TomSix
ALO Audio Studio Six deisgner
MelaVerde Quote: "I was looking for the RCA Red Base but of course I might have more luck finding a pink Unicorn; as usual any suggestion or advice is highly appreciated. BTW this thread is a well of knowledge and a shocker for my wallet."
MelaVerde, I fully understand and concur with your sentiments. I have good news for you, however.
It's actually not really necessary to source the most expensive/exotic/rare tubes in order to have the ST-6 play at a top-notch level of performance. IMHO, a good variety of affordable New Old Stock 6V6 family output tubes, and 6SN7 input tubes can be used to achieve 95% of the sonic performance the amplifier is capable of producing.
The selection of the 6V6 and 6SN7 tubes make the overwhelming contribution to the sound. The selection of the 5AR4 rectifier does also contribute to the sound but very much less so, and the 0B2 regulators make very little contribution at all.
So, I'd recommend staying with the stock 5AR4 and 0B2 tubes, and experimenting only with the 6V6 and 6SN7 tubes --at least initially.
There are a number of positive reports from ST-6 users using some of the more expensive/exotic current-manufacture 6SN7 tubes etc, but I'd caution leaping into such expenses until first trying some more modestly priced quality 1940's through 1960's tubes.
*Additional Note: there were some very good military and/or industrial quality 6V6 type tubes manufactured up into the 1980's. A good example are the Philips ECG JAN 6V6GT tubes, which are a very attractive choice. FYI: Head-fier/ Studio-Six owner longbowbbs brought these tubes to my awareness.
I hope that helps.
Cheers!
MelaVerde, I fully understand and concur with your sentiments. I have good news for you, however.
It's actually not really necessary to source the most expensive/exotic/rare tubes in order to have the ST-6 play at a top-notch level of performance. IMHO, a good variety of affordable New Old Stock 6V6 family output tubes, and 6SN7 input tubes can be used to achieve 95% of the sonic performance the amplifier is capable of producing.
The selection of the 6V6 and 6SN7 tubes make the overwhelming contribution to the sound. The selection of the 5AR4 rectifier does also contribute to the sound but very much less so, and the 0B2 regulators make very little contribution at all.
So, I'd recommend staying with the stock 5AR4 and 0B2 tubes, and experimenting only with the 6V6 and 6SN7 tubes --at least initially.
There are a number of positive reports from ST-6 users using some of the more expensive/exotic current-manufacture 6SN7 tubes etc, but I'd caution leaping into such expenses until first trying some more modestly priced quality 1940's through 1960's tubes.
*Additional Note: there were some very good military and/or industrial quality 6V6 type tubes manufactured up into the 1980's. A good example are the Philips ECG JAN 6V6GT tubes, which are a very attractive choice. FYI: Head-fier/ Studio-Six owner longbowbbs brought these tubes to my awareness.
I hope that helps.
Cheers!
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