[cangle]

I plan to soon buy the Hifiman HE-500 and the Schiit Lyr and Bifrost Combo. I'm wondering what the best tubes from the Schiit website are that I could buy for the Lyr. I have to choose between the 6BZ7 tubes, the 6N1P tubes, the E88CC tubes, or the GE 6BZ7/6BQ7A tubes. I understand that there are other better options out there, but I don't really want to get into tube rolling yet as that is not allowed by my budget. I really appreciate the feed back and would also be open to other tubes under $50 that may work well with the Lyr and HE-500.
 
Lastly, I was watching a video review of the Lyr on Youtube and someone was saying that they used tube risers with the Lyr because otherwise, the tubes are rather difficult to remove. Any idea where I could get something like this?

 

[ilikepooters]

Quote:

I plan to soon buy the Hifiman HE-500 and the Schiit Lyr and Bifrost Combo. I'm wondering what the best tubes from the Schiit website are that I could buy for the Lyr. I have to choose between the 6BZ7 tubes, the 6N1P tubes, the E88CC tubes, or the GE 6BZ7/6BQ7A tubes. I understand that there are other better options out there, but I don't really want to get into tube rolling yet as that is not allowed by my budget. I really appreciate the feed back and would also be open to other tubes under $50 that may work well with the Lyr and HE-500.
 
Lastly, I was watching a video review of the Lyr on Youtube and someone was saying that they used tube risers with the Lyr because otherwise, the tubes are rather difficult to remove. Any idea where I could get something like this?

 
Firstly, i'd start with the G.E 6BZ7's that come from Schiit because they are neutral sounding, so they'll give you a reference point so you know where you're at.
 
If you said $100 then i'd point you towards the Amperex Orange globes that everyone seems to favour, but again, depends what you'd like from the sound.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AMPEREX-ORANGE-GLOBE-6DJ8-ECC88-VACUUM-TUBE-1968-MATCHED-PAIR-CHECKED-TEKTRONIX-/221215754896?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item33817c8a90
 
If you want a cheap tube that's very pleasing on the ear and adds some warmth to the bass and mids, then i'd recommend the Brimar 6BQ7A which can be had really cheap from ebay when they appear again.
 
Yes the tubes can be fiddly to remove, i just use a pair of cheap chinese socket savers, does the job.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290835055818?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

 

[Flisker]

Quote:

I just downloaded the 15 minute pink noise mp3 from here:  http://www.audiocheck.net/testtones_pinknoise.php  and burned it to a CD.  When I want to burn something in, I just put my CD player on repeat.  Works a treat! 

 
Downloaded that 15 min noise, did some more clicking and got to -> http://mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/rainNoiseGenerator.php this is really awesome for relaxation 

 add more on first 3 sliders to get some background thunder 

 

[Joong]

Hi guys.
 
This time I have a combination of CV2492( backside = right ear)+Siemens E88CC of A6-0G (hallo getter)( front side = left ear) to test the SQ.
Previously I did the same but the front side with BB - D getter.
The new combination is more fluid than previous pair which had sibilance.
The balance seems OK with no noise with maximum volume when I am listening to Faure Requiem.
 
Did you guys see some technical issue with this hetero tube test for Lyr?
May I stay with this combination forever when it is good enough.
All this was started when an Ebay guy sent me an faulty Mullard E88CC tube to me.
The guy is honest enough to replace it with a Siemens one very quickly.
 
CV2492 KB/D with dimple disc getter / gold pins and arrow marks, what is it?

 

[claud W]

This is my favorite so far. As you can see they are Amprex "halo" getter 6922s. These are my best pairs. I switched back to the no label pair as they sound the same and that pair was true NOS because it took a couple of sessions to sound their best.
 

 

 

[nelamvr6]

Quote:

 
Downloaded that 15 min noise, did some more clicking and got to -> http://mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/rainNoiseGenerator.php this is really awesome for relaxation 

 add more on first 3 sliders to get some background thunder 

Cool! That would be nice to help me sleep...

 

[Flisker]

Quote:

Cool! That would be nice to help me sleep...

 
It's best stuff for relaxation I ever heard, waterfall is also great. Already gave it 2 hour testing session today and it works very nicely for me.
 
ps: don't forget to try "motion" button

 

[mhamel]

I've been on an eBay tube bargain hunt the past week or so... well, mostly bargains, outside of the RTC and Darios.  I figured I'd pick up some lesser-known cheap tubes to experiment with.
 
