List Your RSA B52 Tubes

[vcoheda]

the 7316s are excellent - very well could be the best 12AU7 tube.

i really like the 12BH7s too. after doing some reading, the best 12BH7s seem to be the RCA, Tung-Sol, GE and Brimar. i have the RCA and Tung-Sol. has anyone heard the Brimar or GE? looking to get a pair, esp the Brimar.

 

[vcoheda]

picked up some 12BH7A GEs. very solid tube. the 12BH7s are very reasonably priced tubes. if your amp can handle them, definitely worth a try.

 

[audiosceptic]

I've been on a tube buying spree lately for my B52. My latest purchase was a pair of Amperex 7316 PQ which I'm listening to now. Definitely brighter than the Telefunken I was using. Maybe too bright. I'll listen more and decide.

I've also picked up a pair of NOS Mullard CV4003 and a pair of RCA 12BH7A. Those will go in next.

My B52 tube list is:

4 RCA 5687 bronze plate (driver)
8 Sylvania branded Tung-Sol 5687WB (driver)
4 Philips ECG 5687WB (stock driver)
2 Amperex 7316 PQ (input)
4 Raytheon 12BH7A (input)
2 RCA 12BH7A (input)
2 Mullard CV4003 (input)
2 Artesian branded Telefunken 12AU7 (input)
2 RCA black plate 12AU7 (input)
2 Sylvania JAN 6189W (stock input)
4 Telefunken 12AX7 (preamp)
3 Fisher branded Mullard 12AX7 (preamp)
2 Sylvania 5751 (stock preamp)

OK I'm done buying now....

 

[shaizada]

audiosceptic,

can you share some thoughts on your favourite tube selections? Just curious about your experience with different combos.

Thanks!

 

[audiosceptic]

Give me two weeks to really test these tubes. Surprisingly after my very brief listening sessions I prefer the Telefunken input and preamp with the RCA bronze plates as driver. Man that Amperex 7316 is bright (or detailed, I can't figure out which yet).

 

[olblueyez]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audiosceptic /img/forum/go_quote.gif Give me two weeks to really test these tubes. Surprisingly after my very brief listening sessions I prefer the Telefunken input and preamp with the RCA bronze plates as driver. Man that Amperex 7316 is bright (or detailed, I can't figure out which yet).

If you want a super nice set of drivers to smooth out the Telefunkens then look for some Sylvania GB Gold Pin 5687's. That will do the trick. They seem to work real well with some of my tubes that border on "Bright" or "Etched".

 

[shaizada]

Ok, I've picked up some tubes. It's hard to find a nice matched pairs and quads...but so rewarding

Picked up:
- RCA 12BH7A Grey Plates (pair)
- GE 12BH7A (pair)
- 2 pairs of Sylvania 12BH7A (1 cryoed set and 1 non-cryo)
- Phillips Miniwatt E80CC (pair)
- NOS Telefunken 1960s smooth plate 12au7 (matched pair from tubemonger.com)

Still need to get a pair of RCA 12BH7 black plates, Amperex 7316, Siemens E80CC and some NOS Mullards.

Current combination of Phillips Miniwatt E80CC (gain), Tungsol Black plates D getter 5687 (headphone drivers), Amperex 7062 (preamp section) is absolutely stunning sounding.

 

[olblueyez]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaizada /img/forum/go_quote.gif Ok, I've picked up some tubes. It's hard to find a nice matched pairs and quads...but so rewarding Picked up: - RCA 12BH7A Grey Plates (pair) - GE 12BH7A (pair) - 2 pairs of Sylvania 12BH7A (1 cryoed set and 1 non-cryo) - Phillips Miniwatt E80CC (pair) - NOS Telefunken 1960s smooth plate 12au7 (matched pair from tubemonger.com) Still need to get a pair of RCA 12BH7 black plates, Amperex 7316, Siemens E80CC and some NOS Mullards. Current combination of Phillips Miniwatt E80CC (gain), Tungsol Black plates D getter 5687 (headphone drivers), Amperex 7062 (preamp section) is absolutely stunning sounding.

