[wolfetan44]

Quote:

My brother have the ODAC and O2 for his 650.  He then replaced the amp/DAC combo with Lyr and Gungnir.  I had the opportunity to listen to the combo last Christmas eve.  No contest!  Not even close.  I should have brought my Bifrost to see how much difference the DAC makes.  I think I have the Mjolnir in my future, after I finish the prototype headphone amp I am making.
 
cheers!

Thats a $300 combo compared to a $1150 combo.. I hope the Lyr + Gungir is better

 

[amandarae]

Quote:

Thats a $300 combo compared to a $1150 combo.. I hope the Lyr + Gungir is better

Exactly my point!  If you buy a $300 or so combo, then you try to upgrade a couple of times but in actuality you are just moving parallel at the price point, how much does that will cost in the end?  Then what's next, cables?  

 

[MattTCG]

Quote:

Hey Matt, not to derail the thread or anything, but what do you think of these Orange Globes:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/AMPEREX-ORANGE-LABEL-6DJ8-ECC88-VACUUM-TUBE-1971-5-A-FRAME-GETTER-PAIR-/321010435508?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D13901%26meid%3D4441680503826785906%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1095%26rk%3D3%26sd%3D321028284987%26
I'm curious.

 
They are VERY good. I have bought two sets of tubes from this guy and he stands behind his stuff. I have no problem giving my best recommendation. 

 

[kookoo]

Quote:

Hey Matt, not to derail the thread or anything, but what do you think of these Orange Globes:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/AMPEREX-ORANGE-LABEL-6DJ8-ECC88-VACUUM-TUBE-1971-5-A-FRAME-GETTER-PAIR-/321010435508?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D13901%26meid%3D4441680503826785906%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1095%26rk%3D3%26sd%3D321028284987%26
I'm curious.

 
 
Quote:

 
They are VERY good. I have bought two sets of tubes from this guy and he stands behind his stuff. I have no problem giving my best recommendation. 

 
Just curious about tubes...i see the manufacture dates as 1971-75, won't we at some point run out of tubes or are there some secret factories which are still churning out this stuff?
Part of the reason I never went with tubes was the fear that it may run out of stock and/or become very expensive to keep replacing.
Also...how long do tubes last for?

 

[MattTCG]

^^ It depends. I've had tubes arrive that were not in working order and had audible hum. I've also had them last a few weeks and develop issues. But for the most part if you are careful they can last years. Anywhere from 2k-5k hours. It's hard to predict really.
 
I'd suggest getting a set that you really enjoy and do just that...enjoy. They is a finite number of vintage tubes. Of course they are still being made and will continue to be. The stock GE bulbs from Schitt don't sound bad at all. 

 

[kookoo]

Quote:

^^ It depends. I've had tubes arrive that were not in working order and had audible hum. I've also had them last a few weeks and develop issues. But for the most part if you are careful they can last years. Anywhere from 2k-5k hours. It's hard to predict really.
 
I'd suggest getting a set that you really enjoy and do just that...enjoy. They is a finite number of vintage tubes. Of course they are still being made and will continue to be. The stock GE bulbs from Schitt don't sound bad at all. 

2K hours, that's heaps, certainly not the impression most people gave me (non audiophiles - i guess they would really be the worse person to ask to comment about tubes).
 
So presumably with the genuine old tubes, they will only increase in price correct?

 

[longbowbbs]

Quote:

2K hours, that's heaps, certainly not the impression most people gave me (non audiophiles - i guess they would really be the worse person to ask to comment about tubes).
 
So presumably with the genuine old tubes, they will only increase in price correct?

 
A lot depends on the load the particular amp places on them. My Decware is easy on tubes and 2K+ is not unusual.

 

[MattTCG]

Yes, the older tubes will only increase in price as their stock becomes more limited...supply and demand. I have not tested a set of tubes to verify that you can actually get that much usage. I've only had a tube amp for a year and have rolled tubes several times. I'm set with the Amperex Orange Globes. They hit all the check boxes for me. I hope that they last five years!!