So far, I've gotten in:
----------
1 pr. Westinghouse 6BQ7A- 1962
1 pr. Westinghouse 6BQ7A- 1965
2 pr. Sylvania 6BQ7A- 1950
2 pr. Dumont 6BQ7A- Unsure of date
1 pr. Tung Sol 6BQ7A- Unsure of date
 
Due in:
----------
2pr. Westinghouse 6BQ7A - 1953
2pr. Motorola 6BQ7A
2pr. Z&I Italy ECC85
2pr. Telam ECC85
1pr Newhaus RFT ECC85
1pr RFT ECC85
2pr Tungsram E88CC Red Label
1pr E188CC Dario Miniwatt (not convinced these are real, will see once they come in)
1pr RTC E188CC (from radio-collection)
 
 
 
Thoughts so far...
 
Westinghouse 6BQ7A 1962 - Wow... very "3D" - smooth highs, great mids, good bass.  Unfortunately one of them is ridiculously microphonic, the dampers I have aren't helping, so I'm going to pick up a pair of Brent Jesse's copper dampers to see if I can tame these.  They sound far too good to toss out.  These weren't super cheap, but if I can tame the microphonics they're absolutely worth it.   $30 for the pair.
 
Westinghouse 6BQ7A 1965 - Pretty much the same as the 1962s, but with excellent/deep bass and maybe a touch warmer in the mids.  Another case of having one tube VERY microphonic however.  Again hoping that the copper dampers will tame that.   These were only $8 for the pair.
 
Sylvania 6BQ7A 1950 - I need to spend some more time with these, but initial impressions are pretty good. Dynamic and punchy, nice width and depth to the soundstage, mids are kind of forward but very nice with vocals.  Slight hump in the upper midbass area - would be better if that smooths out with burn-in, but we'll see.  Maybe a bit grainy up high, but again, they're nowhere near burned in - just an initial impression.   Low noise, one tube is slightly microphonic but not bad at all.  Came in mil-spec boxes.   Definitely have potential, and best of all... $10 for the quad.
 
Dumont 6BQ7A - I need to withhold final judgement on these until I get a pair burned in. They seem to do a lot of things right, quite forward in the mids, though, and a definite upper midbass hump.  Seem like an exaggerated version of the Sylvanias in both regards.   I haven't been able to figure out how old these are yet.  They look like they may have been made by Sylvania - they've got both Dumont and Sylvania codes on them.   $13 for the quad, so certain cheap enough to play with.
 
Tung Sol 6BQ7A - no-go.  One of them hums VERY loudly, well past anything listenable.   I've tried cleaning contacts, changing sockets, etc... just seems to be a bad tube.   I've got another small amp that uses a single tube and a DAC that uses a single 6922 in the output stage (Music Hall 25.3) so I'll hang on to the good one to try in those, but a bust for the Lyr.   These were $10.50/pr.
 
 
Currently listening to the 1965 Westinghouse.... with two dampers on the microphonic tube, which tames it slightly - but they sound so good I don't want to take them out yet.
 
 
    -Mike

 

[nelamvr6]

Quote:

I've been on an eBay tube bargain hunt the past week or so... well, mostly bargains, outside of the RTC and Darios.  I figured I'd pick up some lesser-known cheap tubes to experiment with.
 
So far, I've gotten in:
----------
1 pr. Westinghouse 6BQ7A- 1962
1 pr. Westinghouse 6BQ7A- 1965
2 pr. Sylvania 6BQ7A- 1950
2 pr. Dumont 6BQ7A- Unsure of date
1 pr. Tung Sol 6BQ7A- Unsure of date
 
Due in:
----------
2pr. Westinghouse 6BQ7A - 1953
2pr. Motorola 6BQ7A
2pr. Z&I Italy ECC85
2pr. Telam ECC85
1pr Newhaus RFT ECC85
1pr RFT ECC85
2pr Tungsram E88CC Red Label
1pr E188CC Dario Miniwatt (not convinced these are real, will see once they come in)
1pr RTC E188CC (from radio-collection)
 
 
 
Thoughts so far...
 
Westinghouse 6BQ7A 1962 - Wow... very "3D" - smooth highs, great mids, good bass.  Unfortunately one of them is ridiculously microphonic, the dampers I have aren't helping, so I'm going to pick up a pair of Brent Jesse's copper dampers to see if I can tame these.  They sound far too good to toss out.  These weren't super cheap, but if I can tame the microphonics they're absolutely worth it.   $30 for the pair.
 
