[Wes S]

So I've had a few weeks with the new MJ2/Gumby and trying different tubes. Here's what I've discovered so far:

First, Zack at ZMF makes some insanely good headphones. My VC stabilized are breaking in nicely - which helps for tube rolling analysis of course. Classical and Rock are the main genres for testing. I also tried to give each set time to burn in a bit. On to the tubes (in order of preference - best last):

Amperex 7308 6DJ8 White Lettering: Overpriced in my opinion. They had decent dynamic range but had lots of artifacts and seemed to get congested quite easily. I just didn't like this one much at all.

Tungsram ECC88 Grey Plate Solid Disc Getter: I didn't have the black nickel plates in yet (thanks to Wes for the info on those) so I got some gray plates instead. Not bad. Pretty balanced but lacked clarity compared to some of the nicer tubes. If you can pick some up cheap these aren't bad. Before nicer tubes came in I found myself using these most actually.

Brimar KB/FB 12AT7 CV455: Now these were impressive. They slam REALLY hard in my opinion. A bit too much for my taste, and lacked just a bit of clarity from some of the others I liked better, but these are really great tubes. I got them from Langrex so not the greatest CV455's out there for sure - but they were pretty darn good for the money.

RFT ECC81 With Folded Plate Tabs: Thanks to Wes for the heads up again on which RFT tubes to roll. Very, very clear tubes - but a bit bright for my taste. I think that's true for maybe all RFTs? I also tried the ECC82 with the folded plate tabs and I liked them just a bit better. The clarity is pretty crazy in these. If you don't mind a brighter sound these are outstanding for the money.

Amperex ECC88 6DJ8 PQ Orange Lettering: These things are pretty sick. Great soundstage, clarity, balance. Only flaw I find is that in the 600 to 700 Hz range there's a bit of a bump. They can be a bit more difficult to find but I actually picked up 5 of them for $20 each!

Tungsram ECC82 Solid Disc Getter w/Nickel Black Plates (no holes): Yep the one that Wes likes so much. Took A LOT of searching, but I found some (at not too bad of a price). These have been the best overall. Great dynamics (outstanding actually), very balanced, great clarity, just about everything you could ask for.

In the next couple of weeks (as they come in) I'll be trying some Tungsram E88CC's and some Philips 6201 E81CC SQ (not pinched). I'd love to hear a pair of the 6201's pinched, but the pocketbook has been hit hard enough for now. Thanks again to Wes for all your help and others on here that share such valuable info!

Good stuff man!

 

[busseysound]

Good stuff man!

What news on fuses?

 

[regaet]

So I've had a few weeks with the new MJ2/Gumby and trying different tubes. Here's what I've discovered so far:

First, Zack at ZMF makes some insanely good headphones. My VC stabilized are breaking in nicely - which helps for tube rolling analysis of course. Classical and Rock are the main genres for testing. I also tried to give each set time to burn in a bit. On to the tubes (in order of preference - best last):

RFT ECC81 With Folded Plate Tabs: Thanks to Wes for the heads up again on which RFT tubes to roll. Very, very clear tubes - but a bit bright for my taste. I think that's true for maybe all RFTs? I also tried the ECC82 with the folded plate tabs and I liked them just a bit better. The clarity is pretty crazy in these. If you don't mind a brighter sound these are outstanding for the money.

Just out of curiosity how long did you burn the RFT ECC81's in?

 

[regaet]

Oops, double post.

 

[Wes S]

What news on fuses?

Funny you should mention it, as I just put in my payment for the Pre-Order of this one yesterday, and can't wait to hear what it can do. I should have it in a couple weeks, and this will be my first audiophile grade fuse and I am pumped. I have read nothing but great things about SR fuses. . .

 

[busseysound]

Probably didn't burn in the ECC81's in long enough - I should give them more time (and the RFT ECC82's)

 

[busseysound]

Funny you should mention it, as I just put in my payment for the Pre-Order of this one yesterday, and can't wait to hear what it can do. I should have it in a couple weeks, and this will be my first audiophile grade fuse and I am pumped. I have read nothing but great things about SR fuses. . .

Keep us posted!

