[joseph69]

  I found the SP rectifier lost the bass. It just isn't happening with the SP. I then went to the severely overpriced Psvane WE274 replica tube and got (muddy) bass - but at least the bass was there. Then got the Brimar and got good bass - clear and strong and present. That was a revelation.

I didn't find the bass an issue, at all.
What driver/power tubes are you using with the SP in the WA6?
Also, you don't own Grados, correct?

 

[Porteroso]

To Tony, you might have gotten a bad SP, who knows. Or maybe I got a really good one. But the bass is good. Actually I should listen again to make sure. I will freely admit, I don't listen to tons of bass-centric music. Lots of classical, but even that will touch the sub-bass with organ/bass. From my remembrances, and I know I did a very detailed writeup of the SP vs Brimar, I think the Brimar does beat it, but in a weird way. The SP just feels more flat in all frequencies, that is how I remember it. The Brimar gives much more life, much more dynamic. But the listening experience with the SP never felt like less, somehow. It was still just as fun to listen to, and I think I had the Tung Sols in when I was listening. Another thing to consider, tube pairing.
 
I do remember putting in the U52 for the first time though. At first, "wat. This is weird." Then, I realized how right everything sounded. There was this space, this extra dimension, that everything had. I think the 5Z4G adds something, some sort of dynamic, to music. I am not sure it is all that accurate. And it is certainly warm. In a way, the U52 and SP, they better represent how my ears hear things in real life. At least, that is my opinion. I know you and badas love the Brimars, and for the price, yes. Absolutely. But you've also spent a fair amount of effort sourcing and researching driver tubes, so I think maybe finding end tier rectifiers would benefit you. Then again, once you get one of the great 3 or 4, I doubt you can go back. And they're expensive. So who knows. Maybe not worth it. A never ending search, until you just decide "this is where it stops."
 
Anyways, about the SP, I don't really know why I found it fun. Maybe too, it is an old sound signature that I listened to so much, and that had something to do with it.

 

[joseph69]

  Anyways, about the SP, I don't really know why I found it fun. Maybe too, it is an old sound signature that I listened to so much, and that had something to do with it.

Funny, but this may be very true for me also. 
When I first started listening tonight, I thought wow, this is a great memory which I miss or is real nice for a change.

 

[TonyNewman]

  I didn't find the bass an issue, at all.
What driver/power tubes are you using with the SP in the WA6?
Also, you don't own Grados, correct?

 
Correct - no Grados.
 
My SP experience was back in my early days of tube rolling when I had less than great drivers.
 
I will try again in the WA6 with the NUs - that might be a better test bed against the Brimar.

 

[TonyNewman]

Removed the Brimar and popped in a SP. A few things came to mind right away.
 
1) I had forgotten how $#%^!$% huge this tube is. Quite a squeeze with the NU 6F8Gs.
2) I had forgotten how pretty this tube glows - yummy.
3) I was wrong - bass is there. Not of the same quality as the Brimar, but it is happening. Have AC/DC bashing out "Who Made Who" - and there is boom and slam happening

 
Some WA6 SP Porn with NU 6F8G goodness:
 

 

 
Going to leave this baby in for a few weeks and see how far it can go. Not in the same league as the Brimar, but not as bad as I had remembered it either.
 
Might give the EML 274B another try after that. I have been a little hard on this tube a few times as a poor bang for the buck choice - have to give it another chance with the better drivers and see how that works out.
 
Interesting how initial impressions can change after returning to a tube after a few months or years. Anyone else experience that?
 
EDIT - now playing INXS "New Sensation" and the bass is pretty damn GOOD. Not quite Brimar good, but not bad at all.

 

[bumblebeezack]

Hi guys, just an update. Today I received my first tube bought from Langrex and as such also my first tube roll!
 






 
Gonna listen to some tunes now! 

 

[TonyNewman]

  Hi guys, just an update. Today I received my first tube bought from Langrex and as such also my first tube roll!
 
Gonna listen to some tunes now! 

