Vali 2 tube rolling
Apr 26, 2019 at 5:06 PM Post #2,281 of 6,437
IMG_0748.jpg My finished headphone stand in quartered oak, no wires show, switch is mounted in the base for right now, batteries and LED's are replaceable, as are the tubes.IMG_0751.jpg
 
Apr 27, 2019 at 9:03 AM Post #2,283 of 6,437
I have and they are very good sounding tubes. Black glass oval plates?
 
Apr 27, 2019 at 9:47 AM Post #2,284 of 6,437
Anyone tried out a tung-sol 6sn7gt vt 231 in their vali2? I’m eyeing on online.

I have two so-called "mouse ears", grey T-plates - if that's what you mean, not marked VT 231. Excellent, euphonic sound, very clear and airy. EDIT: I see. That's different stuff. VT 231 go for $300-400 apiece. Not my league.
 
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Apr 27, 2019 at 9:54 AM Post #2,285 of 6,437
VT 231 is the military version, they generally say VT 231 right on the tube. Some are marked JAN as well.IMG_0767.jpg
 
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Apr 28, 2019 at 7:23 AM Post #2,286 of 6,437
VT 231 is the military version, they generally say VT 231 right on the tube. Some are marked JAN as well.
An interesting story, Just bought 2 more MELZ 6N8S from a guy in Russia. During exchange of emails, it transpired that he - a retired Soviet high-ranking officer - bought this pair of MELZ many years ago from Canada (!). A week later he bought a pair of Tung-Sol VT-231 black glass from 1942 and ever since only listens to them, changing to a new pair every couple of years. Now, getting old, he decided to get rid of his other tubes. So I got lucky with the MELZ.
 
Apr 28, 2019 at 8:08 AM Post #2,287 of 6,437
I found a seller in Russia with five Melz he had not listed but unfortunately he wanted nearly $500 for them, about the going price.

I am not sure what was so good about the year 1942 but my favorite grey glass RCA's are from that time period. Maybe just knowing what was going on with the world and the short run of grey and black glass adds to the value, or perhaps the inside coating makes a slight difference.
 
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Apr 28, 2019 at 10:46 AM Post #2,288 of 6,437
My finished headphone stand in quartered oak, no wires show, switch is mounted in the base for right now, batteries and LED's are replaceable, as are the tubes.

Sweet! That's just gorgeous, Tom.
 
Apr 28, 2019 at 10:51 AM Post #2,289 of 6,437
I have two so-called "mouse ears", grey T-plates - if that's what you mean, not marked VT 231. Excellent, euphonic sound, very clear and airy. EDIT: I see. That's different stuff. VT 231 go for $300-400 apiece. Not my league.

I have one Mouse Ear, bought from a vendor regularly noted here. Tests at bare minimum good levels although it was advertised as NOS. Doesn't do much for me, but that could be due to the fact it's close to dead as far as GM. I'll look for a Mouse Ear that tests well and my opinion could easily change.
 
Apr 28, 2019 at 11:28 AM Post #2,290 of 6,437
I have one Mouse Ear, bought from a vendor regularly noted here.

I'm pretty sure he tube is supposed to have 2 mouse ears. Could be why it measures low. :wink:
 
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Apr 28, 2019 at 11:37 AM Post #2,291 of 6,437
I'm pretty sure he tube is supposed to have 2 mouse ears. Could be why it measure low. :wink:

Oh sure. Right. Like you have 2 ears or something? Gimme a break.

:slight_smile:
 
Apr 28, 2019 at 11:39 AM Post #2,292 of 6,437
An interesting story, Just bought 2 more MELZ 6N8S from a guy in Russia. During exchange of emails, it transpired that he - a retired Soviet high-ranking officer - bought this pair of MELZ many years ago from Canada (!). A week later he bought a pair of Tung-Sol VT-231 black glass from 1942 and ever since only listens to them, changing to a new pair every couple of years. Now, getting old, he decided to get rid of his other tubes. So I got lucky with the MELZ.

A soviet officer?! As a sea-cadet-obsessed teenager in the 80s, I had a very screwed up mental image of the Soviets. I'm not a religious man... but it's cool to see how a ColdWar veteran was able to pass on his love of analog to a former enemy. And no, I'm not going to burst into a Sting song, Russians. :)
 
Apr 28, 2019 at 11:44 AM Post #2,293 of 6,437
Apr 28, 2019 at 12:05 PM Post #2,294 of 6,437
Sweet! That's just gorgeous, Tom.

Bill I will make one out of curly cherry and you can see how you like it. I left one unfinished for another friend so he could match it to a bottlehead crack case. Soon I should have access to some aged barn wood if you like that effect more, rustic is much easier to make, a slip of a chisel or router would be less noticeable.

Shown below is an unfinished kit I just made, cat sold separately. :smile_phones:
IMG_0768.JPG IMG_0774.jpg
 
Apr 28, 2019 at 12:10 PM Post #2,295 of 6,437
Be sure to mention to Bill that is a a DYI kit, like BHC. He'll get the parts and instructions and can then put it together himself.

Oh -- and it costs extra to substitute other tubes in place of GE. :wink:
 
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