[Acapella11]

Hi buldogge, also consider to replace your power tubes. Easiest and useful replacement would be the 6N6P-IR.

 

[buldogge]

Hey Acapella11...I have bookmarked some IRs...although I have had good luck with the replacement  Soviet OTK 6N6P-Is so far.
 
-Mark
 
Quote:

  Hi buldogge, also consider to replace your power tubes. Easiest and useful replacement would be the 6N6P-IR.

 

[Zeejet]

I currently own pairs of Voshkhod 6J1P-EV from 1978, GE JAN 5654W from1988 (I think), and WE 408A.
 
I have not tried the WE 408A's yet but I was disappointed by the Voshkhods, which seem to be universally lauded here. I found them harsh and weak on low end. The GE JAN 5654W's were far better. 
 
I'm really skeptical about things like long burn-in times (sounds like audiophile placebo nonsense). I've spent about 20 hours on the Voshkhods and they still sound unpleasant. Does the year of production matter?

 

[michaelkeeney]

  I currently own pairs of Voshkhods from 1978, GE JAN 5654W from1988 (I think), and WE 408A.
 
I have not tried the WE408's yet but I was disappointed by the Voshkhods, which seem to be universally lauded here. I found them harsh and weak on low end. The GE JAN 5654W's were far better. 
 
I'm really skeptical about things like long burn-in times (sounds like audiophile placebo nonsense). I've spent about 20 hours on the Voshkhods and they still sound unpleasant. Does the year of production matter?

What headphones are you using?  From what I've read on here, different cans sometimes call for different tubes… Gibosi was schooling me on this just the other day, lol.

 

[Zeejet]

  What headphones are you using?  From what I've read on here, different cans sometimes call for different tubes… Gibosi was schooling me on this just the other day, lol.

 
Beyer 880 DT Pro.
 
THe GE JAN 5654W's are a lot smoother in tone while the Voshkhods can sound shrill in the highs (even if they do seem to extend further). Also, Voshkhod 6J1P-EV's are dirt cheap from what I can tell (anywhere between $3-15 per pair), but so are GE JAN's.

 

[michaelkeeney]

   
Beyer 880 DT Pro.
 
THe GE JAN 5654W's are a lot smoother in tone while the Voshkhods can sound shrill in the highs (even if they do seem to extend further). Also, Voshkhod 6J1P-EV's are dirt cheap from what I can tell (anywhere between $3-15 per pair), but so are GE JAN's.

Listen to your ears… they won't lie to you.  
 
If you are okay with spending a little money (and have patience to wait for the shipping) a lot of people are saying the end game tube for the LD is the C3g.  It's a Siemens tube, and you'll need an adapter and extender.  I can't tell you how good they are from experience yet, as I'm still waiting on my adapters, but the things people are saying on there about them would lead me to believe they might in fact kick ass.

 

[buldogge]

If you want to stick with the EF95s...I've found the Tung Sols 6AK5s to be a real nice for small $...Several guys mentioned the GE 6096 CT...I've got a pair of those, on the way, to try.
 
If you're willing to delve into the EF91/92s...The Mullards are renowned for their smooth/warm delivery...I like my CV131s a lot.
 
Lastly...I'm looking forward to trying the 6CB6As, 6HQ5s, and M8083s.
 
Basically...as evidenced by this thread...there is a BIG world of tube rolling possibilities with these LDs!
 
You can have a bit of fun/explore the soundscape for small money, really.
 
Good luck.
 
-Mark in St. Louis
 
Quote:

   
Beyer 880 DT Pro.
 
THe GE JAN 5654W's are a lot smoother in tone while the Voshkhods can sound shrill in the highs (even if they do seem to extend further). Also, Voshkhod 6J1P-EV's are dirt cheap from what I can tell (anywhere between $3-15 per pair), but so are GE JAN's.

 

[buldogge]

Anyone have any thoughts regarding the MKIII or IV, compared to the MKII, in relation to doing some tube rolling???
 
TA
-Mark
 
Quote:

  Another question...Maybe for those who own, or have owned, both... Do you notice a major difference between the MKII, MKIII, and MKIV in performance...once the tube rolling starts???
 