Westinghouse 6BQ7A 1965 - Pretty much the same as the 1962s, but with excellent/deep bass and maybe a touch warmer in the mids.  Another case of having one tube VERY microphonic however.  Again hoping that the copper dampers will tame that.   These were only $8 for the pair.
 
Sylvania 6BQ7A 1950 - I need to spend some more time with these, but initial impressions are pretty good. Dynamic and punchy, nice width and depth to the soundstage, mids are kind of forward but very nice with vocals.  Slight hump in the upper midbass area - would be better if that smooths out with burn-in, but we'll see.  Maybe a bit grainy up high, but again, they're nowhere near burned in - just an initial impression.   Low noise, one tube is slightly microphonic but not bad at all.  Came in mil-spec boxes.   Definitely have potential, and best of all... $10 for the quad.
 
Dumont 6BQ7A - I need to withhold final judgement on these until I get a pair burned in. They seem to do a lot of things right, quite forward in the mids, though, and a definite upper midbass hump.  Seem like an exaggerated version of the Sylvanias in both regards.   I haven't been able to figure out how old these are yet.  They look like they may have been made by Sylvania - they've got both Dumont and Sylvania codes on them.   $13 for the quad, so certain cheap enough to play with.
 
Tung Sol 6BQ7A - no-go.  One of them hums VERY loudly, well past anything listenable.   I've tried cleaning contacts, changing sockets, etc... just seems to be a bad tube.   I've got another small amp that uses a single tube and a DAC that uses a single 6922 in the output stage (Music Hall 25.3) so I'll hang on to the good one to try in those, but a bust for the Lyr.   These were $10.50/pr.
 
 
Currently listening to the 1965 Westinghouse.... with two dampers on the microphonic tube, which tames it slightly - but they sound so good I don't want to take them out yet.
 
 
    -Mike

Thanks for the excellent report!  It's great to learn about new tubes that will work well in the Lyr without busting the budget.

 

[ilikepooters]

I've snapped up what i hope will be a bargain.
 
Amperex ECC88 with PQ shield, orange labels, made in Holland.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251256571337?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
 
Are these just glorified Orange globes? I can't imagine tooling or materials would be any different.

 

[GrindingThud]

I have a pair of those and they are my favorites. The Tek checked/selected tubes tend to be very quiet.

I've snapped up what i hope will be a bargain.

Amperex ECC88 with PQ shield, orange labels, made in Holland.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251256571337?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Are these just glorified Orange globes? I can't imagine tooling or materials would be any different.

 

[ilikepooters]

Quote:

I have a pair of those and they are my favorites. The Tek checked/selected tubes tend to be very quiet.

 
So they're essentially just "cherry picked" orange globes?
 
*EDIT* nevermind, Orange globes have different getter construction. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Amperex-Holland-Orange-Globe-6DJ8-ECC88-dimpled-disc-getter-strong-matched-quad-/161018626266?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item257d7540da
*EDIT2* and even more different getter construction. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AMPEREX-ORANGE-GLOBE-6DJ8-ECC88-VACUUM-TUBE-1968-MATCHED-PAIR-CHECKED-TEKTRONIX-/221215754896?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item33817c8a90
*EDIT3* another getter design for orange globes, these are like the PQ's i've just bought though. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Amperex-Holland-A-Frame-6DJ8-ECC88-dimpled-disc-getter-strong-matched-quad-/161018612622?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item257d750b8e
 
Those Amperex tubes sure are varied, couldn't they settle on one design? Anw which is the "preferred" getter design for orange globes?

 

[GrindingThud]

They come in either construction. Yours are A frame. PQ designates premium quality.....and Tek cherry picked from the PQ.

So they're essentially just "cherry picked" orange globes?

*EDIT* nevermind, Orange globes have different getter construction. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Amperex-Holland-Orange-Globe-6DJ8-ECC88-dimpled-disc-getter-strong-matched-quad-/161018626266?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item257d7540da

 

[HK_sends]

Quote:

 
Downloaded that 15 min noise, did some more clicking and got to -> http://mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/rainNoiseGenerator.php this is really awesome for relaxation 

 add more on first 3 sliders to get some background thunder 

Another place is Simply Noise and Simply Rain:
 
http://www.simplynoise.com/
 
http://rain.simplynoise.com/
 
Cheers!

-HK sends

 

[OldSkool]

Quote:

 
Those Amperex tubes sure are varied, couldn't they settle on one design? Anw which is the "preferred" getter design for orange globes?

IMO, the OG from the late '60s with the halo getter sounds slightly better than the dimple-disk and A-frames. BUT, I haven't heard a bad OG yet.

 
YMMV.