Little Dot Tube Amps: Vacuum Tube Rolling Guide - Page 24

Regarding the Voskhod tubes other reviewers have pointed out that they need a very long burn in period at the order of 120 hours, and that the sound definitively does change and becomes more mellow with less sharp highs.

 

This has been my personal experience as well, and I like the more mellow sound better. As always, vacuum tubes react differently to different equipment, and each person has to find the combination of tubes that best suits his taste. However, some tubes excel in many setups, and it is a good idea to choose among the best rated ones, and certainly the Voskhods are in this category. 

 

If you like more sizzle at the high frequencies, I have found that the 6N6P-i power tubes accentuate this more than the 6N6P power tubes. Conversely, if the high frequencies are too prominent with the driver tubes you are using, 6N6P power tubes will tame the high frequencies.

 

As a side note, the best results for me occurred when I used gold grid tubes.
 

Thank you for your answers.

 

I just got a fresh pair of 6Zh1P-EVs in. This time they are dated XI-75 and OTK is 7 (former pair was XII-71 OTK 1). I shall monitor their burning in time.

 

Thank you also for the tip Mordy. I will look out for gold grid 6N6P-I power tubes.

 

Btw. did you try the 6H30P tubes (6N30R with translated letters) on the LD III and what difference did it make for you?

I have only tried 6N6p-i and 6N6P power tubes (the latter with and without gold grids). I have not spent more than $8 on any tube for my $224 LD MkIII amp, and frequently much less, and I cannot see the purpose in spending $200+ on DR power tubes that only seem to give an incremental benefit.

 

The consensus seems to be that the power tubes have much less influence on the sound than the driver tubes, maybe accounting for 15% of the difference in sound. It should also be noted the the 6N6P-i (impulse type) power tubes are rated for a significantly shorter life span than the regular 6N6P tubes.
 

Hi A11,

 

Just took a look at Ebay offerings. Seems that the 6N6P-i tubes were not made with gold grids; only the 6N6P tubes. (The Voskhod tubes come as a gold variant as well). Some reviewers think that the tubes that were made in the 70's were the best quality. Oftentimes the seller has tubes from different years, and you can ask for 70's tubes.

Here is a listing for a pair for less than $8/tube - these look the same that I bought some time back, but I was able to get a lower price by buying four of them (paid around $5 each).

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Russian-6N6P-ECC99-E182CC-Double-Output-Triodes-Gold-Grid-NOS-QTY-2-/320914857399?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ab8041db7

 

Good luck!

Ebay Seller Location "Moldova, Tiraspol" ?! Haha, me luky ! I'm from Moldova too (and yes, Moldova sucks )

 

 

Are the 6N6P tubes better than 6H30PI? My little dot MK IV SE was shipped with 6H30PI and I've never rolled any alternative power tubes.

I think you should stay with the 6H30pi instead of 6n6p. There's a reason why they're standard in the SE version.

Thank you for the link Mordy.

 

Preferring tubes from EU as I don't need to pay an extra handling fee (an equivalent of about $12.50). There are some offers from Bulgaria I will check out.

 

The new Voskhods (75s) are burning in and sound great, let's see how they change.

 

Was just contemplating the 6H30Ps, but probably nothing to worry about.
 

Edited by Acapella11 - 6/16/12 at 12:55pm

 

 

That's what I figured, and there's no way I'm splurging on the DR tubes.

I'm very happy that you reviewed all these tubes!, and those reviews have gave me a decision on what tubes I want! Thanks a million my friend...

Spiderking31

After a bit of listening with my AKG Q701, I am just updating some impressions of tubes I heard on the LD MKIII.

 

Power tubes:

I recommend to test 6N6P-I power tubes. For me, compared to 6N6P, the sound is more relaxed, giving more bass and most importantly a less sibling sound. The stage gets a bit smaller, the presentation is bit more "into the face" with a little loss in precision. Still, overall I really love their sound signature. Mine were from 1985, not sure how much of a difference that makes. The change from the 6N6P away was quite appreciated and even if the total change may be less than when changing driver tubes, it is noticeable and made sense to me.

I am waiting for 6N30P-EV tubes.
 

Driver tubes:

There were a lot of recommendations for Voskhod 6J1P-EV but I would like to bring attention to a tube, which is not mentioned that often:

JAN 5654W: The Sylvania (black plates, halo getter) has a slightly darker sound compared to the GE (grey plates, halo getter). Overall, the sound is well balanced and open with natural mids and a very nice treble presentation, which is not sibling, Lower frequencies are a little more prominent with the Sylvanias. The combination of 6N6P-I with GE JAN 5654W is a great one for treble lovers, mids and bass are fine too, but the signature is surely on the brighter and transparent side. 6N6P-I with Sylvania JAN 5654W give a more balanced sound in terms of frequencies and are my favourite for the Q701 so far.

I found the treble more airy than with my 100 hour Voskhod 6J1P-EV (1971, 1975), the mids more forward sounding, the bass a bit lesser but punchy and the stage a little smaller.

Edited by Acapella11 - 6/30/12 at 11:44am

Sounds like the Sylvania JAN 5654W is something i gotta try out next. I have the Telefunken 6AK5W but from your description it looks like it's similar sounding to the GE JAN 5654W, albeit with more bass presence. Instruments and voices really seem to pop out from the space around me the bass is really punchy! Only downside to me is that it sounds slightly brighter on the top end and i'm trying to find something that retains the quality of the telefunkens while not being piercing to the ears.

I just ordered the Jan5654W tubes for my little dot mk3....and man, can't wait to get them! Looking forward to it!

Categg,

 

This is exactly what I thought about the GEs compared to the Sylvanias and this is why I appreciate the Sylvanias and would recommend trying them.

Which power tubes do you use?

 

Enjoy the tube rolling Spiderking31. =)

 

PS: Btw, the JAN 5654(W) range is quite large. There are RCA, Tung Sol, Raytheon and Philips too.

Just got my ge Jan5654W tubes, and listening to them now....and they sound awesome with the live version of pink Floyd! The bass was there, treble is amazing, and so are the mids! Soundstage is good too, but like others said....I'm gonna have to burn them in this should be fun! Lolz