McChanson amps tube rolling thread

[LoryWiv]

I have enough good 12AT7 and am not specifically looking for more. Just getting one ECC85 to try. As I said, my opinion is that the best drivers in Ultimate are c3g and 5a/152m,

But I decide to buy this instead.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/124653622757?

As usual, Matt articulates what my ears observe. I will add that Telefunken EF86 and as mentioned GEC A2900 drivers are very close. Here is the latter, specifically RFT EZ81, Sylvania VT-107A, GEC A2900 & Tesla EL34:

 

[UntilThen]

As usual, Matt articulates what my ears observe. I will add that Telefunken EF86 and as mentioned GEC A2900 drivers are very close. Here is the latter, specifically RFT EZ81, Sylvania VT-107A, GEC A2900 & Tesla EL34:

Both Telefunken EF86 and GEC A2900 are good drivers. That combination you have there with Tesla EL34 is as good as any.

I bought 4 pairs ( 8 tubes) of STC S11E12 beam tetrodes directly from Langrex for Eric and myself. Much cheaper than buying from Langrex through ebay. The cost is just GBP 16 each. For a tube that is supposed to be as good as GEC KT88, that is a real bargain.

Eric surprised me when he said he will modify both of these 2 amps to run the S11E12. They are both his own amps.

KT88 SE amp.


EL34 PP amp


My own Super Ultimate will also be modified to run with S11E12. Universe will run with those tubes. Currently I am using
Super Ultimate with Telefunken C3gs, Tesla 4654, Tesla EZ81 with Mundorf Supreme S/G/O in 240v and UL. This amp still sound so beautiful with a multitude of tubes.

 

[Nick Ryan]

Still trapped in by the floodwaters, at least the power has now been restored so I can listen to music now 4 dead 1 missing sadly, still raining. Well over 700 mm of rain in my gauge !
Chunks of road missing as water recedes, been running a genie at the village hall for people with no power. Getting low on diesel. The army have been rescuing people day and night by helicopters about 6 of them flying around.

 

[g0ldl10n]

Still trapped in by the floodwaters, at least the power has now been restored so I can listen to music now 4 dead 1 missing sadly, still raining. Well over 700 mm of rain in my gauge !
Chunks of road missing as water recedes, been running a genie at the village hall for people with no power. Getting low on diesel. The army have been rescuing people day and night by helicopters about 6 of them flying around.

Where exactly is this? I'm thinking that 700mm (27.55 inches) of rain is something like a 100 year event in this neck of the woods, because that's insane! How many days did it take to dump that much water on you?

 

[Nick Ryan]

Where exactly is this? I'm thinking that 700mm (27.55 inches) of rain is something like a 100 year event in this neck of the woods, because that's insane! How many days did it take to dump that much water on you?

Hi, it has been reported as a 1 in 500 year event, I am just outside Wingham, nearest big town is Taree NSW 2430. The ground was well saturated with rain for a week before the BIG rains hit, so it was all basically run off, there is another 300mm forecast today and tomorrow.


https://www.bing.com/images/search?...ex=23&itb=0&ajaxhist=0&ajaxserp=0&vt=0&sim=11

 

[UntilThen]

Mullard EL36 arrived from Dan. I have never seen tubes so new. Even the boxes are brand new. GBP 30 for the pair. Shipping is another GBP 20.

These also have pins 3 and 8 connected. So it seems that all EL36 have pins 3 and 8 connected except for the Russian 6P31S.

 

[g0ldl10n]

Hi, it has been reported as a 1 in 500 year event, I am just outside Wingham, nearest big town is Taree NSW 2430. The ground was well saturated with rain for a week before the BIG rains hit, so it was all basically run off, there is another 300mm forecast today and tomorrow.

Wow, that is crazy.. the only weather event I can recall that was something similar in the US was hurricane Harvey, which decided to park itself in a single spot right on top of the coast of Texas and ended up dumping a staggering 1500mm (60 inches) of rain. But that was from a hurricane..

