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Little Dot I+ Tube Rolling
Mar 16, 2017 at 5:21 AM Post #3,001 of 3,154
Here are some notes I made on tube families when I first got my LD. Not pretty, but might help:

EF95
6JI, WE403A/B, M8100, CV4010, EF95, 6AK5
EF95/5654/CV4010/M8100/6096/403A/B/6J1 (Stock)
EF95 = 6AK5 = 6j1p = 6096 = 6F32V = 6F32 = 5654 = 6ZH1P = M8100= 403A
EF95 6J38P-EV, 6BE6* (6BE6W, EK90, 5750/5760?, CV4012), 6BY6* and 6CS6 (EH90), 6HM5, 6HA5, EC900
Miniature-7-Pin-Base RF miniature pentode, 6.3V heater

408A
6028
Miniatur-7-Pin-Base B7G, 20V, 50mA heater

EF92
(EF91 = 6AM6 = Z77 = 6F12 = 8D3 = N79 = CV138 = 6064 = M8083 = CV4014)
(EF92 = 6CQ6 = W77 = 6F21 = 9D6 = CV131 = 6065 = M8161 = CV4015)
EF92 6BY6* (E91H, 5915, 6687 EH900S, EH960, EH91H), 6BE6*,6CB6, 6DK6, 6EW6, 6GM6, 6GY6, 6DT6
Miniature-7-Pin-Base B7G, 6.3V heater

*These are very unique tubes in that they can be used in either the EF95 setting or the EF92 setting. In the EF95 setting, the bass is stronger. In the EF92 setting, the frequency spectrum is shifted a bit more to the mids and treble.
 
Mar 16, 2017 at 9:14 AM Post #3,002 of 3,154
barndoor said:
Here are some notes I made on tube families when I first got my LD. Not pretty, but might help:

EF95
6JI, WE403A/B, M8100, CV4010, EF95, 6AK5
EF95/5654/CV4010/M8100/6096/403A/B/6J1 (Stock)
EF95 = 6AK5 = 6j1p = 6096 = 6F32V = 6F32 = 5654 = 6ZH1P = M8100= 403A
EF95 6J38P-EV, 6BE6* (6BE6W, EK90, 5750/5760?, CV4012), 6BY6* and 6CS6 (EH90), 6HM5, 6HA5, EC900
Miniature-7-Pin-Base RF miniature pentode, 6.3V heater

408A
6028
Miniatur-7-Pin-Base B7G, 20V, 50mA heater

EF92
(EF91 = 6AM6 = Z77 = 6F12 = 8D3 = N79 = CV138 = 6064 = M8083 = CV4014)
(EF92 = 6CQ6 = W77 = 6F21 = 9D6 = CV131 = 6065 = M8161 = CV4015)
EF92 6BY6* (E91H, 5915, 6687 EH900S, EH960, EH91H), 6BE6*,6CB6, 6DK6, 6EW6, 6GM6, 6GY6, 6DT6
Miniature-7-Pin-Base B7G, 6.3V heater

*These are very unique tubes in that they can be used in either the EF95 setting or the EF92 setting. In the EF95 setting, the bass is stronger. In the EF92 setting, the frequency spectrum is shifted a bit more to the mids and treble.
Click to expand...

Thank you! Much appreciated! 
 
Mar 16, 2017 at 3:36 PM Post #3,003 of 3,154
barndoor said:
Here are some notes I made on tube families when I first got my LD. Not pretty, but might help:

EF95
6JI, WE403A/B, M8100, CV4010, EF95, 6AK5
EF95/5654/CV4010/M8100/6096/403A/B/6J1 (Stock)
EF95 = 6AK5 = 6j1p = 6096 = 6F32V = 6F32 = 5654 = 6ZH1P = M8100= 403A
EF95 6J38P-EV, 6BE6* (6BE6W, EK90, 5750/5760?, CV4012), 6BY6* and 6CS6 (EH90), 6HM5, 6HA5, EC900
Miniature-7-Pin-Base RF miniature pentode, 6.3V heater

408A
6028
Miniatur-7-Pin-Base B7G, 20V, 50mA heater

EF92
(EF91 = 6AM6 = Z77 = 6F12 = 8D3 = N79 = CV138 = 6064 = M8083 = CV4014)
(EF92 = 6CQ6 = W77 = 6F21 = 9D6 = CV131 = 6065 = M8161 = CV4015)
EF92 6BY6* (E91H, 5915, 6687 EH900S, EH960, EH91H), 6BE6*,6CB6, 6DK6, 6EW6, 6GM6, 6GY6, 6DT6
Miniature-7-Pin-Base B7G, 6.3V heater

*These are very unique tubes in that they can be used in either the EF95 setting or the EF92 setting. In the EF95 setting, the bass is stronger. In the EF92 setting, the frequency spectrum is shifted a bit more to the mids and treble.
Click to expand...

