[ProfFalkin]

On a more serious note... can tubes in anyone's experience affect sibilance? If so, is it a property that can improve after a proper burn in?

Absolutely, and yes. With that said, I've never heard a new/nos tube that has not burned in yet, which was bright or sibilant, become dark or rolled off in the treble once it burned in. It usually calms down a bit, but it's not going to drastically change.

 

[bcowen]

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[bcowen]

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[Ripper2860]

^^^ Ditto.

Most all of @Ripper2860 's tubes I tested had really bad leakage which is why I had to throw them away. But he still managed to blow up his Lyr anyway....

Well, it would have helped if the attached note from @bcowen didn't say ...

Ripper,

I found leakage in this tube, but all should be OK if you take the following precautions.

Take care.

Bill

Well, I followed your advice and wore them. The tube still blew my amp.

I'll keep the remainder and use them for extended listening sessions, however!

 

[Ripper2860]

OK... Since you all have been so helpful, I'll let you laugh at the toob noob...

I freaked out last night thinking I had fried my amp... I was checking to make sure all the tubes were working properly (3 day return period) and swapping them out ever-so carefully.
1) Remove headphone cable
2) Turn off power
3) Remove power cord
4) Swap tube...
Reverse.

I put in the Sylvania... silence... CRAP! Put the Ken-Rad back in.... silence.... GUT sinking feeling!!!!

Oh... it helps if you plug the headphones back in....

On a more serious note... can tubes in anyone's experience affect sibilance? If so, is it a property that can improve after a proper burn in? I use Graceland as a rotational "test" album because I'm so familiar with it, and I love it. The Ken-Rad and the Sylvania tubes make Diamonds on the solessssss of her shoesssssss and Homelesssssss almost unbearable. I haven't swapped in the mythical D getter or the GE yet for any real listening. I hope to use some of the weekend for some careful listening to see if I can actually hear some of the differences between tubes and improvement after burn in. I guess I'll need to take notes.. what fun is that..

If the tubes are NOS, you'll definitely need to burn them in. Harsh upper frequencies tend to smooth out as the tube is used more. I would not pass judgement at less than 60 hours on each tube to ensure they've had a reasonable amount of time. Of course, Foton's being Russian are a bit more stubborn and require 100 hours.

 

[earnmyturns]

I know, this is silly ... but it was recommended by a very reliable source. Still burning in, but it already shows a depth and instrument separation that even the Ken-Rad staggered plates VT-231 did not quite reach. Still too crisp in the upper register.

 

[ProfFalkin]

I know, this is silly ... but it was recommended by a very reliable source. Still burning in, but it already shows a depth and instrument separation that even the Ken-Rad staggered ppates VT-231 did not quite reach. Still too crisp in the upper register.

Oh yeah, @atomicbob uses one. Pricey, but supposedly very good.

 

[earnmyturns]

Oh yeah, @atomicbob uses one. Pricey, but supposedly very good.

Yep, I was quite curious after his comments on that setup. Listening to a very interesting modern classical orchestral recording

that shines with this tube, even with the still edgy upper register. Brass, woodwinds, and massed strings are all in their tonal and spatial places better than I hoped for with a headphone setup. Percussion hits you, too. The Holo Spring NOS DAC is no slouch here, either.

 

[IceAero]

I can't help it...

In my best Spicoli Impression - "My grandfather was a television repairman, he's got this ultimate set of tubes..."

Ha! Knowing my grandfather they are literally all junk and he should have tossed them 50 years ago...

I know, this is silly ... but it was recommended by a very reliable source. Still burning in, but it already shows a depth and instrument separation that even the Ken-Rad staggered plates VT-231 did not quite reach. Still too crisp in the upper register.

And it's beautiful! I was curious about the PSVane 6SN7-UK, I wonder how different/better this version is.

 

[earnmyturns]

And it's beautiful! I was curious about the PSVane 6SN7-UK, I wonder how different/better this version is.

According to @atomicbob they are similar. But I couldn't find 6SN7-UK singles.

 

[ItsAllInMyHead]

Thanks to all for the affirmations on sibilance / burn-in. Patience is not one of MY virtues. The Ken Rad is now on burn in duty. I've learned? that it is a staggered plate with the same specs as VT-231, but not marked VT-231. Either that or it's a really good fake in a box no one's ever seen. My guess is that it's an authentic non military tube w/ a fake (ahem... reproduction) box. I'll let it sit overnight with some sweet melodies to coax it into not making all my music sound like...



Yes, I'm exaggerating, but it's annoying. There may be other characteristics I'm missing simply because my brain can't get past the sssssssss and tingy tingy cymbals.

 

[FLTWS]

... I was curious about the PSVane 6SN7-UK, I wonder how different/better this version is.

My M/P of PSVane 6SN7-UK (low noise, GF Select), are scheduled for delivery this Monday per Canadian Post airmail tracking.

 

[FLTWS]

I know, this is silly ... but it was recommended by a very reliable source. Still burning in, but it already shows a depth and instrument separation that even the Ken-Rad staggered plates VT-231 did not quite reach. Still too crisp in the upper register.

They do look interesting.

 

[earnmyturns]

Oh yeah, @atomicbob uses one. Pricey, but supposedly very good.

At 26 hours burn in, Psvane 6SN7-SE is getting scary good. Listening to solo cello, already magical tone, higher notes no longer harsh, and so much layering between the different sources in the instrument! BTW, this is a wonderful album of 20th-21st century music, if you think it is all dissonant and harsh, you are in for a lovely surprise.

 

[IceAero]

Nice cello music!

I was just reading someone who claimed these psvane tubes need a longer-than-normal time to normalize (they said 300hrs, jeez). So, keep us apprised on how this tube changes!

Also, in looking into these new Chinese tubes, I see people speaking favorably about the Shuguang CV181-Z and Psvane CV181-TII...

EDIT: Ah, I see one mention of them here, where the Psvane UK was claimed to be better in the Lyr 3.