gwitzel
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2015
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My amp is microphonic to some extent with many of the tubes I've tried for input and output. My 5998 is a bit microphonic like that too. It's fine for listening. I only paid $60 for mine though.
I wouldn't worry about the microphonics unless you're in an environment where the amp gets bumped often and you can hear it.
As far as the sound goes, the 5998 sound signature is very subjective. It's got a lower output impedance so bass typically is tighter and better controlled. I also think it sounds more analytical than other tubes and results in a more detail. It also means it sounds more like solid state than other tubes which some people like and other don't. I've worked with solid state most of my life so I can appreciate what the 5998 brings to the table, but it also distances you from what most like about tubes. I've grown to like the warm signature and musicality of tubes and these days my favorite output tube is the Bendix 6080WB slotted graphite. A close second are the Sylvania Gold Brand GB6080 and Cetron 7236. These tubes all offer a warmer sound with a fat sounding bass, which I think pairs well with the HD800 which are known to be quite analytical and a little thin in the bass.
Thank you for the reply, this is reassuring. The seller also confirmed that light microphonics are normal and might become better with time. However, it is very light indeed so I will not worry.
I felt that the stock tube had a nice timbre and was really pretty good. I am curious to see how I like the TS 5998. Unfortunately, I did not really have time to listen to it carfully. I will know more in 3 weeks when I am back home. After my last mod I had the sense of incredible channel speparation and clarity, but in loud orchestra moments it sounded a bit direct and dense, and the channel separation sounded a bit artificial. I hoped for a bit more transparancy in those dense moments, and more spacial coherence.
However, already with the stock tube the presentation was so real. My chain is:
Mac/Audirvana -> Schiit Wyrd -> Singxer F1 -> Schiit Gungnir MB BNC-input -> Bottlehead Crack -> HD600/650.
I love that I could build this myself for this price. The American audio community is awesome (says the German)