[Xenophon]

  For the longest time I was using 7236 and I just changed to RCA 6AS7G, gain is lower but the BASS is much much better. Overall I feel it owns the 7236.
Is this findings similar for you guys?

What I found with my amp (DV 337) is that the bass on the 7236 doesn't reach as deep and sounds spatially more compressed than with the RCA 6AS7G (if that description makes sense to you).  Wether it owns the 7236 depends on your tastes I guess, with classical instrumental I prefer the 7236, more finesse and detail in the mids *imo*.
 
Your post gave me the perfect excuse to give my 7236 a listen

 

[adeadcrab]

RCA 6AS7G and the Tung Sol 5998 are the most talked about in this thread. Good to know you like them as I am waiting on the same tubes.

What input tubes do you use?

 

[hifimanrookie]

RCA 6AS7G and the Tung Sol 5998 are the most talked about in this thread. Good to know you like them as I am waiting on the same tubes.


What input tubes do you use?

Tung sol sj7gt meshplates and rca5693 red hots are regarded good input tubes...the meshplates especially match well with the ts 5998... For planars! I used that pair in my modded 337 ( now property of xenophon) with my modded he500...perfect pairing....
Or try my second best favorite..the bendix 6080WB graphite plates (slotted)..

 

[Xenophon]

  RCA 6AS7G and the Tung Sol 5998 are the most talked about in this thread. Good to know you like them as I am waiting on the same tubes.

What input tubes do you use?

For the input tubes I currently use TS 6SJ7GT (mesh plates).  But I'm lazy and for some reason I don't rotate them half as much as the power tubes while they arguably could have an equal or maybe even greater influence on the sound you hear; but I'll leave it at that; there are probably people who could draw up a table with sound descriptions between the various permutations of input/power tubes and more power to them but if I were to try I'd start feeling like a sham voodoo priest.
 
In 9 cases out of 10, when doing a blind A/B with power tubes, people will select the one that has higher gain, all other factors remaining equal. It's the way the brain works, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYTlN6wjcvQ

 

[snip3r77]

What I found with my amp (DV 337) is that the bass on the 7236 doesn't reach as deep and sounds spatially more compressed than with the RCA 6AS7G (if that description makes sense to you).  Wether it owns the 7236 depends on your tastes I guess, with classical instrumental I prefer the 7236, more finesse and detail in the mids *imo*.

Your post gave me the perfect excuse to give my 7236 a listen

The bass for 7236 sounds punchy and fast. The RCA 6as7 has more bloom and probably it sounds more full.

 

[snip3r77]

RCA 6AS7G and the Tung Sol 5998 are the most talked about in this thread. Good to know you like them as I am waiting on the same tubes.


What input tubes do you use?

As per hifimanrookie, I'm using noth Tung sol sj7gt meshplates and rca5693 red hots. In future might want to try EFs with a converter from Yuking.

 

[snip3r77]

Currently using HE-500, may I know which headphones that I should be looking at if I were to stick with this amp? Upgrade not sidegrade.
I felt HE-560 might be a sidegrade. Maybe Audeze?

 

[Xenophon]

  Currently using HE-500, may I know which headphones that I should be looking at if I were to stick with this amp? Upgrade not sidegrade.
I felt HE-560 might be a sidegrade. Maybe Audeze?

Next to unanswerable imo:  what type of sound do you prefer and how much are you willing to spend?  The 339 is said (I own a 337) to have a warm sound, in combination with  warm sounding headphones that may or may not become too much, depending on your taste, it's strictly subjective and de gustibus et coloribus non est disputandum....  One more objective parameter might be the headphone's impedance; it doesn't really play for planars but for dynamic cans you might want to avoid very low impedance headphones.
 
I like my 337 with the HE-500 for instance but for my taste and music (classical) that's about as warm as I want to go, I tried an LCD-3 (on a neutral sounding ss amp) and for me that was too dark.  The DV/La Figaro amps play very nice with the HD-800 imo, that's in technical terms definitely an upgrade, the 337 (and the 339 presumably more so) brings down the treble and extreme (sometimes too much) detail a bit and they hit my sweet spot.  If output power were higher the HE-6 would be on my list too but power specs and sensitivity of those being what they are, it's not a great combo.
 
The best but disappointing answer to your question is imo that you'll just have to go out and try to audition as much as possible, what works for someone might not be what you want.

 

[adeadcrab]

  Currently using HE-500, may I know which headphones that I should be looking at if I were to stick with this amp?

Sennheiser 650 and Audeze LCD-2 have been mentioned as sounding good on this amp, regardless of the LF darker sound. Don't have any recommendations for you though.

Also: are rusted contacts on tubes ok for use with the LF? 

 

[Ultrainferno]

 
Sennheiser 650 and Audeze LCD-2 have been mentioned as sounding good on this amp, regardless of the LF darker sound. Don't have any recommendations for you though.

