[reynman]

I recently bought some tubes and so far the best sounding tube combo is the Mullard cv4004 and the Ei (Yugo) El84s. Better bass, a bit more detail than the stock JJs/Sovteks. I believe Wing used this combo at the Bay Area Headwizers Meeting.

Regards - reynman

 

[joelongwood]

reynman, I also use the Ei El84s and I've tried the Mullard. However, to my ears, the 12AX7 I pulled from one of my Dynaco pre-amps is similar in sound, but provides a tad more detail. It's labeled "Dyanco Made in West Germany" .......I've read conflicting reports as to who actually manufactured this tube. Somewhere it said it's a Telefunken, but I recently found a posting on another site (AudioAsylum I think) which said it was manufactured by Siemens. Anyway, I really like it.

 

[reynman]

joelongwood,

Up late again! When I went tube crazy two weeks ago, I saw a preamp which, by the looks of it pre-dated me (all 33 years of me!). Inside there were a pair of Telefunken 12AX7s. I was ready to buy them but the manager said he would have to talk to the owner. Alas, nothing has transpired yet!

Thanks again for the Upgrado advice!

Regards - reynman

 

[joelongwood]

reynman, I can stay up all night now........10 weeks off!!!

33 years ago is when I built the Dynaco pre amp I took the tube out of.........and it's still good!

 

[Wing]

Actually the tubes I used for the meeting, which is my favorite combination, is the Mullard CV4004 and the stock El84s (Valve Art, I think). Sounds the most natural, neutral and full to me. I think I may put my other NOS tubes up for sale or trade when I get a chance.

 

[Videoshielded]

I'm still casting about for the perfect combo -- I've got about six brands of NOS 6BQ5/EL84 pairs, and at least as many 12AX7's and 5751's.

I like my tube amps to be detailed and sweet, with good pace and big, fat body. (Smack me, but the appropriate adjectives are not easy to come up with, no?)

I gave up on the 12AX7 family quickly; they seemed to me to have flabby body instead of a big fat sound. Too mushy. The Telefunken is the best of the group I tried. I could live with the Telefunken -- it's reasonably detailed and sweet, but it falls down a little in the pace & body department. In the interest of full disclosure, I should say I have not tried the Mullard.

Then I started trying the 5751's, with much more success. Cheapo GE double-micas were as good as most 12AX7's I tried, except the Telefunken. GE greyplate triple-mica's were much better. They got all the adjectives going at once. Then I got Tung Sol (double mica), Raytheon (double mica/windmill getter with black plates, labeled Westinghouse) and GE black plate triple-mica's. These are at a whole different level. I'm rolling these three around as the mood strikes me.

I'll get serious about the EL84's once I settle on the leading 5751. Right now, I'm happiest with Amperex, but I can't be sure. RCA, Sylvania, Zenith, and CBS are sounding pretty good too.

If I had to stop rolling right now, I'd use the GE black plate triple mica with Amperex EL84's.

 

[acidtripwow]

I did some tube rolling, but always went back to the original tubes. I found them to work best for me.

 

[chych]

I went the cheap route and got some current production tubes... Ei El84s and a Svetlana 12AX7, much more airer and detailed than the stock tubes... only costed me $30 too

 

[reynman]

Chych,

Where did you get the Svetlanas?

Regards - reynman

 

[mbriant]

I keep switching between a NOS RCA 12ax7a and NOS RCA 7025 with Ei 6BQ5's

The 12AX7a seems to have smoother mids while the 7025 seems to have better high end.

 

[dhwilkin]

My best tube combination was a Raytheon 5751 w/ a matched pair of Sylvania BP 6BQ5s. Admittedly it was my only NOS combination, but it was much better than the stock tubes. Videoshielded has them now, he can comment further.

 

[Videoshielded]

dh got it right on the first try. This is not the only combination I listen to, but it's in the top drawer with the best of 'em.

But, I like my music detailed and sweet with good pace and a big fat body. YMMV.

 

[nurxhunter]

Well, five years later with the Mk III, the Sylvania BP and Raytheon combo is close to on top of the heap for Grado SR125--the Syls are a touch dark with the Senns. While I did not think so at first, Telfunken EL84s are even better. I find this with the Grado SR125 (OTL mode best) and Sennheiser HD-580 (OTC much better). With the Senns, GE EL84 are also excellent, but too bright with Grados. Sylvania 5751 3M-BP ('50s) may even be better than the Raytheons, but only in midrange--better bass and highs with Rays.

 

[cavedave]

I think what works real good with the Beyer 880 and Senns is a set of RCAs nos grey plate tubes with a Bugle Boy 12AU7 in the middle very fine tube and belive me I have tried all the others.These Bugle Boys are some fine tubes.

 

[Piotr Ryka]

http://www.upscaleaudio.com/product....d=546&catid=40