 
This is essentially a somewhat abbreviated version of a posting made several years ago by Acapella11:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/563884/little-dot-tube-amps-vacuum-tube-rolling-guide/1140#post_9392055
 
Mar 16, 2017 at 4:17 PM Post #3,005 of 3,154
Never got round to reading that thread, cobbled it together from bits and pieces on this one, but yeah that is much better :)
 
Apr 3, 2017 at 9:34 AM Post #3,008 of 3,154
23283267_10155937442988278_991168624_n.jpg
23283267_10155937442988278_991168624_n.jpg

This isn't tube-related, but I just wanted to leave my op-amp upgrade impressions here seeing as this is the most active thread for the LD1+

Little Dot 1+ op-amp upgrade with the Burson V5i
Gear used
Creative Soundblaster X7 as DAC with 2x Sparkos SS3601 single op-amps, 2x Sparkos SS3602 dual op-amps, Hifiman HE400i, AKG K712 Pro, Fostex TH-x00 PH, Fidelio X2, Little Dot 1+ with Mullard M8100 tubes and of course the Burson V5i op-amp.

Impressions
The LD1+ was already using a different op-amp, the dual op-amp that I swapped out of the Creative X7 was being used which already made for a clear upgrade from stock. The X7 op-amp upgrade seemed to give the sound a more neutral signature, while also lowering the noise floor with the LD1+.
Because of this, I wasn't expecting to have as noticable of an improvement with swapping in the Burson V5i, but I was happily mistaken.

The differences aren't as large as swapping all for out of my X7, but they were immediate. The LD1+ is not by any means an expensive tube-amp (well, maybe to those who don't use these forums!) However, the sound didn't improve in one area - it was improved all around, while retaining the neutrality I noticed with the X7 op-amp upgrade.
Details, transparency, cleanliness, soundstage, imaging, and a blacker background were all improvements I could notice on all of my headphones. Some more than others, such as the K712 Pro and HE400i seeing as these are harder to drive headphones I could only assume.

The Fidelio X2 still had some background fuzz when the volumes were at pub-style band performance levels but this is a reasonably low impedance, easy to drive headphone.
I'd also like to point out exactly what I mean by "cleanliness" because this was a very appreciated change.
I like to EQ, some are are against this, I am not. For example: for the X2 or TH-x00 I will EQ in a little bit of mids, and I will EQ some low-end into all of my headphones.
The LD1+ with the warm, buttery mullard M8100 tubes would become syrupy sounding while running high levels of bass (only as high as what the X7 as my amp would reproduce cleanly).

Now with the V5i op-amp, the bass was no longer thick and syrupy sounding, so creds for this.
Overall, this is an upgrade I could easily recommend if you are a owner of the Little Dot 1+ and want to go a little farther with your amp, without shelling out for a whole new tube amp.
I have not used the V5 to compare, but the V5i having a smaller footprint is a positive in this case as closing the LD1+ with the backplate remains possible.
 
Last edited:
Apr 9, 2017 at 3:53 PM Post #3,010 of 3,154
I just noticed that i have a slight ground hum on the left channel, it does however disappear when i touch the 1/4 plug connected to the headphone out. I tried various cables to isolate the issue but its still the same. I cant hear this with my Q701 or HD650s but with more sensitive cans this is more or less an issue depending on my mood :) 
 
Probably a poorly run trace on the circuit board causing this or it might be the grounding on the jack itself. Il try swapping some tubes to see if that's the problem.
 
EDIT:
 
Rolled back to the Mullards 8100 and its dead quiet now...Liked the sound from the Voshkods unfortunatly, il try to clean them properly and try again.
 
Apr 11, 2017 at 2:12 PM Post #3,012 of 3,154
Hideeho
www.massdrop.com has the LD 1+ available again. I am probably going to get one. It will come with 6ji (base price) tubes or 6cq6 (+$13) or we408 (+$28). I am looking for a warmer sound for HiFiMan HE-400i’s. Not really low end base, but upper base/lower mid area. Would any of the listed tubes be worth it, or should I wait & get something different that will work better?
 
Also, I will be interested in trying something different for the opamp, in particular the burson v5i. Would I need the dual x1, dual x2, or single x2. I assume dip8 sockets would be nice, in case I wanted to try other opamps later, are there any other accessories that would be good to pick up?
 
Apr 11, 2017 at 2:26 PM Post #3,013 of 3,154
waflet said:
Hideeho


[COLOR=0000FF]www.massdrop.com[/COLOR] has the LD 1+ available again. I am probably going to get one. It will come with 6ji (base price) tubes or 6cq6 (+$13) or we408 (+$28). I am looking for a warmer sound for HiFiMan HE-400i’s. Not really low end base, but upper base/lower mid area. Would any of the listed tubes be worth it, or should I wait & get something different that will work better?


 


Also, I will be interested in trying something different for the opamp, in particular the burson v5i. Would I need the dual x1, dual x2, or single x2. I assume dip8 sockets would be nice, in case I wanted to try other opamps later, are there any other accessories that would be good to pick up?
Click to expand...


Fwiw I really like the LD I+ with some CV4010 Mullard tubes and the Burson V5 op amp.

Edit: You will need one dual of the Burson V5i.
 
Apr 11, 2017 at 2:40 PM Post #3,015 of 3,154
waflet said:
Hideeho
Thanks for the help!
That is what I was guessing on both. I was looking for confirmation & if anyone else had actually tried either of the optional tubes.
Click to expand...


Well, the first two tubes you mention are types of tubes, not a certain brand. Imo you can so better than the we408 for $28 but YMMV.
 
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