Powermankw
500+ Head-Fier
What a difference a few days make. First, I need to thank JTbbb for all his help and excellent tubes. With all the talk of ECC32s, I had to give them a try. Other than the blue balls that came with my Baltic 4, I run real 3-hole 52 Bad boys. They sound fantastic especially with all other tube upgrades.
I plugged in the Mullard... Meh. Nothing special. Not bad, just not better. I put some Brimmar CV-1988s in... Very close to the Sylvania. A little disappointed, I've heard such great things. Put some time on them, nothing. Make my mind up to move the mullars keep the Brimmar simply based on my preferences.
But I noticed some spots forming above the heating elements... Like flashing. Wasn't there before. Long story short, they had zero hours on them, not even burned in. Put more time on them.... Oh... They're special alright. They have that Signature Mullard bottom end, but calling them warm would be a disservice. I think the top end is better, certainly more refined. Stage and space are better. What a fantastic tube... That I nearly moved.
And it's not my imagination, when I first plugged them in, they sounded good, but a clear step back. My bad boys are spares now. They are more mid forward, more in your face, in a good way. They really are very good top to bottom. Not going anywhere.
I put more time on the Brimmars... Those too had hardly no time on them. They developed spots too, but not to same extent. They did get better. I still consider them equal to the Sylvania. But where they shine is they are not in your face, but they are more accurate. They almost make the Sylvania sound colored. Very transparent top to bottom. Very easy to listen too. I just don't need all three. The last piece to my puzzle. Some one should enjoy them, they look fresh from the factory. PM me, they are available.
Then... A while back, I got a pair of 12BH7 Sylvania oval plates to try. Clear step back compared to my Mazda ladder plate 12AU7s. Love those Mazdas. Well those 12BH7s were up for sale, but not anymore. I put more time on those... Which I did before... A day or two... But I tried them for giggles, they were not bad. With more time, I think they equal my Mazdas for sure. I give the win to the 12BH7s by a hair. I think stage and space is better with the oval plates. So now my Mazdas are back to spares for my amp. And I think I picked up a bit of volume which is always good.
I just never assume NOS means not used. All my other tubes have never changed with any burn in. But they I would have made a big mistake. Even more real, more space, that incredible Mullard bottom end. So easy to listen to. So pleasing. Stopped comparing and lust listened to stuff for another hour. I'm officially done.
I plugged in the Mullard... Meh. Nothing special. Not bad, just not better. I put some Brimmar CV-1988s in... Very close to the Sylvania. A little disappointed, I've heard such great things. Put some time on them, nothing. Make my mind up to move the mullars keep the Brimmar simply based on my preferences.
But I noticed some spots forming above the heating elements... Like flashing. Wasn't there before. Long story short, they had zero hours on them, not even burned in. Put more time on them.... Oh... They're special alright. They have that Signature Mullard bottom end, but calling them warm would be a disservice. I think the top end is better, certainly more refined. Stage and space are better. What a fantastic tube... That I nearly moved.
And it's not my imagination, when I first plugged them in, they sounded good, but a clear step back. My bad boys are spares now. They are more mid forward, more in your face, in a good way. They really are very good top to bottom. Not going anywhere. I put more time on the Brimmars... Those too had hardly no time on them. They developed spots too, but not to same extent. They did get better. I still consider them equal to the Sylvania. But where they shine is they are not in your face, but they are more accurate. They almost make the Sylvania sound colored. Very transparent top to bottom. Very easy to listen too. I just don't need all three. The last piece to my puzzle. Some one should enjoy them, they look fresh from the factory. PM me, they are available.
Then... A while back, I got a pair of 12BH7 Sylvania oval plates to try. Clear step back compared to my Mazda ladder plate 12AU7s. Love those Mazdas. Well those 12BH7s were up for sale, but not anymore. I put more time on those... Which I did before... A day or two... But I tried them for giggles, they were not bad. With more time, I think they equal my Mazdas for sure. I give the win to the 12BH7s by a hair. I think stage and space is better with the oval plates. So now my Mazdas are back to spares for my amp. And I think I picked up a bit of volume which is always good.
I just never assume NOS means not used. All my other tubes have never changed with any burn in. But they I would have made a big mistake. Even more real, more space, that incredible Mullard bottom end. So easy to listen to. So pleasing. Stopped comparing and lust listened to stuff for another hour. I'm officially done.
. One thing to note though, NOS does not necessarily mean “never been used.” In many adverts it can simply mean the tube Measures NOS values.
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