The Stax Thread III

[joseph69]

  Interesting. Well right there they should have used NOS tubes to get the best out of the BHSE. I realise it doesn't come with NOS tubes and understand Justin has to demo it as it is sold to a customer. I wonder if the Woo Audio WA33 comes with NOS tubes as sold? 

 
Right, HeadAamp needs to demo the BHSE in stock form.
The WA33 comes with stock tubes as well.

 

[hpeter]

The greatest stax amps are from DIY

1 Big benefit is, adjust whole thing to the taste / own design..
2 Not everything can be bought; or if it does exist -- often is too expensive.
Then you are forced to diy.

 

[astrostar59]

 

  Interesting. Well right there they should have used NOS tubes to get the best out of the BHSE. I realise it doesn't come with NOS tubes and understand Justin has to demo it as it is sold to a customer. I wonder if the Woo Audio WA33 comes with NOS tubes as sold? 

 
Right, HeadAamp needs to demo the BHSE in stock form.
The WA33 comes with stock tubes as well.

I was Woo use expensive tubes as part of the list price. So no problem with that, but it does mean a higher running cost. Likewise with the BHSE, only they demo that as stock. I would say the best way to get the best out of the BHSE is on NOS tubes such as Mullards which I have heard it with v new issue Mullards.

 

[Whitigir]

Btw, these new Mullards are authentic ? Or are they knock off , anyone know ?

 

[ericj]

Btw, these new Mullards are authentic ? Or are they knock off

, anyone know ?

 
Can there be such a thing as a "new" mullard? 

 

[Whitigir]

Can there be such a thing as a "new" mullard? 

Yes, I found it here

http://www.ebay.com/itm/162342077813?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

[Sko0byDoo]

Btw, these new Mullards are authentic ? Or are they knock off , anyone know ?

New Mullards made in Russia. Same name due to a bought-out. Quality of new Mullards is not the as NOS made in england.

 

[Whitigir]

New Mullards made in Russia. Same name due to a bought-out. Quality of new Mullards is not the as NOS made in england.

That is good to know ! As long as they are out and about to produce these tubes, I am sure they will start to evolve in the future . Thanks for confirming

 

[VandyMan]

  Think many BHSE owners would disagree with that.... using the 009s

Looking at your profile, you don't seem to be a BHSE owner and I did not vote for you as our spokesperson. (kidding!)

My memory is that Justin said the BHSE design is not all that sensitive to different tubes. The demand for NOS I guess is based on the idea that modern tubes are all flawed. When the tube amp revival started thirty or so years ago and few companies made tubes anymore, that was true, but is it still the case? 

 

[astrostar59]

 

  Think many BHSE owners would disagree with that.... using the 009s

Looking at your profile, you don't seem to be a BHSE owner and I did not vote for you as our spokesperson. (kidding!)

My memory is that Justin said the BHSE design is not all that sensitive to different tubes. The demand for NOS I guess is based on the idea that modern tubes are all flawed. When the tube amp revival started thirty or so years ago and few companies made tubes anymore, that was true, but is it still the case? 

Have you tried some NOS tubes? I would recommend it. The 009 is a bit bright on stock tubes. For tubes to try ask Mulveling or Purk, or TheAttorney.

 

[astrostar59]

 

Btw, these new Mullards are authentic ? Or are they knock off

, anyone know ?

 
Can there be such a thing as a "new" mullard? 

The new issues are made in Russia. Pretty much all that is the same is the name. The old tubes sound very different.

 

[Whitigir]

How different ? The older tubes are expensive like hell . I wonder if it is worth the price

 

[bearFNF]

I like the Shuguang Treasures I am using. FWIW.

 

[Ali-Pacha]

Go Mesa Boogie. New and a bargain. Very happy with those.
 
Check also those TheAttorney posts :
http://www.head-fi.org/t/439657/headamp-blue-hawaii-special-edition/7680#post_12138337
http://www.head-fi.org/t/641737/bhse-tube-rolling/30#post_12238201
http://www.head-fi.org/t/439657/headamp-blue-hawaii-special-edition/5490#post_10691298

Ali

 

[VandyMan]

 
Have you tried some NOS tubes? I would recommend it. The 009 is a bit bright on stock tubes.

Yes, with other tube amps, I have tried NOS tubes. It gave the amp a warmer sound that I associate with greater second-order harmonic distortion. It is pleasant, but there was also a loss of resolution/transparency. It tends to give bass instruments a sound that I think of as round or juicy. Not sure if that is understandable, but it is great with some tracks. However, I like the way the 009 sounds stock, more or less. I find digital EQ more useful than tube rolling because I know what I'm getting and can make exact adjustments.