Also: are rusted contacts on tubes ok for use with the LF? 

 
always clean that off before.

 

[snip3r77]

I would like to have you guys opinion on what "works" with this amp. Of course I will definitely go and audit it before purchase.
 
This list would probably assist me on my quest for the upgrade.
 
1) HE560 ( not sure if it's just a different flavor )
2) HD800
3) The Auduzes ? ( LCD 3 ? LCD X ? ) Is the 15ohm pose a problem to the LF 339 ?
4) Anything else?

 

[hifimanrookie]

I would like to have you guys opinion on what "works" with this amp. Of course I will definitely go and audit it before purchase.

This list would probably assist me on my quest for the upgrade.

1) HE560 (not sure if it's just a different flavor )
2) HD800
3) The Auduzes ? ( LCD 3 ? LCD X ? ) Is the 15ohm pose a problem to the LF 339 ?
4) Anything else?

What i tried and heared myself on the 337 i had:

Good pairing:
He500 (didnt hear the he560 with the 337 i had)
Hd800
Hd650

Not so good:
Lcd 2.2, lcd3

 

[Ultrainferno]

  I would like to have you guys opinion on what "works" with this amp. Of course I will definitely go and audit it before purchase.
 
This list would probably assist me on my quest for the upgrade.
 
1) HE560 ( not sure if it's just a different flavor )
2) HD800
3) The Auduzes ? ( LCD 3 ? LCD X ? ) Is the 15ohm pose a problem to the LF 339 ?
4) Anything else?

 
1. yes, I have it. Good match but the HE500 is even better.
2. Don't have it but it is a great match with the 300Ohm HD600 and 650 which I have
3. With the right tubes an ok match with the LCD2/3. Great match with the LCD XC. I have them
4. I love the 339 with Beyerdynamic headphones. I have the DT770/990/COP/T70/T90

 

[snip3r77]

1. yes, I have it. Good match but the HE500 is even better.
>> can you pls explain more on this He500 is even better? Did you use the new Hifiman pads or Jergpads?
my gut feel also tells me the HE560 is just a different flavor and just a sidegrade

2. Don't have it but it is a great match with the 300Ohm HD600 and 650 which I have
>> For HD650 I guess it could be just a sidegrade for me.

3. With the right tubes an ok match with the LCD2/3. Great match with the LCD XC. I have them
>> That really throws back the Audeze into my pick list since all of them are quite similar in specs.
LCD3 <<-- this would be easiest to drive?
Impedance 110 ohms
Efficiency 93dB / 1mW

LCDXC / C <<-- This would be OK too since you're musing it already.
Impedance 20 ohms
Efficiency 95dB / 1mW

LCD2
Impedance 70 ohms <<-- This would be OK too.
Efficiency 93dB / 1mW

Just wondering what tubes are you using?

4. I love the 339 with Beyerdynamic headphones. I have the DT770/990/COP/T70/T90
>> The 990 is quite cheap over at AMZ. Should I include the T1 Tesla to the equation?

Out of so many headphones, which one do you pick up the most? And which one you use for which music genre?

Apologize for so many questions. Happy Friday!

 

[Ultrainferno]

Answers below!
 
Quote:

1. yes, I have it. Good match but the HE500 is even better. -> Use 6AS7G and 6SJ7GT or EF80
>> can you pls explain more on this He500 is even better? Did you use the new Hifiman pads or Jergpads? -> Hifiman Velour. The 339 and HE500 is more magical and smooth sounding than the HE560
my gut feel also tells me the HE560 is just a different flavor and just a sidegrade -> the 560 is completely different

2. Don't have it but it is a great match with the 300Ohm HD600 and 650 which I have
>> For HD650 I guess it could be just a sidegrade for me.

3. With the right tubes an ok match with the LCD2/3. Great match with the LCD XC. I have them
>> That really throws back the Audeze into my pick list since all of them are quite similar in specs.
LCD3 <<-- this would be easiest to drive? -> the XC and X are easiest to drive in theory
Impedance 110 ohms
Efficiency 93dB / 1mW

LCDXC / C <<-- This would be OK too since you're musing it already. -> XC is awesome on almost all amps
Impedance 20 ohms
Efficiency 95dB / 1mW

LCD2
Impedance 70 ohms <<-- This would be OK too. -> Use 6AS7G or 5998 with Red Hots
Efficiency 93dB / 1mW

Just wondering what tubes are you using? -> See above

4. I love the 339 with Beyerdynamic headphones. I have the DT770/990/COP/T70/T90
>> The 990 is quite cheap over at AMZ. Should I include the T1 Tesla to the equation? - I really hate the T1

Out of so many headphones, which one do you pick up the most? And which one you use for which music genre? - I mostly use the LCD XC and HE-400i nowadays at home with the V281 amp. It changes a lot though

Apologize for so many questions. Happy Friday!