[koover]

I fixed the link bro.

Thanks.
Still thinking about these but I have a lot of 8 Reflektor’s coming in a couple of weeks and I’m going to take those Bendix off of billerb1’s hands. Those look interesting.

 

[TK16]

I pulled the Reflektors after 110 hours, very good but like quite a few better though. That is a good price on those Bendix, may decide to sell my pair in the near future. Got a pair of late 40`s Western Electric is my dac a put a pair of CBS 5670`s in my amp, sounds quite good.

 

[TK16]

Thanks.
Still thinking about these but I have a lot of 8 Reflektor’s coming in a couple of weeks and I’m going to take those Bendix off of billerb1’s hands. Those look interesting.

Have you gotten the WE396A tubes in yet? Dying to hear your impressions.

 

[koover]

Have you gotten the WE396A tubes in yet? Dying to hear your impressions.

Just got them today. I slapped in the tubes that weren't tested as new. I've only put about 30 minutes on them so far but I already experienced an issue. When I plugged in there was nothing but static. I messed with the back tube by rocking it a bit (maybe the socket saver of the adapter wasn't seated properly and loosened?) and it cleared it up. Seeing I'm new to tubes and don't know a heck of a lot.....yet...I think even with my limited knowledge this shouldn't have happen, unless something was loose.

Anyway, VERY bright, even for the 1060's and un-listenable pretty much on the Th900. Just haven't had much time on them so I don't want to jump the gun. They're very detailed for sure and it seems it's a bit bass light, but tight. Lots of air, maybe too much with slow decay in the treble. Sounds kinda funky.

But with the HD650 though, sounds pretty sweet.

I'll wait and see and give it a LOT more time before passing judgement.

 

[billerb1]

Wow it sounds like they are raw...even tho you said they're not "new". My experience is that ALL the 2c51's need a good amount of burn-in time before they show their true selves.
Lol, what you're describing sounds like the "anti-WE396a". All the things they're supposed to do, they don't...and all the things they're supposed not to do, they do.
Have you been bad ???

 

[koover]

Wow it sounds like they are raw...even tho you said they're not "new". My experience is that ALL the 2c51's need a good amount of burn-in time before they show their true selves.
Lol, what you're describing sounds like the "anti-WE396a". All the things they're supposed to do, they don't...and all the things they're supposed not to do, they do.
Have you been bad ???

From what I've read throughout this thread, they're supposed to be pretty warm and lush sounding. On everything other then the 650 (so far) they're pretty bright and even then, the 650's definitely have more sparkle then before. I got to give them time. I received 2 sets so maybe I need to check and see if I'm using the ones that tested new. LOL.
As for being bad? Always man!

 

[koover]

Quickie question
Is it usual for a set of tubes to test this far off in the same set?
Tube 1 - 97/83% Gm
Tube 2 - 74/87% Gm

 

[tvnosaint]

Must be a bad connection there. Take em out, clean em and refit em . They are not a bright tube in the least. Not even neutral . Possible it’s a bad tube but....shouldn’t be bright

 

[billerb1]

Quickie question
Is it usual for a set of tubes to test this far off in the same set?
Tube 1 - 97/83% Gm
Tube 2 - 74/87% Gm

If those numbers are accurate that's not a very "matched" pair. Best to be within 10% or less.

 

[thecrow]

From what I've read throughout this thread, they're supposed to be pretty warm and lush sounding. On everything other then the 650 (so far) they're pretty bright and even then, the 650's definitely have more sparkle then before. I got to give them time. I received 2 sets so maybe I need to check and see if I'm using the ones that tested new. LOL.
As for being bad? Always man!

Can you show the link of the tubes you bought?

 

[koover]

Seeing I bought them, when I click on link, it shows all my personal details and
Info

But here’s a copy/paste of item description

Four Western Electric 2C51 (396A) vacuum tubes. Two are in original boxes but did not test as new. Amplitrex tested:

Tube 1 - 97/83% Gm
Tube 2 - 74/87% Gm
Tube 3 - 90/92% Gm
Tube 4 - 90/82% Gm

Please feel free to return items that do not meet your needs within the 30 day period, I only want satisfied customers! Thanks and God bless!

 

[thecrow]

Seeing I bought them, when I click on link, it shows all my personal details and
Info

Who was the seller?

I ask beacuse my jw we 396a are mid centric in my setup with my w2 and hd800. I wouldnt describe it as warm, 8-10 hours in

Great mids but not warm

Perhaps the difference between jw and non jw?

 

[billerb1]

Seeing I bought them, when I click on link, it shows all my personal details and
Info

But here’s a copy/paste of item description

Four Western Electric 2C51 (396A) vacuum tubes. Two are in original boxes but did not test as new. Amplitrex tested:

Tube 1 - 97/83% Gm
Tube 2 - 74/87% Gm
Tube 3 - 90/92% Gm
Tube 4 - 90/82% Gm

Please feel free to return items that do not meet your needs within the 30 day period, I only want satisfied customers! Thanks and God bless!

I'd burn in tubes 3 and 4 and see how they sound together.

 

[kolkoo]

I'm going to buy Genalex E88CC/6922 Gold Lions, and stores I've found that ship internationally are banzaimusic.com, cryoset.com, thetubestore.com, tubeampdoctor.com and tubedepot.com. Are any of these untrustworthy?
One of the stores offer high gain and low noise, and another offer Gold Grade and Platinum Grade. What are the benefits to these?

It has been said many times before on this forum, the price you going to pay for those gold lions is just not worth what you're getting compared to older tubes. Them being new production does not make them in any way superior, in fact they still have to be matched, they can still burn-up like any other old tube so you literally get worse sound for more (or the same) amount of money. For Schiit amps you can even get amazingly cheap 2C51 tubes (+ some cost for adapters initially)

 

[TK16]

Seeing I bought them, when I click on link, it shows all my personal details and
Info

But here’s a copy/paste of item description

Four Western Electric 2C51 (396A) vacuum tubes. Two are in original boxes but did not test as new. Amplitrex tested:

Tube 1 - 97/83% Gm
Tube 2 - 74/87% Gm
Tube 3 - 90/92% Gm
Tube 4 - 90/82% Gm

Please feel free to return items that do not meet your needs within the 30 day period, I only want satisfied customers! Thanks and God bless!

Mentioned in the thread that 1 pair is not a great match. Tubes your describing does not sound like Western Electric at all. Put in the other pair like Bill said.