The Telefunken smooth plates will sound great with your smoothest driver. That is currently my favorite. Got some long plate Mullards comming so that may change.

 

[shaizada]

^
Where is a good place to get the Mullard long plates from? Which vintage is a good one to look out for and what kind of prices should I expect? Thanks!

 

[olblueyez]

Read up on the different types here www.TubeWorld.com and when you decide what you want (The square getter seems to draw more attention than the others) then start looking for "ECC82 Mullard long" at eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices. I am still awaiting my first set, they are "O" or "D" getter, I got the used set for 55 bucks. Expect to pay high prices if they are NOS and the labels are lookin pretty. Its like you will need to either have patience or lots of money to get some.

 

[shaizada]

^ Gees...these tubes definitely need patience or large sums of money!

 

[Fafner]

Today I received my pair of TFK ECC802S...although I got recommended to let them break-in for about 40hours, I couldn't resist to try them out right from the start. The improvements in detail and sounstage are already apparent and I guess they can only improve further. I'm already hearing things I never noticed before. Actually I'm thinking about getting another pair for the preamp section before they become as hard to find (and expensive) as the Genalex B749, even if I'm not rly using my B52 as preamp that much. So far they seem to pair superbly with my HD650, I hope they will pair as good with the HD800.
I'm still waiting for the quad matched Tung Sol Black Plate set.

I'll post further impressions after the break-in period and after I'll replace the stock tubes with the TS.
Thinking about getting a pair of CV491 Mullard Long Plates D-shaped square Getters, just to have a warmer alternative for the gain section. What are your opinions about them considering that I'm listening 99.9% classical, orchestral music? IMHO, more neutral tubes like the TFKs are maybe the better way, but it's a matter of taste...


Edit: I'm at around 15 hours...it's getting better and better. I can see why Ray does recommend Telefunkens for his amps, such increased detail! A shame he can't stock them with these tubes, but it's obvious it's impossible. I should have the Tung-Sol 5687 in a pair of days.

 

[Fafner]

The Tung Sol Black Plate 5687 quad set has arrived, and it seems to cope superbly with the ECC 802S. Amazing detail and soundstage, a superb airy sound even is the most intricate passages, and no harshness at all (at least on the HD650). However, the main improvements have come from the 12AU7. The 5687 just seem to have finetuned the whole. Thinking about getting another quad set as spare set, before prices go up and availability goes down. As for the 802S, I'll keep an eye should a NOS/NIB pair pop up somewhere (the pair I got was NIB and looking at prices around I think I was quite lucky); anyways the should last a long time.
The TFKs rly have given the HD650 an almost Gradoish sense of detail, but without making it fatiguing at all.

 

[shaizada]

Picked up some very nice Siemens/Tungsram E80CC tubes which definitely have most of the 12au7 beat. Solid sounding top to bottom with extemely live 3D sound. Using mainly in preamp setup in gain stages. Preamp driver is Phillips Miniwatt E80CC.

Simens Germany Matched Pair BUNDESWEHR tubes

Phillips Miniwatt/Amperex Holland gold pins

 

[Fafner]

Quote:

Originally Posted by olblueyez /img/forum/go_quote.gif If you want a super nice set of drivers to smooth out the Telefunkens then look for some Sylvania GB Gold Pin 5687's. That will do the trick. They seem to work real well with some of my tubes that border on "Bright" or "Etched".

These Sylvanias seem to be insanely hard to find atm. No vendor site I looked at seems to have them in stock. Sometimes some pairs pop up on ebay, but there's never the possibility of getting 2 pairs to form a quad-set.
Unbelievable as it is, before even getting a chance to find these, I was able to get a NOS pair of...well, I'll wait till they get to me before posting. Two very high caliber 12au7 pairs incoming.