 

[TK16]

Found a couple good deals on Heerlen ECC82 pair 58's and a quad of 7316 O getter 59's auction.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/CLEAN-MATC...3-91f4-4afd-a78a-72ef801ec6be&redirect=mobile

https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Amperex-...c-810b-4634-ade4-692a098a13b0&redirect=mobile

 

[regaet]

Probably didn't burn in the ECC81's in long enough - I should give them more time (and the RFT ECC82's)

In my Valhalla it took a good 50-60 hrs to lose the edgy brightness that bugged me. They are now very smooth and still very detailed .

 

[Guidostrunk]

Finally got my gumby back yesterday. Anyone on the fence about the Unison upgrade, just do it! It blows away Gen5 lol. 2 weeks without tunes was tough.

 

[bcowen]

Found a couple good deals on Heerlen ECC82 pair 58's and a quad of 7316 O getter 59's auction.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/CLEAN-MATCHED-Pair-1958-Amperex-ECC82-12AU7-SCRIPT-Logo-FOIL-Getter-TEST-STRONG/234211901970?_trkparms=amclksrc=ITM&aid=111001&algo=REC.SEED&ao=1&asc=234294&meid=44bc1495266046afb70d275cd3c523c3&pid=100675&rk=1&rkt=15&sd=234211901970&itm=234211901970&pmt=0&noa=1&pg=2380057&brand=Amperex,pageci:73dbab79-22d4-11ec-8b30-2abcee6a9580|parentrq:3cae7f6517c0a9fc3c10be7afffffef8|iid:1&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&pageci=348ba903-91f4-4afd-a78a-72ef801ec6be&redirect=mobile

https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Amperex-7316-12Au7-tubes-Heerlen-Factory-1959-same-production-line/115014231702?_trkparms=amclksrc=ITM&aid=111001&algo=REC.SEED&ao=1&asc=234294&meid=44bc1495266046afb70d275cd3c523c3&pid=100675&rk=9&rkt=15&sd=234211901970&itm=115014231702&pmt=0&noa=1&pg=2380057&brand=Amperex,pageci:73dbab79-22d4-11ec-8b30-2abcee6a9580|parentrq:3cae7f6517c0a9fc3c10be7afffffef8|iid:1&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&pageci=c0aed4ac-810b-4634-ade4-692a098a13b0&redirect=mobile

Wait...those are tubes. I thought we were doing fuses now? I'm so confused.

 

[jonathan c]

Wait...those are tubes. I thought we were doing fuses now? I'm so confused.

Don’t be confused…be contubed…

 

[regaet]

Wow, I just checked https://www.ebay.com/itm/265338520720?ViewItem=&item=265338520720 and there are only 3 RFT ECC81's left. Glad I already ordered a backup pair!

Update: sold out

 

[jonathan c]

There might have to be a RFT thread…Anyway, I find that the RFT ECC81 is a magnificent partner to the Melz 1578 6N8s in the Linear Tube Audio MZ3*! I think of the Les McCann album title “Invitation to Openness” (Atlantic Records, 1972) and the music therein. RFT soundscape to unbelievable horizons…not in the artificially wide Sennheiser HD-800 sense…but is as Wes would say “out there!”…filled with gradated layers of reverberation. The music sounds as though it has been binaurally recorded, where the transition from “in the head” to “beyond the head” is seamless… All this augments clarity and dynamics to the nth degree…No comment on tonality for all the best reasons…the tube itself and in the MZ3 is Really F~~~ing Terrific…
(* Uses 6SN7 and 12AT7 natively [no adapters].)

 

[Wes S]

There might have to be a RFT thread…Anyway, I find that the RFT ECC81 is a magnificent partner to the Melz 1578 6N8s in the Linear Tube Audio MZ3*! I think of the Les McCann album title “Invitation to Openness” (Atlantic Records, 1972) and the music therein. RFT soundscape to unbelievable horizons…not in the artificially wide Sennheiser HD-800 sense…but is as Wes would say “out there!”…filled with gradated layers of reverberation. The music sounds as though it has been binaurally recorded, where the transition from “in the head” to “beyond the head” is seamless… All this augments clarity and dynamics to the nth degree…No comment on tonality for all the best reasons…the tube itself and in the MZ3 is Really F~~~ing Terrific…
(* Uses 6SN7 and 12AT7 natively [no adapters].)

Well. . .I think that just might be the best description yet! Well said bro and by the way they sound pretty f-ing terrific in the RH-5 as well.