[gibosi]

Have you mechanically cleaned to pins? For example, I would scrape them with a knife and then roll them in again.

 

[mxxl]

Have you mechanically cleaned to pins? For example, I would scrape them with a knife and then roll them in again.

Just tried that, they’re shiny now and still same issue. About 4db of channel imbalance and still too quiet at max volume

 

[gibosi]

If you swap them right to left and left to right and the problem follows the tubes, then I would say that you have some bad tubes. Good luck!

 

[mordy]

So I just got a pair of m8161s and m8100s in. The m8100s sound great, but the m8161s are both much lower volume and one of them is noticeably lower than the other. Could this be from oxidation or did I likely get bad tubes?

Please check out if the M8161 is of the same tube family as the M8100.
From memory the 8161 is from the EF92 family and may require a different jumper setting than the 8100 that I think is from the EF95 family of tubes.
If I am correct this could account for your problem with the 8161 tubes.

 

[mxxl]

Please check out if the M8161 is of the same tube family as the M8100.
From memory the 8161 is from the EF92 family and may require a different jumper setting than the 8100 that I think is from the EF95 family of tubes.
If I am correct this could account for your problem with the 8161 tubes.

Omg I can’t believe I forgot about this, that’s most likely the problem. I’ll go try it with the proper jumper setting

 

[Sigs1978]

Hi Guys, I have a LD 1+ incoming that has NE 408A's installed as well as an upgraded opamp. My only headphones are AKG k7xx's. I've been looking through this thread and learning a lot, but I'm hoping someone can help me cheat - I'd like to get a "jump" on the correct jumper settings for both the 408a's and my headphones. Can anyone recommend the correct settings?

 

[mordy]

Omg I can’t believe I forgot about this, that’s most likely the problem. I’ll go try it with the proper jumper setting

All is good?

 

[mxxl]

All is good?

Yup, finally got tweezers to switch the jumpers, and the m8161s may be better than my m8100s
Still have to burn them in more and compare

 

[mordy]

Yup, finally got tweezers to switch the jumpers, and the m8161s may be better than my m8100s
Still have to burn them in more and compare

You could get jumpers with litle extension handles on them very cheap - makes it easier to handle (pun intended) lol...

I think that I remember sticking on a toothpick and piece of lollipop stick on them to make it even easier to change - just cut them off so that they don't hit the surface the amp is standing on.

 

[mxxl]

You could get jumpers with litle extension handles on them very cheap - makes it easier to handle (pun intended) lol...

I think that I remember sticking on a toothpick and piece of lollipop stick on them to make it even easier to change - just cut them off so that they don't hit the surface the amp is standing on.

Yeah, I just ordered some of the longer jumpers, should do the trick. I’m just gonna burn these in for now and then a/b when those come in

 

[mxxl]

Has anyone had both the yugoslavian 6hm5 and the m8161? If so, how do they compare to each other?

 

[mordy]

Has anyone had both the yugoslavian 6hm5 and the m8161? If so, how do they compare to each other?

I had both but much preferred the sound of Ei 6HM5. The 8161 also made my LD MKIII run really hot.

 

[Whelkie D]

Has anyone had both the yugoslavian 6hm5 and the m8161? If so, how do they compare to each other?

Both sound equally good but for different reasons. The M8161 have the edge on "warmth" but the 6HM5s are a little more detailed, particularly in the mid to high section. Just my opinion, obviously, but I like both these tubes and would be hard pushed to choose between them. Sorry if this isn't very helpful.

 

[mxxl]

Both sound equally good but for different reasons. The M8161 have the edge on "warmth" but the 6HM5s are a little more detailed, particularly in the mid to high section. Just my opinion, obviously, but I like both these tubes and would be hard pushed to choose between them. Sorry if this isn't very helpful.

That’s actually really helpful. I picked up some sylvania 6sn7gta which made the treble smoother and are generally more detailed, so I’m looking for something that will up the detail retrieval and take away the remaining veil.
I picked up a magni 3+ recently to see what all of the hype was about and my mkiii with my current setup sounds much better

 

[kousik1946]

I have 3 pairs- Mullard, Yugoslovia and Voshkod. Mullard is the most warm and Voshkod is the least warm. Because the tube sound is always warm, I like the Voshkod most. Yugoslovia is also very good. I use it with my mkiii and HD600.