I'm thinking of bringing my MKII to the office (would share space with a SS Schiit stack) and getting a MKIII or IV for home....Gotta put all these new tubes to use!
 
Thoughts???
 
TIA
-Mark

 

[ToTje]

About the Voshkhods: I absolutely love these tubes. The higher mids sometimes get a very OVERrealistic sound; better than the real thing, so to speak.
The bass also goes VERY deep. I especially love how the deeper tones of string instruments sound with these, although I must say that after an evening of listening to '80s pop-music, the bass-guitars do get quite tiring since they get quite a bit emphasis.

 

[Acapella11]

The Voskhods have a very long burn in time, in which the treble tames down. It can take 90 hours.

 

[Zeejet]

  The Voskhods have a very long burn in time, in which the treble tames down. It can take 90 hours.

Is this pretty universally agreed upon? It seems like hocus pocus to me (like expensive cables or high-end op-amp rolling). I did notice burn-in affecting my GE JAN 5654W's but it only took 5-6 hours. How can another tube take almost 100 hours?
 
Also, here is a noob question: do I need to be playing sound in order to burn-in? Or just have the amp ON? Furthermore, do I need headphones connected if burn-in requires there to be a signal going to the amp?

 

[ToTje]

  Is this pretty universally agreed upon? It seems like hocus pocus to me (like expensive cables or high-end op-amp rolling). I did notice burn-in affecting my GE JAN 5654W's but it only took 5-6 hours. How can another tube take almost 100 hours?
 
Also, here is a noob question: do I need to be playing sound in order to burn-in? Or just have the amp ON? Furthermore, do I need headphones connected if burn-in requires there to be a signal going to the amp?

As I understood, there has to be music playing, preferrably a bit above normal listening levels and I've read that you do need a headphone connected to the amp, but I'm not really sure why.
 
Also, people say you just should listen to the music when you're giving the tubes a burn-in, because of their limited life-span: it's a shame to waste listening time. Also keep about 8 hours continuous music as a max and then switch the amp off for a while to let the tubes cool down.

 

[Acapella11]

  Is this pretty universally agreed upon? It seems like hocus pocus to me (like expensive cables or high-end op-amp rolling). I did notice burn-in affecting my GE JAN 5654W's but it only took 5-6 hours. How can another tube take almost 100 hours?

 
It is pretty much a common agreement for this tube. No hocus pocus. Some report burn in times of over 100 hours.
 

Also, here is a noob question: do I need to be playing sound in order to burn-in? Or just have the amp ON? Furthermore, do I need headphones connected if burn-in requires there to be a signal going to the amp?

 
Burn in while playing music. Don't worry about listening to it though, these tubes will last you a long time.

 

[jaywillin]

  Is this pretty universally agreed upon? It seems like hocus pocus to me (like expensive cables or high-end op-amp rolling). I did notice burn-in affecting my GE JAN 5654W's but it only took 5-6 hours. How can another tube take almost 100 hours?
 
Also, here is a noob question: do I need to be playing sound in order to burn-in? Or just have the amp ON? Furthermore, do I need headphones connected if burn-in requires there to be a signal going to the amp?

 
 

   
It is pretty much a common agreement for this tube. No hocus pocus.
 
 
Burn in while playing music.

not sure of the exact reasoning, but guess would be, they are russian military/rocket tubes
 
 
yes
and yes, well actually, i know i listen to music

 

[mordy]

Hi Zeejet,
 
Your ears don't lie. Just as you, I was skeptical about burn in, but learned through experience that it is usually needed for new tubes. Different tubes need different times, and the Voskhod require more time than most, perhaps 110 hours. After this time they sound softer and more mellow, and there is less treble harshness.
 
Jlab earbuds has a special burn in track that plays as long as you want - link below.
 
I think that the industry standard for burn in time is 48 hours (if there is such a standard).
 
Some tubes change dramatically during burn in, others less, but I think that they all need it. Why? I think that some impurities in the tube need to burn off, and the tube has to stabilize.
 
http://www.jlabaudio.com/pages/audio-burn-in