My next loaner amp will be Spalted maple and Purple Heart. I am in the very early stages of the build. It will be heading to Vermont then a couple stops in California. Most likely with a Svetlana power tube and I may grab a couple more Melz so I can sample those to folks.
You're a good man, Tom. Not bringing up the recent deportation of Bill's mail-order bride was definitely the right thing to do, despite Bill being the one to turn her in.
I don't know. That really does look almost exactly like Bill's Mazda RX-8. The only thing missing is the mixed puddle of coolant and oil underneath. **
** I believe I've hit my quota of Bill jabs, so I will refrain from any more until tomorrow. Bill's assigned jab quota has a pretty high per jab fee for going over the monthly plan's limits.
Actually, that's about the only thing that actually *is* missing IRL. I have new plugs, new ignition coils, new spark plug wires, a new starter, a new SSV solenoid, and a new catalytic converter all laying on the floor in the garage just waiting on the motivation to put them in. The SSV is giving me a check engine light. But is it the solenoid that's gone bad, or the valve itself that's stuck? Tear apart one half of the engine to get to one, and the other half to get to the other. Grrrrrr. Oh, and I need to get my Takata airbags replaced, but unfortunately there's not a Mazda dealer within 200 miles that I'd trust to even pull my car into one of their service bays. They're all total crooks and mostly incompetent. On the bright side, my monthly car payment remains at $0. LOL!
Actually, that's about the only thing that actually *is* missing IRL. I have new plugs, new ignition coils, new spark plug wires, a new starter, a new SSV solenoid, and a new catalytic converter all laying on the floor in the garage just waiting on the motivation to put them in. The SSV is giving me a check engine light. But is it the solenoid that's gone bad, or the valve itself that's stuck? Tear apart one half of the engine to get to one, and the other half to get to the other. Grrrrrr. Oh, and I need to get my Takata airbags replaced, but unfortunately there's not a Mazda dealer within 200 miles that I'd trust to even pull my car into one of their service bays. They're all total crooks and mostly incompetent. On the bright side, my monthly car payment remains at $0. LOL!
I don't know. That really does look almost exactly like Bill's Mazda RX-8. The only thing missing is the mixed puddle of coolant and oil underneath. **
** I believe I've hit my quota of Bill jabs, so I will refrain from any more until tomorrow. Bill's assigned jab quota has a pretty high per jab fee for going over the monthly plan's limits.
Ok. After doing some direct comparison between Tung-Sol 5998 and GE 5998A, my thoughts are as follows...
1. It's REALLY close!
2. 5998A is a tiny bit rolled off on the top-end. 5998 has a bit more sparkle up top.
3. Mids seem a tiny bit better on the 5998A. Not sure if it's a tad more forward or just has a touch more detail and clarity. I'm hearing a tiny bit more subtleties with the 5998A over the 5998.
4. The 5998 seems to be a bit more open and airy giving instruments just a tad more space and air. 5998A is still good, but the 5998 just seems better.
5. The 5998A definitely delivers more punch and energy on the bottom-end. Despite this, bass remains well controlled and does not really impart a tubby or thickness to the sound. The 5998A bass extends deep and is very well balanced even with the slight top-end roll-off.
6. My sample was very quiet and exhibited no issues
In my opinion the 5998A is a very good tube and what I would call a 'sleeper' given the sound at the price. It's a tremendous value delivering 95%+ of the 5998 for approx. 1/5 the price. The 5998 just slightly edges it out in my opinion due to the slightly wider soundstage and air.
The review by @Ripper2860 of the GE 5998a is one of the most “hit the bullseye” that I have read. Based on that review, I have been trying the 5998a joined by Amperex PQ 7308s in a Woo WA3. Bass is DEEP, fulsome, and detailed; midrange has dimensional body, occupies space in a convincing manner; treble is extended with airiness and no stridency. Overall soundstaging is excellent with easily discernible space between instruments / singers. I think that the 5998a / PQ 7308 grouping is serendipitous indeed!
The review by @Ripper2860 of the GE 5998a is one of the most “hit the bullseye” that I have read. Based on that review, I have been trying the 5998a joined by Amperex PQ 7308s in a Woo WA3. Bass is DEEP, fulsome, and detailed; midrange has dimensional body, occupies space in a convincing manner; treble is extended with airiness and no stridency. Overall soundstaging is excellent with easily discernible space between instruments / singers. I think that the 5998a / PQ 7308 grouping is serendipitous indeed!
Except that I rarely use the word serendipitous I agree with your assessment. more and more people are trying this tube and it is holding its own. One day Sacha Baron Cowen needs to jump on board and give it his blessing so we are all in agreement lol.
Except that I rarely use the word serendipitous I agree with your assessment. more and more people are trying this tube and it is holding its own. One day Sacha Baron Cowen needs to jump on board and give it his blessing so we are all in agreement lol.
The review by @Ripper2860 of the GE 5998a is one of the most “hit the bullseye” that I have read. Based on that review, I have been trying the 5998a joined by Amperex PQ 7308s in a Woo WA3. Bass is DEEP, fulsome, and detailed; midrange has dimensional body, occupies space in a convincing manner; treble is extended with airiness and no stridency. Overall soundstaging is excellent with easily discernible space between instruments / singers. I think that the 5998a / PQ 7308 grouping is serendipitous indeed!
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