Skylab
Reviewerus Prolificus
I am currently using a Tungsram 6AS7G (British-made A1834 type) and a Tung-Sol 6SN7WGT in the DV336SE. No hum, or ANY noise for that matter, and sounds excellent.
Darkvoice 336 + 336i Tuberolling [ tubes ]
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Because of how well the DV336i does with my Edition 9, I just moved it back up from the basement to my bedside rig, feeding it from my HR Micro DAC and iRiver H140, D-303 or Macbook via optical.
The 336i with the right tubes sounds like a amp twice it's price, and I love it. I have the 336i tuned to sound very good with my D2000 and Edition 9 and HD600 and Yamaha HP-1, using (JAN CRC RCA 6AS7G and Sylvania VT-231). With those tubes it is not as great for my Grado RS-1 and HF-1, making them a little too bright and thin, but I can use a Tung Sol 5998 with Hytron 5692 brown-base and it is great with the Grados.
I just got a couple more pairs of 6DE7 for my WA6, so it may end up being better for my Edition 9 than the 336i with 4 pair of driver tubes to try out (and several GZ34, 5U4G, SAR4), but for now the 336i is still a fantastic amp. Sadly for me the 336i is still very nice, because when I bought my Woo WA6 (maxed with pseudo dual power supply) the plan was that it would replace the 336i, but I can't bring myself to sell it.
As a matter of fact, I have 7 new 6SN7 tubes to try in it now - if I recall I have a new 1965 tube with light brown base that appears to be a three-hole Bad Boy and tests at 102%, a new JAN CRC RCA 5692 red-base tests at 101%, a tall Sylvania green type from the 1950's at 102%, a Sylvania yellow print type 6SN7GTB that tested at 96%, a ken-rad VT-231, and 2 other that I forget what they are (on mini-vacation, not at home to check). One I think is a 6SN7WGTA.
Basically, the way it is set up, the WA6 "excels" with everything except the Edition 9 which sound only "fair" with the WA6 (Ed 9 too dark with the WA6), and the 336i "excels" with the Edition 9 and D2000 and sounds "great" with everything else except being just "fair" with my Grados (unless I roll tubes as above).
The 336i with the right tubes sounds like a amp twice it's price, and I love it. I have the 336i tuned to sound very good with my D2000 and Edition 9 and HD600 and Yamaha HP-1, using (JAN CRC RCA 6AS7G and Sylvania VT-231). With those tubes it is not as great for my Grado RS-1 and HF-1, making them a little too bright and thin, but I can use a Tung Sol 5998 with Hytron 5692 brown-base and it is great with the Grados.
I just got a couple more pairs of 6DE7 for my WA6, so it may end up being better for my Edition 9 than the 336i with 4 pair of driver tubes to try out (and several GZ34, 5U4G, SAR4), but for now the 336i is still a fantastic amp. Sadly for me the 336i is still very nice, because when I bought my Woo WA6 (maxed with pseudo dual power supply) the plan was that it would replace the 336i, but I can't bring myself to sell it.
As a matter of fact, I have 7 new 6SN7 tubes to try in it now - if I recall I have a new 1965 tube with light brown base that appears to be a three-hole Bad Boy and tests at 102%, a new JAN CRC RCA 5692 red-base tests at 101%, a tall Sylvania green type from the 1950's at 102%, a Sylvania yellow print type 6SN7GTB that tested at 96%, a ken-rad VT-231, and 2 other that I forget what they are (on mini-vacation, not at home to check). One I think is a 6SN7WGTA.
Basically, the way it is set up, the WA6 "excels" with everything except the Edition 9 which sound only "fair" with the WA6 (Ed 9 too dark with the WA6), and the 336i "excels" with the Edition 9 and D2000 and sounds "great" with everything else except being just "fair" with my Grados (unless I roll tubes as above).
Skylab
Reviewerus Prolificus
I've never been too impressed with the RCA 5692, but will love to hear your impressions. I do like the Ken-Rad black-glass VT-231 a LOT though.
nick20
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Those Ken Rad's are the bomb. Excellent BASS tubes.. that's for sure. Well worth their going price.
| Originally Posted by Skylab /img/forum/go_quote.gif I do like the Ken-Rad black-glass VT-231 a LOT though. |
Those Ken Rad's are the bomb. Excellent BASS tubes.. that's for sure. Well worth their going price.
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So how much different will it sound vs my Hytron 5692?
| Originally Posted by Skylab /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've never been too impressed with the RCA 5692, but will love to hear your impressions. I do like the Ken-Rad black-glass VT-231 a LOT though. |
So how much different will it sound vs my Hytron 5692?
nick20
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If I remember correctly, the Hytron 5692 is the best overall sounding 5692, but you'd be better off spending the money on a true 6SN7.
Don't get me wrong, they're nice tubes, but not worth what they're going for today.
-Nick
| Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict /img/forum/go_quote.gif So how much different will it sound vs my Hytron 5692? |
If I remember correctly, the Hytron 5692 is the best overall sounding 5692, but you'd be better off spending the money on a true 6SN7.
Don't get me wrong, they're nice tubes, but not worth what they're going for today.
-Nick
Skylab
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Quote:
My experience was the Hytron 5692 was quite a bit better. But I do prefer 6SN7WGT's and VT-231's over 5692's, generally.
| Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict /img/forum/go_quote.gif So how much different will it sound vs my Hytron 5692? |
My experience was the Hytron 5692 was quite a bit better. But I do prefer 6SN7WGT's and VT-231's over 5692's, generally.
