[Mr Trev]

I'm having the same problem myself right now. This one tube has alienated all the others. Tubes are such a pain.

I very, nearly, almost bought an amp solely because it used a tube like that…

 

[bcowen]

I very, nearly, almost bought an amp solely because it used a tube like that…

LOL!! Looks like it puts out almost as much power as a 6550....but also looks like a pain to implement with a bunch of shielding requirements. I love the antennas though.

 

[HellooooThar]

So my DAC just died.

Randomly.

May we all pour one out for my D10. No matter what cable I use or what computer I plug in to, it just isn't seen by that computer.

I am now staring uselessly at my Lyr 2. I also have no money

 

[Ripper2860]

So my DAC just died.

Randomly.

May we all pour one out for my D10. No matter what cable I use or what computer I plug in to, it just isn't seen by that computer.

I am now staring uselessly at my Lyr 2. I also have no money

Sorry to hear that.

 

[Keno18]

So my DAC just died.

Randomly.

May we all pour one out for my D10. No matter what cable I use or what computer I plug in to, it just isn't seen by that computer.

I am now staring uselessly at my Lyr 2. I also have no money

I'm very sorry to hear that. In the short term if you can scrape together $35, Amazon has the Xtrempro X1 dac which is a clone of the Audioquest Dragonfly v1.2. I've been using one for about a year now and the sound quality is quite good. You're just limited to 96k.

 

[HellooooThar]

I'm very sorry to hear that. In the short term if you can scrape together $35, Amazon has the Xtrempro X1 dac which is a clone of the Audioquest Dragonfly v1.2. I've been using one for about a year now and the sound quality is quite good. You're just limited to 96k.

You listened (or know anyone who has) to that Massdrop x Grace Design DAC? There seems to be kinda polar opinion about it, some hating that NWavguy had a hand in its design, some commending it as absolutely excellent.

 

[Keno18]

You listened (or know anyone who has) to that Massdrop x Grace Design DAC? There seems to be kinda polar opinion about it, some hating that NWavguy had a hand in its design, some commending it as absolutely excellent.

I think it has a limited sampling rate too. Let me see if I can find it on Massdrop Be right back

 

[Keno18]

I think it has a limited sampling rate too. Let me see if I can find it on Massdrop Be right back

Yeah, it's also limited to 96k, otherwise it's,probably a solid performer.

 

[HellooooThar]

Yeah, it's also limited to 96k, otherwise it's,probably a solid performer.

Hm. Just debating getting another D10, or getting something else. D10 I think is just a little over $90. At that range it duels the Modi (non multibit). Not sure which is better, I thought the D10 was perhaps harsh with the HE 400I at times, but I had no point of comparison.

 

[Keno18]

Hm. Just debating getting another D10, or getting something else. D10 I think is just a little over $90. At that range it duels the Modi (non multibit). Not sure which is better, I thought the D10 was perhaps harsh with the HE 400I at times, but I had no point of comparison.

You just got burned with the D10, maybe it's time to try the Modi.

 

[Old Deaf Donkey]

Melz 1578, best 6sn7 equivalent to date, as far as a single tube. I am testing more 7a4’s and black glass VT 231’s later today. In order my favorites are all 6SN7 equivalents. I have tried and own many other tubes but for me, they have to be 6sn7 type or a variable thereof.

The question concerned the Vali, now were I to put the same tubes in another amp, my answer would change. The Black glass RCA comes out way too bass heavy there, but the Ken Rad black glass is glorious in that amp!

Melz 1578
RCA black glass vt 231
RCA grey glass from 1942
Hytron CBS 5692
National Union Black glass VT 231
Sylvania 3 hole bad boy
Sylavania VT-192 pair
Tung Sol round plate
Sylvania pair of 6j5's, three hold black plates
Sylvania 7A4 pair
Foton 6H8C 1953
Ken RAD black glass VT 231
7n7 tall boys
RCA VT 231 smoked glass

In my very humble experience, some tubes sound rather different on different headphones, not just on different amp systems. For instance, at the moment, I prefer 6C8G (RCA) on AKG K702, and 5760 (WE396A) on HE400i, whilst 6SN7 (Tung-Sol "mouse ears") seems to work well on both. I am waiting to try the 6J5 pairs, some are arriving from the US next week, some from Ukraine only Lord knows when... Still have not found any 1578 Melz with round holes for reasonable prices, even in Russia they are up to $50-60 + shipping and almost impossible to find.

 

[Paladin79]

Be very careful if you start to buy some 1578 Melz, there are indicators you should look for. The tubes in the $50-$60 range have the holes but that is only one of three indicators you should look for. The other are a stepped bottom mica and metal wings at the top. The ones with those features tend to go for $90-$120. I watch the postings nearly daily and the Russians tend to know what they have and what they should go for. On occasion you might see a used tube with proper markings go at a lower rate. BGRANT.RU is where I bought mine, alone with 9 or 10 friends and they are the real thing.

These are correct but I do not know the seller. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Matched-Pair-of-1578-Tubes-6SN7GT-ECC32-6CC10-6H8C-MELZ-Metal

this one has the holes but the other two indicators are wrong. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1x-Radio-T...318146?hash=item2617c18e82:g:gKgAAOSwQ9xckprm

If you are in doubt, PM me before buying and I will try to make sure you are not getting ripped off.