Well that is not good, hopefully your house stays dry and does not flood.. unreal.

 

[Zachik]

Hello my good friends,
Been a while, but I am all caught up again, and made some updates to the table!
First, I added a "Gain" column, and started adding values (based on Matt's post from a few days ago).
Also, added EL36 which was based on very careful reading of Matt's and Eric's adventures

Matt - I will wait for your final confirmation after receiving your EL36 adapters from Deyan. Then... I will emerge from my semi-tube-purchase-retirement (been 2-3 months of being off the wagon. or is it on the wagon?? )

Lory - I also added the ECC85

 

[UntilThen]

Hello my good friends,
Been a while, but I am all caught up again, and made some updates to the table!
First, I added a "Gain" column, and started adding values (based on Matt's post from a few days ago).
Also, added EL36 which was based on very careful reading of Matt's and Eric's adventures

Matt - I will wait for your final confirmation after receiving your EL36 adapters from Deyan. Then... I will emerge from my semi-tube-purchase-retirement (been 2-3 months of being off the wagon. or is it on the wagon?? )

Lory - I also added the ECC85

Good job Zachi. I am appreciative of you putting the list in a spreadsheet. The list is very long now but I am sure it will continue to grow because there are a lot more tubes we haven't tried, especially with Universe. It's basically a universal amp.

I note that you've documented S11E12 but I have 12E1 incoming. 12E1 use EL36 adapter or EL38 / EL39 adapters will work too.
If you look at https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/025/s/S11E12.pdf you will notice that S11E12 has similar characteristics as 12E1 but S11E12 pa is 28 while 12E1 is 35.
Both these tubes have different biasing requirements from the other power tubes we have been using. Similar to EL36 / 6P31S, they will only work in Universe, Super Ultimate-H or a Super Ultimate-h with the bias switch installed.

I am seeing Eric on Monday with both of my amps and he will modify it to have the pins 6 and 8 connected so that S11E12 will work in my amps without adapters. Eric has 8 of this tube and I have 4. We must have great faith in S11E12 to buy so many without even trying it out. All thanks to @OctavianH for sounding out this tube. Time will tell whether S11E12 will become as great a success as 4654, another tube popularised by Octa. Don't forget 12E1 because I am more partial with tubes that has the top cap.

 

[OctavianH]

We must have great faith in S11E12 to buy so many without even trying it out. All thanks to @OctavianH for sounding out this tube. Time will tell whether S11E12 will become as great a success as 4654, another tube popularised by Octa. Don't forget 12E1 because I am more partial with tubes that has the top cap.

It will be a success, a kind of 5B/254M on steroids, but it will not beat GEC KT88 or Telefunken EL156. GEC KT88 is wider, maybe more detailed and refined. Telefunekn EL156 is also wider, detailed and more dynamic. But for what it is, S11E12 is a very good choice at the price you bought. It has that STC flavor on top of a dynamic and decently linear signature, it's the warmest of all 3 I have mentioned. Of course, take what I say with a grain of salt, I haven't listening to these in a while (except Telefunken EL156 which is my favourite of all 3). The STC 12E1 does not make sense to buy if you have S11E12 because it will sound similar, but GEC 12E1 is different and very good. However, GEC 12E1 does not sound as KT88, it's more colored, less transparent, more bass. A kind of 807 sound style maybe. As I said, I haven't listened in a while on these but I hope I have some correct hints.

Edit: I forgot what was the most important: it will not dethrone 4654 either, the most important quality of 4654 is the Philips dense and rich sound. Neither of these have that. 4654 combines that dense and rich timbre with technicalities. These have technicalities but they do not have the Philips old sound. EL156 and KT88 are more technical, S11E12 is more "fun" (similar with 5B/254M).

