OK Moving up a tier in the tube stash. So far the ranking in terms of the first tier to my ears and tastes are- AKG 702 is better with this amp than the HD650. The HD650 has textured mids and layered bass but I hate the right on your nose presentation. Ive heard them sound much better with other amps. It can change a bit with the tube used but not drastically so far.
This application is nearly 180 degrees from my impressions of each tube in the other applications I have them for. Both in pre amps, and as buffers for dacs. Its kinda perplexing but at the same time a blessing in disguise as some of the tubes I would have thrown away sometimes sound best in this application
JJ-$- Pulled out my notes, this is an early production of the modern JJ which is a Tesla copy. Should pick up the real NOS with these being such a good all around tube. So far as I know the very current ones havent changed much and should produce similar results which is decent soundstaging and some depth, though its a bit shallow, punchy bass with just a nice bit of bloom. The mids and voices are well presented but a touch hard. This might be too much for some. The highs especially top hats and snare strikes can be eye blinking. The neutral fiends will like this tube from top to bottom. Able to provide some air to the 702 instruments.
Amperex PQ orange 6922/ Amperex 6dj8 Bugle boy--$$$$/$$Second best is a brighter and more spacious presentation with the PQ and a warmer and more congested presentation with the bugle boy. I spent the least time with these as I plan to do a Amprerex roundup later. Honestly I thought this was going to be about just a couple of tubes and the Amperex would wipe the floor with everything except the rare exotics such as pinched waists (wasnt even going to try as this is a budget little amp and I didnt think they were worth the price is my home Dac which is worth 8x this thing) Its perplexing as they have some flaws so far such as sloppy bass, too extreme or too congested presentations and those super sweet mids havent been present. I will return to these.
Ediswan CV2492- $$$- Nice all arounder and for sure could help some phones with a sloppy bass to tighten up. Has a smoother midrange than the JJ and the highs are sweeter. To me thats not what Im after but for sure some listeners want a smooth and sweet tone with good staging and a little more depth than the JJ. Nothing really wows or stands out and to many thats exactly how it should be.
JAN Phillips Green label- $$- This is a tube I hate in most applications and I preferred it more on the HD650. It livened it up but the HD650 didnt take on the JANs usually dry and clinical tone. A nice analytical tube. Like that smoky jazz bar but with a light turned on. It would be a good tube to start with to get a baseline for other tubes. Its kinda like an EH with a better presented soundstage and character.
EH-$- You all know this one.
Moving UP!
Mullard Dimple Discs Gold and regular pins, wire and flat supports- $$$$-$$$- Um, had this on for the last hour. Things are moving along!
EI- Yugo NOS-$$
Earliest Amperex orange 6dj8s- vairous grades $$$$-$$$$$ - the best of these are really amazing in other applications. Makes me sad for all those 7308 and later Amperex listeners. In this application though so far we see anything can happen. My ACE tube for years
Siemens- E88CC gold halo and A frame- $$$$$/$$$$$- http://www.tube-classics.de/TC/Tubes/SieTel%20E88CC/E88CC.htm- Told you we are getting serious.
Overall, having lots of fun and I really feel the Aune offers a ton of bang for the buck. Great product that has lots of drive and a neutral-ish base to start with. Time will tell if its just the right pairings to totally flesh out that midrange and provide real high end smoothness and detail to the top end but it stages like a champ. I want someone to put some nice coupling caps in this thing! Its worth it!
$- $10-$30
$$- $30-65
$$$-$65-$100
$$$$- $100-$135
$$$$$-$135+
Edited by dcfis - 2/17/13 at 1:20am