 

[Old Deaf Donkey]

Be very careful if you start to buy some 1578 Melz, there are indicators you should look for. The tubes in the $50-$60 range have the holes but that is only one of three indicators you should look for. The other are a stepped bottom mica and metal wings at the top. The ones with those features tend to go for $90-$120. I watch the postings nearly daily and the Russians tend to know what they have and what they should go for. On occasion you might see a used tube with proper markings go at a lower rate. BGRANT.RU is where I bought mine, alone with 9 or 10 friends and they are the real thing.

These are correct but I do not know the seller. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Matched-Pair-of-1578-Tubes-6SN7GT-ECC32-6CC10-6H8C-MELZ-Metal

this one has the holes but the other two indicators are wrong. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1x-Radio-T...318146?hash=item2617c18e82:g:gKgAAOSwQ9xckprm

Many thanks for your guidance. bgrant.ru does not open. I will not pay a $100 for a tube for vali, anyway.

 

[bcowen]

Be very careful if you start to buy some 1578 Melz, there are indicators you should look for. The tubes in the $50-$60 range have the holes but that is only one of three indicators you should look for. The other are a stepped bottom mica and metal wings at the top. The ones with those features tend to go for $90-$120. I watch the postings nearly daily and the Russians tend to know what they have and what they should go for. On occasion you might see a used tube with proper markings go at a lower rate. BGRANT.RU is where I bought mine, alone with 9 or 10 friends and they are the real thing.

These are correct but I do not know the seller. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Matched-Pair-of-1578-Tubes-6SN7GT-ECC32-6CC10-6H8C-MELZ-Metal-Base-Holed-Anode/123642743576?hash=item1cc9ae8b18&enc=AQADAAAC8FjVrDbVsZ8oH/8PNHtt9VX4/w7FZcmMuqsX8uaFEduVCYl1IXoXW7DOaTxRd3TfY3De1zNxPJPrZilNg71xkWDbtAvTLixjpxIKMrsU9qrV+Y6h2YKfX4LNiNboyY7gM0q5nev69zQvXIn8Pn5N/LIkx/geUlYKDYwZ1yBgjwlZcHgxUz8Rl6WfzTJe4H7UlyTdSqY0O9U5wZId4oz6/7d5p+Mr6erM5190kJwHq8NlYurhUgtjzlOqrj07rA06wFfbvzYmiwPD/wekACZviXFlttEHat6b0jgZtl2uMFSf9kZ7IN5UVgC0kXNt9QyOj/ed5M2cTIdS9eaRB/I0pnbXa1Z8OXSH8hK5wwmPN+mwnV9HHqgVCJFDT9eUcm89rDY432cWZsaM9wJYSYWsVu4yBwIfxUSZI61se1RehehCvyCsjRbV+ZQnfFLqKqG5566DY4hxRtZk6RoBxICnfytTGfzW2EWvfzN7Jltq420WnIUkpWAmS9p7NXPn050Z9L+l5uaqakjkpqokV2NaoR19tLi8jP4DOqDMEec5W9djvDYPLJ/GDIC0ZzfKTxbHIQcsEYnRIzOT0dtuM5Jx7Kn56CcMDWue/TwfC3Z4D+3B9jlVVGFsrd/aV/pbruPsEVk/nZ3k1MeCZoIf67qhslv+C+XGq9VNpAeD4aFbN/h5uR2AW6TsEO9e4v7RvDnEp6tmOujpDauGUTQK3p3zWMeTSMJi3l/pr2On0B6Sv5YyIu6l899rMmBq9FYlF/+PaCWe51y2D8K/FV3OVdmQ96khcQJhuMmzY76e7QO2hq4LEKT2MLjjRq79VInj84v0QI2UlvAdsoEQmNzw0qrBqYksUaJ3u85k900wudYU+wEca33PeiCpGoke6rOwfn5NT4sPbr2e6Z1hOMU4OvKj8qg9A21EM6UYX9BnQjRB7p6xO0/6nbJQxypCyv+bypcUPBt/qNzWIw82qmfqx0d1kHmUwrpH6zZ9J4g8fs5dGcGp&checksum=123642743576f564a816719943c69490618820a53436

this one has the holes but the other two indicators are wrong. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1x-Radio-T...318146?hash=item2617c18e82:g:gKgAAOSwQ9xckprm

Full credit for this to @ilikepooters who posted this in another thread. Really nice:

 

[Paladin79]

Sorry that was not a link, just the name of the seller I trust. Than ks for giving credit where credit is due on the photo Bill, I have that one somewhere but it is not easily accessible so I was going by memory.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1x-1578-6N...m261891959e:g:g0sAAOSwiOZcTAXD&frcectupt=true


Totally understandable on the Vali and the price point. I use 6sn7's in other amps including this one so it is less of a stretch for me to pay more for a given tube. There is a big difference in using the dual, single triodes if you get a chance to try those out. You can get metal can 6j5's for very little money or pay substantially for some of the older ST's.