 

[kookoo]

Quote:

Yes, the older tubes will only increase in price as their stock becomes more limited...supply and demand. I have not tested a set of tubes to verify that you can actually get that much usage. I've only had a tube amp for a year and have rolled tubes several times. I'm set with the Amperex Orange Globes. They hit all the check boxes for me. I hope that they last five years!!

And with that comment I am off to buy a tube amp. Good thing it's not Jan 1st and my new year resolution hasn't kicked in yet

 

[jazzerdave]

Quote:

Yes, the older tubes will only increase in price as their stock becomes more limited...supply and demand. I have not tested a set of tubes to verify that you can actually get that much usage. I've only had a tube amp for a year and have rolled tubes several times. I'm set with the Amperex Orange Globes. They hit all the check boxes for me. I hope that they last five years!!

 
Quote:

And with that comment I am off to buy a tube amp. Good thing it's not Jan 1st and my new year resolution hasn't kicked in yet

 
I wouldn't worry about buying a tube amp.  Some of the new production tubes are actually excellent. 
 
Just to name a few of the better product lines:
Gold Lion
Shuguang/Psvane Treasures
Sophia Electric
European Audio Team (EAT)
Emission Labs
 
The only thing to be at least a little careful about is which models of tubes your new amp uses if you feel at some point you'd like to switch to new production tubes.  The 5687 is a tube that is not currently in production.  Currently there are decent NOS supplies of these that are lower in price relative to the 12AX7 or 6DJ8 families of tubes, but eventually the supplies may dry up.

 

[kookoo]

Quote:

 
 
I wouldn't worry about buying a tube amp.  Some of the new production tubes are actually excellent. 
 
Just to name a few of the better product lines:
Gold Lion
Shuguang/Psvane Treasures
Sophia Electric
European Audio Team (EAT)
Emission Labs
 
The only thing to be at least a little careful about is which models of tubes your new amp uses if you feel at some point you'd like to switch to new production tubes.  The 5687 is a tube that is not currently in production.  Currently there are decent NOS supplies of these that are lower in price relative to the 12AX7 or 6DJ8 families of tubes, but eventually the supplies may dry up.

 
So that's something to think about, is there a list/database of NOS tubes (model) or is it something that i just have to search for individually?
Frankly those numbers and letters mean absolutely nothing to me right now...Do they mean anything? Or just some model name the manufacturer decided to use

 

[swmtnbiker]

Quote:

They are VERY good. I have bought two sets of tubes from this guy and he stands behind his stuff. I have no problem giving my best recommendation. 

 
Thanks for the feedback Matt. Just pulled the trigger on a pair:
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=321010435508
 
and he's in my town too. 

 

[MattTCG]

^^ Nice!! Those are a very good deal for the $...very nice pair. You'll enjoy them no doubt. Let me know what you think once you get them.

 

[yokken]

I just pulled the trigger on some Orange Amperex as well, Tektronix ones. Apparently they only let the best ones out of their factory, something about taking pride in well-made products. Offered him $50 for a pair. Can't wait to throw them in my Lyr 

 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/221145795394
 
I should say, I feel guilty... I haven't used my 650s in over a week. The 880s are stealing my heart. Sometimes the vocals are so good on the 880s that I think I'm listening to the 650s. I'm not even kidding. I'm sure after a while I will miss the sound of the 650s and spend a week with them. But until that point, I'm going to enjoy the crystal clarity and air of my 880s. That said, my friend asked me yesterday if I could only pick one to listen to for the rest of my life, I'd have to go with the 650s. There is just something very musical, comforting and warm about them. They do some things better than anything I've heard (vocals) but they don't do anything badly. They're just an amazing headphone.

 

[wazzupi]

so I opened up my hd650's today and I find a piece of white tape rolled up near the corner of the inside lmao....