[Sp12er3]

New in tube Rolling here... been wanting to replace my stock 6N3 with something better, seems like GE JAN 5670 are popular, but I've also been seeing
NOS 2C51 HEINTZ & KAUFMAN USA
and 5670 Sylvania (Grey Plate), has anyone tried these?

 

[ericr]

In my MHDT DAC the GE tubes are OK. They must have made a huge number of these as almost every tube vendor has them still. The nice thing is they are inexpensive.

From what I've read H&K did not manufacturer tubes, but rebranded much like Magnavox, Zenith, etc. If you can post some pictures or a link we may be able to identify them for you.

Even though I'm a huge fan of Sylvania tubes their 5670 (even the Gold Brand) are not on my favorites list.

1) Bendix JAN CEA 2C51 / 5670
Getting hard to find and can be costly.
Often printed with Eclipse Pioneer rather than Bendix

2) Western Electric 396a / 2C51
Often costly.

3) Hytron JHY 5670 / 2C51
Can be hard to find, but I have bought a few inexpensively.
May also be branded CBS (they bought Hytron), but needs to have two posts holding the getter. The later CBS with one post are not as good.

?) Tesla 6CC42 pinched waist
Hard to find, especially here in USA.
I've not heard these but some say the are as good or better than the Bendix or WE.

 

[Sp12er3]

It's these

With the documents

if it mean anything as that's only a screenshot from Radio Museum it seems...

Side views with title

 

[ericr]

OK, I'm stumped. Looked through my collection of 4 different GE, 2 Sylvania, WE, Bendix, Tung-sol, CBS/Hytron, and Raytheon - none of them look like those H&K.  If you buy them be sue to post your impressions!

 

[Sp12er3]

Thanks for replying anyway, Will do

 

[Sp12er3]

In my MHDT DAC the GE tubes are OK. They must have made a huge number of these as almost every tube vendor has them still. The nice thing is they are inexpensive.

From what I've read H&K did not manufacturer tubes, but rebranded much like Magnavox, Zenith, etc. If you can post some pictures or a link we may be able to identify them for you.

Even though I'm a huge fan of Sylvania tubes their 5670 (even the Gold Brand) are not on my favorites list.

1) Bendix JAN CEA 2C51 / 5670
Getting hard to find and can be costly.
Often printed with Eclipse Pioneer rather than Bendix

2) Western Electric 396a / 2C51
Often costly.

3) Hytron JHY 5670 / 2C51
Can be hard to find, but I have bought a few inexpensively.
May also be branded CBS (they bought Hytron), but needs to have two posts holding the getter. The later CBS with one post are not as good.

?) Tesla 6CC42 pinched waist
Hard to find, especially here in USA.
I've not heard these but some say the are as good or better than the Bendix or WE.

Found a couple of Hytrons



Is these what you refer to? If so, how do you think of the sound change it gives?
I'm looking for warmer tubes as I found my 6N3 to be quite bright somehow..
Also found
1) 6H3N OTK Russia Triple Mica
2) RCA 5670
3) GE Square Getter USA

 

[ericr]

What are you wanting to use them in?

 

[Sp12er3]

It's a cheap Hybrid tube amp, You'd probably never heard of it, its from "Nobsound" (model in my sig). I know i know its only 6V, but I do hear difference out of it than my Q1, but now I wonder whether its the Tube doing things or something else screwing things up (the actual amplifier sucks, or high OI (as its not mentioned in the spec)), so I'd try to change the tube 1 or 2 others to test it.

 

[Sp12er3]

So... Should I upgrade it? Or should I not bother with it and sell it?

 

[ericr]

Unfortunately I can only tell you how the different 5670 type tubes sound in an MHDT dac. They may or may not perform similarly in your amp.

If you are generally happy with the amp and want to refine its sound, tubes can be a good way to go. IF you don't get carried away and spend 2-3 times the money on tubes than what you paid for the amp (at that point a new amp probably makes more sense).

If the Hytron isn't expensive, say under $25 ($15 would be a really good deal) it could be something easy and fun to try.

If you would like I could put the Hytron back in my dac and compare it to the Bendix, which is on the brighter side. IIRC the Western Electric 396a is warmer and I could give that a try as well.

 

[Sp12er3]

Yep If you have the time please do, I'd know your impression on how it change the sound of your chain comparatively speaking to mine.

 

[ericr]

OK, this is on the list for the weekend.

 

[Sp12er3]

Thamks

 

[ericr]

"I'm looking for warmer tubes as I found my 6N3 to be quite bright somehow.."

The results (warm to bright):

1) Western Electric JW 396a/2C51 Square Getter
2) none
3) Hytron 5670/2C51
4) Bendix 2C51
5) GE 5670 Square Getter - Triple Mica

The WE was the the warmest of the bunch. You might even say the treble is rolled off slightly, yet not to the point of loosing important detail. Mids were lush, piano really sounded like a piano! Bass was good, though not extending quite a low a the Bendix.

The general rule is the older (late 1940s-early 1950s) are considered best for these types of tubes, with the 1960s less so, and 1970s & 80s being not so good. However, I have a 1961 WE 396a that is close to the 1952 JW version I used in the comparison. The newer WE tube was less costly and would likely serve your purposes.

WE date codes:
1948-1957 - 3 digit YWW
Y = year WW = quarter (expressed as weeks)
826 = 1948, 2nd quarter

1958-19?? - 4 digit YYWW
YY = year WW = quarter (expressed as weeks)
5952 = 1959, 4th quarter

 

[Sp12er3]

Many thanks! I'll try to source them as the Hutton still haven't fulfill my need either.. Surprised at how its shorter compared to the 6N3