siles1991
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2013
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Hi siles1991,
Here is a quote that may be helpful:
"You mention that one of the stock tubes completely burnt out after two years. How do you know it burnt out? The reason I am asking is that I had the same experience. However, for some reason I saved it.
A year later on a hunch I took out my little pocket knife and and scraped clean the pins on the bad tube. Pushed it back in, and you wouldn't believe it! It lit up again and works fine. Looks like a little corrosion made it stop working.
About the IR tubes: Although they are rated for 500 hours, and the regular 6N6P tubes for 3000 hours, I agree with the posts that state that this is for severe military working conditions (maybe in a MIG fighter plane). IMHO they should last much longer in a little quiet preamp...."
I used my own 6N6P-IR extensively for around 18 months. After that I switched to what I consider to be better tubes. Tried the 6N6P-IR as a driver with a breadboard and the Vector adapters. I was surprised to hear that one channel was much lower in volume on both tubes - did not notice this when used as power tubes.
If the tube turns white inside instead of silver, this is a sure sign that you lost the vacuum and the tube is finished. If it looks normal, try scraping the pins gently in case they oxidized.
Power Tube | ||||
Name | Adapter | Heater Current (A) / 6.3 V | Notes | |
5687/7044/7119(E182CC) | 5687 Powersocket Adapter | 0.9 | easily usable substitutes, sound great | |
6AS7G/6080 | Adapter + External Power Supply, see 1 and 2 and 3 | 2.5 | this is probably the icing of the power tube cake | |
12AU7/12AT7/12AX7/7025/5751/ECC83/6057 | Powersocket Adapter | 0.35 | ||
6BL7/6BX7/6BQ7 | Adapter + External Power Supply, see 1 and 2 and 3 | 1.5 | ||
6DJ8 | not needed | 0.365 | ||
6GU7/6CG7/6FQ7 | not needed | 0.6 | not compatible with 12AX7 driver tubes | |
6N23P | not needed | 0.31 | ||
6SL7* | 6SN7 Powersocket Adapter | 0.3 | lower gain than 6SN7, not compatible with low impedance cans | |
6SN7* | 6SN7 Powersocket Adapter | 0.6 | classic high end tube, not compatible with low impedance cans | |
6N6P-IR | not needed | 0.9 | high quality, long lasting version of the 6N6P-I and considered best sounding 6N6P before the very expensive 6N6P-DR | |
Maximum recommended heater current for power tubes is 1.0 A. Tubes exceeding this are highlighted in red. | ||||
Driver Tube | ||||
Name | Adapter | Heater Current (A) / 6.3 V | Notes | |
5687/7044/7119(E182CC) | External driver socket ^, external power supply | 0.9 | 6.3 V / 12.6 V ** | |
6350/6463/ECC813 | External driver socket ^, external power supply | 0.9 | 6.3 V / 12.6 V** | |
2C51 / 396A / 5670 | External driver socket ^ + driver socket adapter | 0.35 | ||
7AU7 | External driver socket ^ | 0.6 | 3. 5 V / 7 V** | |
12AU7 | External driver socket ^ | 0.3 | 6.3 V / 12.6 V** | |
12AU7/12AT7/12AX7/7025/5751/ECC83/6057* | External driver socket ^ | 0.3 | One triode can be used besides a non-powered one, 6.3 or 12.6 V** | |
6BQ7A | Adapter | 0.4 | ||
6DJ8 | External driver socket ^ | 0.365 | probably noisiest double triode, both triodes must be powered | |
6HM5 | none | 0.19 | probably best standard AK5-type option | |
6N23P | none | 0.31 | ||
6SL7* | 6SL7 driver adapter | 0.3 | ||
6SN7* | External driver socket ^, external power supply | 0.6 | ||
C3G(S)* ^^ | C3G AK5 Adapter | 0.37 | C3G(S) tubes sound great but they are produced with a fragile glass base. Widen the socket holes before inserting the tube to avoid breaking. | |
ECC81 | External driver socket ^ | 0.3 | ||
ECC40 | External driver socket ^, external power supply | 0.6 | ||
E80CC/6085 | External driver socket ^, external power supply | 0.6 | 6.3 V / 12.6 V ** | |
Maximum recommended heater current for driver tubes is 0.4 A. Tubes exceeding this are highlighted in red. | ||||
*: Requires socket extenders for LD MKIII | ": For Little Dot I only driver tubes. | |||
9 Pin power socket extender | ||||
7 Pin driver socket vector extender | ||||
**: Generally, when doubling the voltage, the apparent current is halved. | ||||
^: The external driver socket adaper uses a breadboard and allows the use of a single double triode to drive both channels. | ||||
^^ Hypnos1 (post 5670): How to remove the C3Gs metal shielding, this requires care to not break the fragile tubes. | ||||
Power Tube Requirements (Gibosi post #7937) | ||||
1) Double triode | ||||
2) Separate cathodes (there are some double triodes such as the E90CC where the triodes "share" a cathode. These will not work.) | ||||
3) Heater current 1.0A or less | ||||
4) 6.3 Volts | ||||
List of compatible tubes and 6DJ8, 6SL7, 6SN7, 12AX7 wiring instructions |
Hi, Just for Christmas I have put together a table as a reminder for everyone in the thread and to help new arrivals. Please treat this as a alpha version of would be the final product but however I hope it provides useful data for everyone interested.
