[Deceneu808]

Absolutely. I also have the same Svetlana Winged C. Where (in my opinion) The Svetlana is open, airy, bright, wider soundstage, the Mullard from what I remember, is warm, full, rich mids. I do miss that tube, had to sell it off a while ago. But @JKDJedi can speak better to this, having owned both currently.

Somebody needs to school me a bit since I'm new to tubes. What is the purpose of the little driver tube and the big power tube. Also what is a rectifier tube ? I currently own a Tung Sol 6SN7GTB tube and a Psvane UK-6SN7. Let's hope they live a happy life with the Mullard lol

 

[JKDJedi]

Somebody needs to school me a bit since I'm new to tubes. What is the purpose of the little driver tube and the big power tube. Also what is a rectifier tube ? I currently own a Tung Sol 6SN7GTB tube and a Psvane UK-6SN7. Let's hope they live a happy life with the Mullard lol

@bcowen ? Little help?

 

[therremans]

Absolutely. I also have the same Svetlana Winged C. Where (in my opinion) The Svetlana is open, airy, bright, wider soundstage, the Mullard from what I remember, is warm, full, rich mids. I do miss that tube, had to sell it off a while ago. But @JKDJedi can speak better to this, having owned both currently.

Also @JKDJedi, how does the Mullard 6080 compare to a Chatham 6080WA?

I wanted to add that the Chatham was a surprise for me and I go back to it often. It does have a nice full sound and I’m thinking mullard will be even fuller and warmer.

 

[JKDJedi]

Somebody needs to school me a bit since I'm new to tubes. What is the purpose of the little driver tube and the big power tube. Also what is a rectifier tube ? I currently own a Tung Sol 6SN7GTB tube and a Psvane UK-6SN7. Let's hope they live a happy life with the Mullard lol

I'll share the little that I know, the driver tube amplifies the weak input signal of the dac, not sure if the power tube elevates it some more.. or cleans it up a bit more..both? and the rectifier tube is used on amps that don't do the ac to dc conversion via the transformer like the Darkvoice does, did I get it right @bcowen ?

 

[JKDJedi]

Also @JKDJedi, how does the Mullard 6080 compare to a Chatham 6080WA?

I wanted to add that the Chatham was a surprise for me and I go back to it often. It does have a nice full sound and I’m thinking mullard will be even fuller and warmer.

Not as warm as the Chatham, Chatham was touch n go for me at the beginning, on the right amp, it's amazing. Mullards are more rounded, warm even tone, not overly forward,laid back, same as Chatham, only Chatham is a very warm tube, some might nt like it on the DArkvoice.

 

[bcowen]

Can I expect a difference between the Mullard and my Svetlana 6AS7GA ?

Yes. Big time.

 

[bcowen]

I'll share the little that I know, the driver tube amplifies the weak input signal of the dac, not sure if the power tube elevates it some more.. or cleans it up a bit more..both? and the rectifier tube is used on amps that don't do the ac to dc conversion via the transformer like the Darkvoice does, did I get it right @bcowen ?

Well, kind of a little somewhat. The Darkvoice is technically an integrated amp, in that it contains both the pre-amp and the power amp of a typical audio system. The driver tube (or 6SN7) is the preamp tube that takes the output of the DAC (or CD player, or tuner, or whatever) and increases the signal level to an appropriate level for the power tube (the 6AS7, 6080, 5998. etc). In any audio system, you wouldn't connect a DAC directly to a (pure) power amp -- you'd use a preamplifier in between, which not only increases the signal level to the power amp, but also provides the volume control and switching ability for multiple inputs (again..DAC, CD player, tuner, phono stage, etc). The Darkvoice just performs both those functions in one box.

In an audio component, a rectifier converts AC to DC. The transformer doesn't do this -- the transformer only steps down (or up) the AC voltage coming in from the wall outlet. Before silicon devices were invented (diodes, transistors, etc) this rectification was always done by a tube (or tubes). The Darkvoice, along with the majority of audio components today, use a (silicon) diode bridge to perform the rectification due mostly to the fact it's very cheap to implement, takes very little space, and is quite reliable. Some people (like me) still think tube rectification sounds better, and there are still products made today that use tube rectifiers, just that they tend to exist only in much higher priced components.

That help any? Oversimplified to be sure, but hopefully gets the idea(s) across.

 

[SHIMACM]

Can I expect a difference between the Mullard and my Svetlana 6AS7GA ? This was my last budget for 2020. I was between a HD600 or a pair of speakers and a tube lol

I prefer the Mullard 6080 over the Tung-Sol 5998. I have both. Mullard is in a league well above the Svetlena that I also own. Even RCA 6as7g is better than Svetlana. Of course, this is just my humble opinion. After all my ears. Enjoy while the Mullard can be found at a reasonable price.

 

[SHIMACM]

Of the driver tubes with adapters already tested by you, could you build a ranking of the three best?

Nobody risks? With the dollar being 6 to 1 for the real, you can't buy several to try.

 

[therremans]

Trigger pulled.

 

[SHIMACM]

Trigger pulled.

You will not regret! good bargain!

 

[therremans]

Nobody risks? With the dollar being 6 to 1 for the real, you can't buy several to try.

On how much of a budget? So much depends on what you like. My top picks with adapters are the Zenith 6J5G, Tung-Sol 6F8G (or 6C8G depending on power tube), GEC L63 6J5G

The NU 7193s and the 7a4 sound nice, if you like a very analytical sound. They’re also cheap. Many bargains to be had.. 6C8Gs, Sylvania 6J5GT (black round plate) and Raytheon 6J5GT (black ladders) sound very nice for the money. Hope that helps.

 

[SHIMACM]

Looking at the Mullard you bought, it is a little different from mine. Yours is smooth on the bottom plate, while mine is toothed. I don't know if there will be a difference in the sound.

 

[SHIMACM]

On how much of a budget? So much depends on what you like. My top picks with adapters are the Zenith 6J5G, Tung-Sol 6F8G (or 6C8G depending on power tube), GEC L63 6J5G

The NU 7193s and the 7a4 sound nice, if you like a very analytical sound. They’re also cheap. Many bargains to be had.. 6C8Gs, Sylvania 6J5GT (black round plate) and Raytheon 6J5GT (black ladders) sound very nice for the money. Hope that helps.

I like the sound more focused on the hot and lush side. My first generation T1 needs this. More not in excess.

 

[JKDJedi]

Looking at the Mullard you bought, it is a little different from mine. Yours is smooth on the bottom plate, while mine is toothed. I don't know if there will be a difference in the sound.

You got me curious now... I'm gonna like at mine right now soon as I get home (lunch time)