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I only use the Hytron 5692 with my APS re-cabled RS-1 and HF-1, or when I had a pair of stock HFI-780.
I use the VT-231 for everything else. The grey-glass RCA and Sylvania VT-231 sound very similar to me as a brighter crisper sound with punchy bass. The Bad Boy was closer to the VT-231 than the 5692, although it could be a little too airy or etherial at times.
I use the VT-231 for everything else. The grey-glass RCA and Sylvania VT-231 sound very similar to me as a brighter crisper sound with punchy bass. The Bad Boy was closer to the VT-231 than the 5692, although it could be a little too airy or etherial at times.
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I did some brief listening to my new batch of 6SN7 type tubes and equivalents. Using a JAN CRC RCA 6AS7G in the back and listening with my Denon D2000, RS-1 and Yamaha HP-1 orthos, I ranked the 6SN7 types in order of preference.
The last three tubes in my list probably wont get used much, not because they are bad but because I have so many that are better. I decided to save the two Sylvania VT-231 as a backup pair in case I get an amp that uses a pair. I plan to get to know the other tubes like JAN CRC RCA 5692 red-base a little more, and see just how good or bad they really are.
1. The new Bad Boy (3 holes) sounds similar to my other Bad Boy and both of my Sylvania VT-231 and my RCA grey glass VT-231, and is quite nice. They are all open and airy, with crisp highs, warm mids and tight bass. The other Bad Boy I have is the one I posted in February as being a loud hummer after 125 hours of burn-in with slight improvement.
2. The JAN CRC 5692 red base actually sounds pretty nice too, maybe very slightly darker than the Sylvanias, but good bass control and smooth rich mids. I am enjoying this one as I type, and only wish it was a little more transparent like the Sylvanias.
3. The Jan CRC 6SN7WGTA sounds very nice too. Had a hard time deciding between 2nd and 3rd, with slightly less bass control but crisper highs.
4. The tall green print Sylvania 6SN7 sounds good but not as good as the others. Does nothing wrong but also nothing special.
5. The new JAN CKR 6SN7GT VT-231 Ken Rad side getter (not black glass) sounds very nice too, clear and open sounding like my Sylvanias. There seems to be a peak at 250-1000Hz with that I don't like and need to try with more phones, and there is a loud hum in the left channel (maybe why I got this one free). If the hum doesn't go away with burn-in it moves to 7th, and if hum and low mids peak does go away it moves to 4th.
6. The RCA 6SN7 with faded print is nice but nothing special, and mids are a bit too prominent. I got this one free too, as a bonus with the first 4.
7. the GE 6SN7GTB side getter, same as the RCA 6SN7 above. I got this one for free too, as a bonus with the first 4.
The last three tubes in my list probably wont get used much, not because they are bad but because I have so many that are better. I decided to save the two Sylvania VT-231 as a backup pair in case I get an amp that uses a pair. I plan to get to know the other tubes like JAN CRC RCA 5692 red-base a little more, and see just how good or bad they really are.
1. The new Bad Boy (3 holes) sounds similar to my other Bad Boy and both of my Sylvania VT-231 and my RCA grey glass VT-231, and is quite nice. They are all open and airy, with crisp highs, warm mids and tight bass. The other Bad Boy I have is the one I posted in February as being a loud hummer after 125 hours of burn-in with slight improvement.
2. The JAN CRC 5692 red base actually sounds pretty nice too, maybe very slightly darker than the Sylvanias, but good bass control and smooth rich mids. I am enjoying this one as I type, and only wish it was a little more transparent like the Sylvanias.
3. The Jan CRC 6SN7WGTA sounds very nice too. Had a hard time deciding between 2nd and 3rd, with slightly less bass control but crisper highs.
4. The tall green print Sylvania 6SN7 sounds good but not as good as the others. Does nothing wrong but also nothing special.
5. The new JAN CKR 6SN7GT VT-231 Ken Rad side getter (not black glass) sounds very nice too, clear and open sounding like my Sylvanias. There seems to be a peak at 250-1000Hz with that I don't like and need to try with more phones, and there is a loud hum in the left channel (maybe why I got this one free). If the hum doesn't go away with burn-in it moves to 7th, and if hum and low mids peak does go away it moves to 4th.
6. The RCA 6SN7 with faded print is nice but nothing special, and mids are a bit too prominent. I got this one free too, as a bonus with the first 4.
7. the GE 6SN7GTB side getter, same as the RCA 6SN7 above. I got this one for free too, as a bonus with the first 4.
Skylab
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Great post, Larry, and some nice tubes!
nick20
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I know there's more 336i owners out there!! Come on, don't be shy. Let's discuss tubes...
-Nick
-Nick
pataburd
Headphoneus Supremus
O.K. Let's hear it for the Mullard 6080! : ) Anyone else tried and liked these power tubes?
nick20
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I have not, nor do I think many people have. How do they sound in regards to a TS5998?
-Nick
| Originally Posted by pataburd /img/forum/go_quote.gif O.K. Let's hear it for the Mullard 6080! : ) Anyone else tried and liked these power tubes? |
I have not, nor do I think many people have. How do they sound in regards to a TS5998?
-Nick
bobby001
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I ordered a Mullard 6080 but still waiting for it
bobby001
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Can I use RCA 5691 6SL7G in the DV336i ?
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