The Reference 6J5 Thread (L63, 6C5, 12J5, 6P5, etc.)

[GDuss]

For anyone who can use the Tung Sol 12J5's, the seller I bought them from still has them (if you're interested of course, and if you are, they're reasonably priced):

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Tung-Sol-J...123600?hash=item51e5e1ae10:g:hfgAAOxyTyBSXaSh

 

[Old Deaf Donkey]

Anyone ever tried 6j5wgt Jan Philips Ecg?

 

[chrisdrop]

Anyone ever tried 6j5wgt Jan Philips Ecg?

The ones at Langrex seem to have very recent date codes (1980s). I would avoid such recent manufactured tubes in general. Perhaps that is an invalid bias, but the tubes I have from the 80s I don't love.

 

[Old Deaf Donkey]

The ones at Langrex seem to have very recent date codes (1980s). I would avoid such recent manufactured tubes in general. Perhaps that is an invalid bias, but the tubes I have from the 80s I don't love.

Thank you, same view here, these are advertised as 1985 at Langrex. I wondered if anyone heard them? Yet probably not worth bothering

 

[GDuss]

The ones at Langrex seem to have very recent date codes (1980s). I would avoid such recent manufactured tubes in general. Perhaps that is an invalid bias, but the tubes I have from the 80s I don't love.

The only JAN/Philips tubes I have ever used are 6080's, from the 80's. I have a couple of them from when I bought the Woo WA3 (I think the amp came with them). They're definitely not my favorite tubes, and may actually be my least favorite 6080's in my collection. That said, I'd hate to characterize all 80's tubes as not worth bothering with, I'm sure there are some good ones out there.

 

[CAJames]

Anyone ever tried 6j5wgt Jan Philips Ecg?

Philips ECG has a pretty bad reputation (for audio, I don't know about the actual military applications). Worst tubes I ever bought are JAN Philips ECG 6922s, and it isn't close. From the 80's, naturally.

 

[Old Deaf Donkey]

For anyone who can use the Tung Sol 12J5's, the seller I bought them from still has them (if you're interested of course, and if you are, they're reasonably priced):

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Tung-Sol-J...123600?hash=item51e5e1ae10:g:hfgAAOxyTyBSXaSh

I reckon I cannot use them through an adapter in Vali 2 as I use 6J5 and 7A4 tubes. Or can I? 12A*U tubes can be used in Vali 2 through an adapter...

 

[bcowen]

Philips ECG has a pretty bad reputation (for audio, I don't know about the actual military applications). Worst tubes I ever bought are JAN Philips ECG 6922s, and it isn't close. From the 80's, naturally.

Could not agree more. Same with the Philips ECG 5814. I have yet to hear any Philips ECG (blue or green print) that sounds much different than a cheap AM clock radio. Shrill, screechy, fatiguing, harmonically bereft, and basically awful sounding tubes, not to exaggerate or anything. Add ECG labeled 6SN7's and 12AU7's to the list. I haven't tried them all obviously, but after 4 types that sound like Especially Crappy Garbage, I wouldn't touch another one even if it was free. In fact, I'd probably want to send an invoice for a free one if it added to my trash pickup cost for the month.

 

[bcowen]

I reckon I cannot use them through an adapter in Vali 2 as I use 6J5 and 7A4 tubes. Or can I? 12A*U tubes can be used in Vali 2 through an adapter...

The Vali 2 has a 6.3 volt heater circuit. I'm not aware of an adapter that can increase that to 12.6 volts, although one may exist somewhere that I haven't seen. The 12A*7 group of tubes work fine in the Vali because they were designed to operate at either 6.3 or 12.6 volts, so the adapter simply wires them for 6.3v operation.

 

[GDuss]

The Vali 2 has a 6.3 volt heater circuit. I'm not aware of an adapter that can increase that to 12.6 volts, although one may exist somewhere that I haven't seen. The 12A*7 group of tubes work fine in the Vali because they were designed to operate at either 6.3 or 12.6 volts, so the adapter simply wires them for 6.3v operation.

