[ardilla]

The 5998 gives 10% more wattage according to Jack Wu. Doesn't make that much difference IMO. 
 
Quote:

Are you running the stock tubes? I found the Tung Sol 5998s to be more powerful than the stock 6080s I don't have an LCD-2 but the WA2 has plenty of power for my modded T50RPs and Thunderpants.

 

[colinharding]

Have you tried them?  6080 are very bright, 6AS7 are dark and heavy.  5998 are quite nice sounding, the original version is a Western Electric 421a if you can find one.  Definitely the best out of the three mentioned.  I've never tried the WE version so I cannot comment there.

 

[ardilla]

I have 3 pairs of 5998's...... 
 
The 5998 is a very good tube. But they won't make the WA2 a wattage-monster, altough it helps a bit.
 
BTW: I always heard the 6080's are warmer? None of the 6080's I've tried is brighter, at least. 
Quote:

Have you tried them?  6080 are very bright, 6AS7 are dark and heavy.  5998 are quite nice sounding, the original version is a Western Electric 421a if you can find one.  Definitely the best out of the three mentioned.  I've never tried the WE version so I cannot comment there.

 

[Draygonn]

The 5998 gives 10% more wattage according to Jack Wu. Doesn't make that much difference IMO. 

Hmmm, maybe just the gain is way higher.

 

[Canfly]

Any idea where can I buy the Tung Sol 5998s? I love to try them. 

 

[ardilla]

Ebay, they are expensive..

 

[Canfly]

Quote:

Ebay, they are expensive..

Any other alternatives, then?

 

[ardilla]

Those who know won't probably tell......
 
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Any other alternatives, then?

 

[colinharding]

Tube depot sometimes has them but ebay is definitely your best bet, and yes they are quite expensive these days. ardilla, I've tried a few 6080 (mullard, JAN metal bottoms) for whatever reason compared to the other two tube types these were always very bright for me.  The 6080 and the 6AS7 presented music more like a wall of sound with the 6080 being quite bright and the 6AS7 becoming quite dark and thick.  However, the 5998 has a very 3D, spacious sound to it with a warmer presentation.

 

[colinharding]

Quote:

Those who know won't probably tell......
 

Haha, well there is the computer rated version of the 5998, you'll have to look it up it's a 7236 or something like that, I can't quite remember.  Never tried it though.  And of course the WE 421a which people rave about but I've never had the spare cash to try.  Or maybe a 6AS7G?

 

[ardilla]

I actually like the 6H13C quite a lot
 
http://thetubestore.com/russian6h13c.html
 
It is EXTREMELY pricey though
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Matched-balanced-6N13S-6080-6AS7-dual-power-triode-6H13C-/200784725292?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item2ebfb3c52c#ht_720wt_1161

 

[colinharding]

Hahaha, man those don't come cheap!!!  But yeah if you can get the RCA black plate version (circa 1950) they are quite nice.  I believe I misspoke earlier on, the 421a is a rebranding of the 5998 by Tung Sol.  All 5998s were made by Tung Sol regardless of their branding.  

 

[ardilla]

Hey - I actually like the russian tubes They are nice and airy. Worth a try
 
BTW: I still don't get it you calling 6080's bright. In my collection, the RCA's are all among the unbrightest, rather warmish. The 7236 is the un-warmest. 

 

[kchew]

Quote:

In what way do you think those tubes takes the WA22?
 

 
The RCA greyglass is the warmest 6SN7 type that I've heard. It's very syrupy with bass bloom and soft treble. It's not my cup of tea, but then my tastes are opposite of yours as I prefer PRAT and detail and I love my HD800. The Brimar 5R4GY is another warmish sounding rectifer when compared to the EML 5U4G. These should give you a different, warmer sound signature as compared to the Raytheon 6SN7 and EML 5U4G.
 
 
Quote:

Any other alternatives, then?

 
I got my 5998s from vacuumtubes.net, but I'm not sure if they have stock or they have jacked up the price. Do ask for a quotation. They are great guys to deal with, any many of us got our 596 rectifiers from them as well.

 

[colinharding]

Hmmm, well I've never tried the 7236.  I had all these tubes in a Darkvoice 337 quite a while ago and never used the 6080 tubes I had for it.  It could have been just the way those tubes reacted within that specific circuit but to me they were significantly thinner sounding than the other tubes, very detailed and airy but in a metallic harsh kind of way.  I would certainly agree that the RCAs are rather warmish, almost thick, sometimes too much so.