tube collection.

I need to quit reading this thread. I have most all of these tubes but they are in storage and as such, I may as well not have them, but I enjoy tubes so much it is a shame I can't use them. I find it fun, one, to listen to the music but also to hear the differences in the tubes. So far the best 6DJ8 I have heard is an Amperex that is a relabeled USSR tube. After Amperex stopped manufacture they started to buy tubes from many places, which also became more common with most all tube manufactures as the production of tubes and the facilities themselves, wound down. When I went to China to live a few years back I took a small box of 6DJ8 types with me in pairs in case I bought an amp that used them. When I finally got to China, I checked my baggage and the tubes were gone. I didn't need them while there but it was an odd outcome. 

Blankdisc -

 

Here's a better shot of those tubes purchased for $2.00 ea.  Best tubes I've heard to date, Gold Lion's inclusive.

I don't know when this happened to you, but nowadays it's not an odd outcome at all if you get where you're going and you find stuff missing from your luggage.

 

OT, but my uncle and I were traveling to India, and he had locks on all his stuff.  We get up to security, and the TSA agent says to him, "Sir, you need to remove these locks from your luggage, in case we need to go through it."  He thinks for a second and then says, "No."  The agent asks, "Why not?"  He looks at them, and completely deadpan, he says, "Because you guys steal $h*7."

 

Back on topic, I can't seem to find the Mullard halo CV2492 tubes anywhere online.  This is going to be harder than I expected.

What is so cool about the 6N1P is that so many were made. You can pick them up for as low as a dollar each and they are tested military tubes (OTK). On some I find the bass reproduction can be a little light but not often and I don't remember which one. The Rocket always seems to be pretty good. 

 

Has anyone tried the direct sub for the 6DJ8, the 6N23P? I have some very good one, in storage, gag, and they also sound excellent, like a very good 6922. I do have some nice Russian or USSR tubes coming here but who knows when they will wing their way tot he island. At least they float. 

I have a pair of 6N23P's coming from Russia haha same here when they will make their way to Texas is ???