[therremans]

Awesome thanks. I guess I should have stated that I am trying to push my 6xx to a big sound stage. I want to feel like im at a concert with them and have been reading that the right tubes can do just that.

HD6XXs aren’t really known for having much of a soundstage. It’s a front + center kind of sound. What’s your budget? If you just want to get going, I think this certain RCA has a great vocal quality for the money. And here’s a low priced power tube. RCA 6SN7, Sylvania 6AS7G.

I have more suggestions but they’re 6J5Gs

 

[therremans]

 

[bcowen]

Sweet! I see the BAF's (big @ss feet) have arrived. Look nice!

But it also appears you're keeping secrets from us. What is that philips-head screw on the side holding in place?

 

[Slade01]

But it also appears you're keeping secrets from us. What is that philips-head screw on the side holding in place?

My money is on either 1. He's starting to mount side fans inside for MORE airflow! or 2. it's a screw to help secure some bracket holding some big @ss capacitors and stuff (flex capacitor level 1.21 jiggawatts type stuff)

 

[therremans]

Sweet! I see the BAF's (big @ss feet) have arrived. Look nice!

But it also appears you're keeping secrets from us. What is that philips-head screw on the side holding in place?

They’re temporary supports for the interior component plate since one of my screws broke clean off with hardly any pressure. It was awhile ago. There was some flex when inserting tubes. Now it’s solid. Once the amp is torn apart, i’m going to attempt to repair/replace the original threaded tube or I’ll just replace these side supports with something else.

 

[kylebucksot]

HD6XXs aren’t really known for having much of a soundstage. It’s a front + center kind of sound. What’s your budget? If you just want to get going, I think this certain RCA has a great vocal quality for the money. And here’s a low priced power tube. RCA 6SN7, Sylvania 6AS7G.

I have more suggestions but they’re 6J5Gs

Perfect thanks for the recommendations. picked those up to start my journey.

 

[therremans]

Perfect thanks for the recommendations. picked those up to start my journey.

I also like these power tubes for the cost. Thomson 6080WA, it won't go as deep as that 6AS7G but will have a tighter low end and a much more transparent high end. More neutral than the RCA or Sylvania 6AS7G. It's the best 6080 for the money hands down. At these prices owning a few different power tubes could be a good idea.

 

[bcowen]

Today's roll. These Hytron round plate 7A4's are surprising me...with the TS 5998, bass is just hammer-city. And wide, wide, wide soundstage.

@kylebucksot -- I consistently get a wider soundstage with single triode tubes in the driver position compared to any dual triode tube. Not always deeper, but almost always wider. With these 7A4's, the sound is 6 feet outside the ear cups (estimated ). Adapter(s) needed obviously. 6J5's and 6C5's use the same adapter...a different one is needed for 7A4's as they have a loctal base. The neat thing with many of these single triodes is that even with the cost of an adapter factored in and the fact you need two tubes instead of one they can be had for less money than many of the top tier 6SN7's.

 

[DeweyCH]

A story of horror and relief in just two images:

 

[Galapac]

A story of horror and relief in just two images:

But they were great in T.V.’s, lol!

 

[bcowen]

A story of horror and relief in just two images:

ROFL!!

 

[JKDJedi]

A story of horror and relief in just two images:

 

[JKDJedi]

Today's roll. These Hytron round plate 7A4's are surprising me...with the TS 5998, bass is just hammer-city. And wide, wide, wide soundstage.

@kylebucksot -- I consistently get a wider soundstage with single triode tubes in the driver position compared to any dual triode tube. Not always deeper, but almost always wider. With these 7A4's, the sound is 6 feet outside the ear cups (estimated ). Adapter(s) needed obviously. 6J5's and 6C5's use the same adapter...a different one is needed for 7A4's as they have a loctal base. The neat thing with many of these single triodes is that even with the cost of an adapter factored in and the fact you need two tubes instead of one they can be had for less money than many of the top tier 6SN7's.

7A4 are sweet. I'll have to try that 5998 pairing.

 

[therremans]

Sylvania 7A4 (black plates) + Tung-Sol 5998

High detail retrieval, tight low end, articulate soundstage, lacking some lower midrange and depth, the high end is warm, smooth and clean (vs. crisp and resolving). Vocals are a little shallow and one-dimensional. Pretty nice unique sounding tubes for the money. I don't know what I paid for the pair but I remember it being around $10.

 

[bcowen]

Sylvania 7A4 (black plates) + Tung-Sol 5998

High detail retrieval, tight low end, articulate soundstage, lacking some lower midrange and depth, the high end is warm, smooth and clean (vs. crisp and resolving). Vocals are a little shallow and one-dimensional. Pretty nice unique sounding tubes for the money. I don't know what I paid for the pair but I remember it being around $10.

I have several different brands of the 7A4's (Sylvania 7A4's and some VT-192 designated, Tung Sol, Hytron, and yes...even GE, although lacking dots so unlikely made by GE). All have round plates that look to be pretty much identical as far as size, shape, holes, welding, etc. The plate color varies from shiny black to a matte black to a shiny dark brown. Some variances in the micas too -- some rectangular, some a 3/4 circle. All are top getter, and with the flashing covering up the entire top of the bottle I'm unable to see the getter shape in any of them. It's possible that all these tubes were only made by couple manufacturers like the 7N7 that was (as best I can tell) made only by Sylvania and National Union, regardless of the external branding.

Love the bass and the 'staging with these regardless of the plate details. The Hytron branded ones have the shiny dark brown plates and have more extension and presence in the treble than the shiny black plate Sylvanias. The Sylvania's treble is a bit too polite and laid back for the HD-6XX's for my tastes, but could be a nice match with a 'phone where a little taming up top would be a welcome thing.