Thanks for the input on the Vali 2. I don't know the details of this amp. The GOTL has a switch to change the SN7 driver slot from 6V to 12V (or even 25V if you want). So you can easily use tubes of any of those voltages. I haven't noticed much difference in the sound between a 6V and 12V version of the same tube type (assuming everything else is equivalent). The 12V versions are just usually cheaper.

 

[leftside]

Thanks for the input on the Vali 2. I don't know the details of this amp. The GOTL has a switch to change the SN7 driver slot from 6V to 12V (or even 25V if you want). So you can easily use tubes of any of those voltages. I haven't noticed much difference in the sound between a 6V and 12V version of the same tube type (assuming everything else is equivalent). The 12V versions are just usually cheaper.

The 12V option is a great option to have. For example the TS BGRP 12SN7 sounds exactly the same as the TS BGRP 6SN7.

Custom amp builders can build whatever you want (within reason). I have a 6SN7/6SL7/6J5/C3g/12SN7/12SL7 selector switch. I can also run 6N7 in the 6J5 sockets. And then with adapters in the C3g, 6J5, 6SN7 sockets...

 

[L0rdGwyn]

You could technically build an adapter to run 12.6VDC on the heaters from a 6.3VAC supply using a voltage doubler (depending on what is going on inside the Vali 2 heater supply and its compatibility, I am not familiar with it), but that would be one heck of an adapter! Better off just using the 6.3V versions methinks.

 

[Old Deaf Donkey]

The Vali 2 has a 6.3 volt heater circuit. I'm not aware of an adapter that can increase that to 12.6 volts, although one may exist somewhere that I haven't seen. The 12A*7 group of tubes work fine in the Vali because they were designed to operate at either 6.3 or 12.6 volts, so the adapter simply wires them for 6.3v operation.

Thank you, I see the light now

 

[bcowen]

Thanks for the input on the Vali 2. I don't know the details of this amp. The GOTL has a switch to change the SN7 driver slot from 6V to 12V (or even 25V if you want). So you can easily use tubes of any of those voltages. I haven't noticed much difference in the sound between a 6V and 12V version of the same tube type (assuming everything else is equivalent). The 12V versions are just usually cheaper.

Adjustable filament voltage like that is WAY cool. I'm betting there's a bunch of awesome sounding 12v octals out there that are super cheap because most everyone is stomping all over the 6 volt-ers.

I sure hope @Paladin79 is listening.

I have a 1633 tube (a 25v 6SN7) I bought by mistake because I was too much of a dumba$$ to notice the 25v part. Since your amp can be set to supply 25v to the heaters, PM me your shipping address (if you're comfortable doing that) and I'll be happy to gift it to you. I can't use it, and no sense in letting it just sit here unloved. Already have too many love-less tubes. Might be an awesome sounding tube in an amp that can run it.

 

[GDuss]

Adjustable filament voltage like that is WAY cool. I'm betting there's a bunch of awesome sounding 12v octals out there that are super cheap because most everyone is stomping all over the 6 volt-ers.

I sure hope @Paladin79 is listening.

I have a 1633 tube (a 25v 6SN7) I bought by mistake because I was too much of a dumba$$ to notice the 25v part. Since your amp can be set to supply 25v to the heaters, PM me your shipping address (if you're comfortable doing that) and I'll be happy to gift it to you. I can't use it, and no sense in letting it just sit here unloved. Already have too many love-less tubes. Might be an awesome sounding tube in an amp that can run it.

The voltage switch is a great feature as I'm sure other owners of the GOTL would agree with. It's been helpful in cases where the 12V version of a tube was available but the 6V wasn't (e.g. in the case of the TS BGRP 12SN7 that @leftside mentioned above).

And you are way too kind to offer the 1633 tube. Funny enough, I already have that exact tube, although I'm not sure of the year it was made. It's a great sounding tube, and sounds similar to the smoked glass RCA 12V and 6V versions I have that I know are from the early to mid-40's.

If you are willing to keep the offer open, maybe there is another GOTL (or similar amp) owner who hasn't tried that 25V tube. Either way, thanks for the offer. It's always great to meet generous fellow members of this forum.