 
Congrats on joining Club Brimar - the best value rectifier out there (that I know about anyway).
 
Let us know your thoughts on the SQ.

 

[joseph69]

  Correct - no Grados.
My SP experience was back in my early days of tube rolling when I had less than great drivers.
I will try again in the WA6 with the NUs - that might be a better test bed against the Brimar.

I had such a hard time fitting the SP/NU's together because I only have Glenns adapters which was causing the largest circumference of the NU's glass to rest on the largest circumference of the SP's glass. I didn't want them against one another so I didn't use the NU's. You have 2 or 3 adapters under your NU's which would put the thinner circumference of the glass of the NU's higher than the fatter circumference of the SP, so your better off.

 

[3083joe]

I had such a hard time fitting the SP/NU's together because I only have Glenns adapters which was causing the largest circumference of the NU's glass to rest on the largest circumference of the SP's glass. I didn't want them against one another so I didn't use the NU's. You have 2 or 3 adapters under your NU's which would put the thinner circumference of the glass of the NU's higher than the fatter circumference of the SP, so your better off.

Hope I don't have issues but the 596 is pretty thin so it should be good.
Good info from all as I'm very new with rolling.

 

[3083joe]

I've tried her music before and it didn't gel. Too slow. I should give her another try.

Give these two songs a listen
This house is haunted
it's alright with me.

 

[TonyNewman]

  I had such a hard time fitting the SP/NU's together because I only have Glenns adapters which was causing the largest circumference of the NU's glass to rest on the largest circumference of the SP's glass. I didn't want them against one another so I didn't use the NU's. You have 2 or 3 adapters under your NU's which would put the thinner circumference of the glass of the NU's higher than the fatter circumference of the SP, so your better off.

 
Correct 6DE7->6SN7, then 6SN7->6F8G. The tubes are very lightly touching - no real pressure at all. I'm OK with that.
 
A pair of socket savers under the Glenn adapters would have a similar effect and might make it all work for you, but you would need those in 6DE7 style.
 
Something like this:
 
LINK

 

[sprite40]

Cool. Thanks
Seems there are several different gz34 how do you know which is the good one?
Tia

Mullard GZ34 Fat Base early production (f31 series)
 
 I think this is a good choice, and is not nearly as expensive as the metal base version, and it might outlive your amp! 

 

[joseph69]

Hope I don't have issues but the 596 is pretty thin so it should be good.
Good info from all as I'm very new with rolling.

There are no issues with the 596/6F8G's fitment, its all good!
 

  Correct 6DE7->6SN7, then 6SN7->6F8G. The tubes are very lightly touching - no real pressure at all. I'm OK with that.
A pair of socket savers under the Glenn adapters would have a similar effect and might make it all work for you, but you would need those in 6DE7 style.
Something like this:
LINK

Thank you, I'm familiar with the socket savers.
My tubes were also touching very slightly with no pressure, but I was a bit concerned due too them heating up so I just avoided the combo all together, but if yours are slightly touching with no pressure like mine, I'll try this combo tonight and see how they sounds. Thanks. 

 

[2359glenn]

 

  I had such a hard time fitting the SP/NU's together because I only have Glenns adapters which was causing the largest circumference of the NU's glass to rest on the largest circumference of the SP's glass. I didn't want them against one another so I didn't use the NU's. You have 2 or 3 adapters under your NU's which would put the thinner circumference of the glass of the NU's higher than the fatter circumference of the SP, so your better off.

 
Correct 6DE7->6SN7, then 6SN7->6F8G. The tubes are very lightly touching - no real pressure at all. I'm OK with that.
 
A pair of socket savers under the Glenn adapters would have a similar effect and might make it all work for you, but you would need those in 6DE7 style.
 
Something like this:
 
LINK

I do have a adapter that goes from 6DE7 to 6F8 directly then you can leave out the 6DE7 to 6SN7 adapter.

 

[3083joe]

I do have a adapter that goes from 6DE7 to 6F8 directly then you can leave out the 6DE7 to 6SN7 adapter.

Yes. That what you just sent me right?