 

[LoryWiv]

Hello my good friends,
Been a while, but I am all caught up again, and made some updates to the table!
First, I added a "Gain" column, and started adding values (based on Matt's post from a few days ago).
Also, added EL36 which was based on very careful reading of Matt's and Eric's adventures

Matt - I will wait for your final confirmation after receiving your EL36 adapters from Deyan. Then... I will emerge from my semi-tube-purchase-retirement (been 2-3 months of being off the wagon. or is it on the wagon?? )

Lory - I also added the ECC85

Zachi you are a ROCK STAR and we appreciate you very much!

 

[UntilThen]

It will be a success, a kind of 5B/254M on steroids, but it will not beat GEC KT88 or Telefunken EL156. GEC KT88 is wider, maybe more detailed and refined. Telefunekn EL156 is also wider, detailed and more dynamic. But for what it is, S11E12 is a very good choice at the price you bought. It has that STC flavor on top of a dynamic and decently linear signature, it's the warmest of all 3 I have mentioned. Of course, take what I say with a grain of salt, I haven't listening to these in a while (except Telefunken EL156 which is my favourite of all 3). The STC 12E1 does not make sense to buy if you have S11E12 because it will sound similar, but GEC 12E1 is different and very good. However, GEC 12E1 does not sound as KT88, it's more colored, less transparent, more bass. A kind of 807 sound style maybe. As I said, I haven't listened in a while on these but I hope I have some correct hints.

Edit: I forgot what was the most important: it will not dethrone 4654 either, the most important quality of 4654 is the Philips dense and rich sound. Neither of these have that. 4654 combines that dense and rich timbre with technicalities. These have technicalities but they do not have the Philips old sound. EL156 and KT88 are more technical, S11E12 is more "fun" (similar with 5B/254M).

Spot on with the description of KT88, EL156 and 4654 sound signature. I hardly use GEC KT88 now. Wanted to preserve it because I bought it new and of course a price tag of AUD$1100 means that I want to use it only when I am in a real listening mode, not as a background listening.

Telefunken EL156 is another splendid tube imo. I bought used and yet it cost AUD$500. Thought of getting a new pair but new it cost about $1000. I am listening to it now in Universe setting it to a very conservative 240v and Bias(1) 41mA. The pa of EL156 is 40 watts. And you're right, GEC KT88 and TFK EL156 excel in technicalities. More linear and details centric. 4654 is more lush and full bloom and remains a favourite. This is the joy of tubes - you get the flavours of each and if you live with these tubes, you will have thier sound signatures imprinted in your brain.

I won't chase GEC 12E1 then because while I like my quad of GEC 807, there are other tubes that appeal more to me. This is hardly fair on the GEC 807 because they are great sounding tubes but when you have a large selection of power tubes, individual preferences comes in.

STC S11E12 and 12E1 if they sound as you've described would be ideal for me to use if I want tubes to run on a daily basis without worry of wearing them out. The truth is I won't be wearing out any of my tubes, not in my life time.

Philips Miniwatt 6BQ7A, Telefunken EL156 and Mullard GZ32. Listening with Susvara, it leaves a smile on my face. Some tubes just have class.

 

[Deleeh]

Great impressions from everyone.
@Nick Ryan my condolences for this natural event, I hope you got away mostly unscathed not only physically and humanly but also the material things like property ect....

We are picking up the keys to our new flat today and there is still a lot to do besides the daily work.
Many things that we thought would make the move will probably not.
The car is about to be deregistered shortly before the move, which means additional stress in addition to the other things that are running in parallel.
I work, come home, have to help my wife pack, organise, haul and so on and so forth.
Of course everything is done calmly and relaxed, but at the end of the day you just fall into bed.

 

[LoryWiv]

Tesla EZ80, Telefunken EF86, Philips SQ E88CC & GE-Mazda (Holland) EL86:

 

[Nick Ryan]

Tesla EZ80, Telefunken EF86, Philips SQ E88CC & GE-Mazda (Holland) EL86:

Wow.the tubes are all burning bright tonight !11