[koolas]

Hey guys, anyone pairing the Pan Am with the LCD-XC? Wondering if it's powerful enough to drive it well...

I think Pan Am has plenty of power, though with stock tubes sound might get ugly and distorted if more power is required. You may want to get better tubes. People here advise Mullards, and I also think they are great sounding tubes, but they hard clip at very high volumes. Now I use Sylvania and while didn't experience any hard clipping I have noticed some distortion at high end. I use Alpha Dogs, which are 55 Ohm and 98 dB/mW, while LCD-XC are 22 Ohm and 95 dB/mW. So since both have same sensitivity, the difference is in voltage required to drive them at same volume, and since Alpha Dogs are twice the impedance they need twice as high voltage, and they draw half as much current. The question could be if Pan Am can provide twice as much current as it provides to Alpha Dogs.

 

[BattousaiX26]

What is the difference between the two mullards?

 

[TontonJoK]

Its exactly the same tubes, could be made in different factories in England
On top they were made for the army with no Mullard logo printed but they are genuine and sound awesome

 

[desertstrike]

I have finally got my Russian tubes! on first trying (without burned in yet), it feels more tube than my default Chinese tubes!
Instrument separation is much better! bass feels more punch, definitely prefer this over default tube!
but the problem is, the marking on the tube has faded... how can i be sure that it is Russian tube? 

 

[TontonJoK]

show a picture of the tubes and the seller link,
Don't worry that much It costs nothing to print well a tube so I guess a fake one would show a nice permanent logo

 

[TontonJoK]

And the price you paid in $

 

[desertstrike]

 

[ahhui90]

my russian tubes looks the same as yours, don't worry

 

[desertstrike]

Thanks ah hui! How long do u burned it in?

 

[desertstrike]

This is the chinese tube, they all look so similiar :O

 

[BattousaiX26]

To those guys using an external DAC in pan am, which one do you use and how does it compare to the built in DAC of the pan am?

 

[ahhui90]

i have no idea.. been using it for a long time. btw i bought my russian tubes for only $15
 

 

[TontonJoK]

Looks like mine too, hard to see the writing just like yours
As long as you get a better sound than the default Chinese tubes, I guess it' all good

 

[desertstrike]

Thats right bro, now i am thinking of getting mullards to try haha

 

[BattousaiX26]

Thats right bro, now i am thinking of getting mullards to try haha

Get mullards you will not be disappointed especially if you really like warm sound