Please, let me know if you find anything that requires correction.
Power Tube Name Adapter Heater Current (A) / 6.3 V Notes 5687/7044/7119(E182CC) 5687 Powersocket Adapter 0.9 great and simple 6N6P substitute 6AS7G/6080 Adapter + External Power Supply 2.5 this is probably the icing of the power tube cake 12AU7/12AT7/12AX7/7025/5751/ECC83/6057 Powersocket Adapter 0.35 6BL7/6BX7/6BQ7 Adapter + External Power Supply 1.5 6DJ8 not needed 0.365 6GU7/6CG7/6FQ7 not needed 0.6 not compatible with 12AX7 driver tubes 6N23P not needed 0.31 low output 6SL7* 6SN7 Powersocket Adapter 0.3 lower gain than 6SN7, not compatible with low impedance cans 6SN7* 6SN7 Powersocket Adapter 0.6 classic high end tube, not compatible with low impedance cans Maximum recommended heater current for power tubes is 1.0 A. Tubes exceeding this are highlighted in red. Driver Tube Name Adapter Heater Current (A) / 6.3 V Notes 5687 12AX7 double triode adapter, external power supply 0.9 6350/6463/ECC813 12AX7 double triode adapter, external power supply 0.9 6.3 V / 12.6 V 2C51 / 396A / 5670 12AX7 double triode adapter + driver socket adapter 0.35 driver socket adapter 7AU7 12AX7 doule triode adapter 0.6 (parallel) 12AU7 12AX7 doule triode adapter 0.3 (parallel) 6.3 V / 12.6 V 12AU7/12AT7/12AX7/7025/5751/ECC83/6057* 12AX7 doule triode adapter 0.3 One triode can be used besides a non-powered one, 6.3 or 12.6 V 6BQ7A Adapter 0.4 6DJ8 12AX7 double triode adapter 0.365 one of the noisiest double triods, both triods must be powered 6HM5 none 0.19 probably best standard AK5-type option 6N23P none 0.31 low output 6SL7* 6SL7 driver adapter 0.3 6SN7* 12AX7 double triode adapter, external power supply 0.6 C3G(S)* C3G AK5 Adapter 0.37 ECC81 12AX7 doule triode adapter 0.3 Maximum recommended heater current for driver tubes is 0.4 A. Tubes exceeding this are highlighted in red. * Requires vector socket extender for MKIII 9 Pin power socket vector extender 7 Pin driver socket vector extender Power Tube Requirements (Gibosi post #7937) 1) Double triode 2) Separate cathodes (there are some double triodes such as the E90CC where the triodes "share" a cathode. These will not work.) 3) Heater current 1.0A or less 4) 6.3 Volts List of compatible tubes and 6DJ8, 6SL7, 6SN7, 12AX7 wiring instructions
Thank You! for posting these it's very helpful.
Hi, Just for Christmas I have put together a table as a reminder for everyone in the thread and to help new arrivals. Please treat this as a beta version of would be the final product but however I hope it provides useful data for everyone interested.
Please, let me know if you find anything that requires correction.
I have finished my newest DIY amp. Sadly no headphone connect (yet?). I bought Russian 6F6S tubes because of this effect.
With 6F6S's around 2x13w triode connected and pentode connected 2x18w. So these small powertubes are giving their max. Of course this amp is designed for KT88's, and with them i get much more power. And here is the amp with 5U4G, 4 6F6's, 2 6SN7 and 12AV7.
I had so many different 12A*7 tubes from little dot times, so decided to use these as driver tube and they tolerate more voltage than 6DJ8. Transformers and choke are from old Hammond organ amplifiers. 4 inputs and again selector switch from old organ, since it was way better quality, than new small plastic knob. 6SN7's are connected as long-tailed-pair phase inverters. There is small switch for triode-pentode change behind powertubes. It seems to be mostly as for experimental and not for real high-end sound with pentode connection.
Amp size is 50x37cm and weights 20kg.