First post on here.
I just want to share some findings on some tubes. I'm not really an audiophile so sorry if some terms are not the usual audiophile terms. I'm no expert but have half decent ears.
Vali 2 with Modi 2 into HD600
..was using an SMSL Amp/DAC before, seemed ok but a bit bright and clinical sometimes.
Stock tube seemed alright to me (6zb7) and the Vali 2 with that was a lot better than the SMSL but I got hold of a few more tubes.
My main aim was to get a warm sound with decent bass. Separation and detail weren't as high on my list of priorities.
Was looking for a sound closer to what I get out of my speakers and turntable.
Summary :-
- Amperex 6DJ8/ECC88 Bugle Boy NOS
After some burn in sounded amazing with airy, acoustic sort of stuff, female vocals, classical. Lots of presence. Wide soundstage and good detail. Quite 'forward' sounding and 'in your face' in an addictive sort of way. Not so good with bright recordings. Black metal sounded painful. Hard rock overdriven guitars sounded a little artificial. Bass too lean and dry for me (maybe more accurate therefore ?).
The most 'digital' sounding of the three.
- Phillips PCC88 NOS
Sounded dull at first but then opened up. Started smiling a lot with this one probably because of the lovely mids. Soundstage seemed wide but not very tall (is tall the right word ?). Made me more aware I'm listening on headphones. Organic middley sort of sound with overdriven guitars which I loved. Also very good with acoustic and classical and gave slightly warm glow to things. Good deep bass but not overpowering. Less presence than the Bugle Boy and easier to listen to for long periods on a mix of styles.
- Mullard E88CC/01 CV2493 NOS
Had high hopes but was disappointed at first. The PCC88 woke up far earlier. After a while though it just got better and better (or did my brain adapt..who knows). Seemed less obvious detail than the other two but I think it's the really deep bass (not boomy just solid and thunky as all hell).
Decent soundstage - cozy, rounded (does that even make sense ?)
Very different to Bugle Boy for acoustic stuff, less airy and delicate but more dark and lush. Female vocals more earthy and not so forward sounding. The only tube that sounded good with black and thrash metal. Overdriven guitar tones very natural and convincing (had that dirty edge of realism, vintage tones amazing, the BB sounds like cardboard cutout of an electric guitar in comparison). Slightly reverby maybe ? The closest of all three to listening to speakers in a room.
PCC88 was the sweet spot for me (most versatile) but the Mullard was amazing for anything that needed some ooomph and vintage overdriven guitar tones sounded totally convincing through it.
Track by track comparisons:-
Marillion - Cinderella Search (80's prog) (original 12' mix)
This is inherently flat and anemic and horrible.
Sounded tinny with 6zb7. Bugle Boy more detail but still quite shrill. PCC88 took the edge off and rounded it out. Mullard sounded best of the lot as more bass came in and hard edges came off.
Agnes Obel - The Curse (folk/classical)
This track would probably still sound beautiful through a smartphone speaker.
Bugle Boy very forward, impressive and addicting with vocal presence. Mullard sounded less impactful, nice but a bit too lush. PCC88 nailed it , played it 4 times in a row - made me want to have Agnes's babies.
Beck - Cellphone's Dead (alt rock)
Played this to test the plummy bass synth sound and tinkly piano. All 3 sounded pretty good. BB emphasised tinkly bits too much. Mullard owned it, had the perfect balance. Bass synth thump blew me way and the tinkly bits were all there but just adding flavour. It all sounded so...erm...big and thumpy.
Phantogram - You Don't Get Me High Any More (electronica/electro-rock)
In your face track, BB's in your faceness gave it nearly face smashing levels of in your faceness. Mullard seemed to sap the energy, sounded nice but too polite. PCC88 nailed it again, just the right balance of presence and oomph.
Ulver - Hymne I (black metal)
Raw and underproduced, bright and waspy with little bass. Fun through speakers. I could never listen to this through headphones until I tried Vali 2 with Mullard. Probably the character of the tube affecting it to make it listenable. Unlistenable at decent volume with the other 2 tubes.
Queen - Son and Daughter (hard rock)
This version is the demo track on 'On The Beeb'. May's guitar tone is brutal and dirty. BB too forward for this, hurt ears at decent volume. PCC88 a lot better but Mullard sounded just like when I play this at 11 through speakers. Really captured the dirty, clanky overdriven tones and Taylor's animal drumming shook the earth.
Genesis - Dancing with the Moonlit Knight (prog)
BB airy and delicate in pastoral bits but didn't translate Hacket's overdriven guitar very well, too forward and honky. Mullard lush, more pastoral than a field full of sheep and an oak tree in spring with the first daffodils coming up. PCC88 a nice compromise between both of them.
Monteverdi - Vespers (classical)
BB emphasised the singing and it sounded clear and separated but a bit soulless. PCC88 was the best, just the right blend of sonority and energy, made me feel like I was listening in a church in the 17th century, I'd probably want to pray listening through this tube if I was religious. Mullard sapped a bit of energy from it (not energetic music but needs a bit of drama).
Amon Duul II - Archangel Thunderbird (krautrock)
BB robbed it of impact a bit, female vocal too forward. PCC88 was a nice balance but not enough bass. Mullard captured the loose flappy bass the best and it all seemed to gel better.
I have an HD600 and love it with my current setup (Modi2U and Magni2U). Now that multibit is within reach I want to upgrade The Modi and I'm also very curious about the tube sound, so I'm looking towards the Vali2 to accompany (or replace?) the Magni.
