[Slade01]

Sorry, those are custom order only with a 4-6 week lead time.

Well if one can't wait that long. There's always adapters from xulingmrs (on e bay)...

 

[AudioDuck]

Well if one can't wait that long. There's always adapters from xulingmrs (on e bay)...

Apologies, I was joking and referring to the lead time for getting a custom-made “Hell yes!”.

 

[Slade01]

Ah, the dark art of rectifier appreciation. For me, the rectifier adds texture and "realism." A good rectifier (compared to, say, a current production EZ81) lifts veils and gives the bass a nice "bloom" for a very natural and "real" sound. You may not hear it now, but it just takes time, the right recording and the right tube for it all to become clear. After that you'll be able to hear the differences quite easily and will treasure your rectifiers as much as your driver and power tubes. Finding a good EZ80 or EZ81 can be harder than finding a good 6922 or 6080/6AS7, but when they finally appear they tend to be reasonably priced (U709s excluded!).

Wanted to thank you for this sound advice - it definitely helps. I am in a slightly different boat, as I have an old man WA2 that uses EZ90, but its not that different, the GEC U78 tubes seem to be the premium ones, though they can still be had at a higher (but not unobtanium costs). Thank God. Lol.

 

[Slade01]

Apologies, I was joking and referring to the lead time for getting a custom-made “Hell yes!”.

Don't forget to charge him a pretty penny too!

 

[jonathan c]

Sorry, those are custom order only with a 4-6 week lead time.

 

[jonathan c]

Apologies, I was joking and referring to the lead time for getting a custom-made “Hell yes!”.

The key versus “take your ‘Hell, yes’ and get the hell out of here”…

 

[jonathan c]

• Now back to tubes: I have been on a ‘no adapter’ kick with WA2 - so it has been 6DJ8 / 6922 / 7308 / ECC88 / E88CC etc in the ‘6922’ tube sockets. The thought being: “The WA2 was designed with 6922 use in mind, why not explore that?” (A detour from my usual 12AT7/ECC81/adapter use).
• Some of the tubular gems to my ears from the above category are:
~ Amperex PQ 7308 (orange print),
~ Amperex PQ 7308 (green print),
~ Brimar CV2492,
~ Mullard ECC88 (BVA white print),
~ Philips BEL E88CC (India),
~ Raytheon CK 6922 (orange print),
~ Raytheon JAN 7308 (orange print),
~ Siemens E88CC (rohre),
~ Sylvania 7308 (yellow print),
~ Telefunken E88CC (diamond base),
~ Tungsram E88CC (red print),
~ Valvo E88CC (Heerlen / Holland).
• These tubes - with their differences in ‘voicing’ - are to me sonically coherent, musically convincing and lead me to pure enjoyment.

 

[AudioDuck]

Some great options there! I may try my good ol’ Amperex PQ (white shield) 7308s again soon. They have incredible speed and slam.

Also to bring the thread back on track: An evening shot from listening recently (RFT EZ81 foil-getter rectifiers, Tung-Sol USN 7236 power tubes, and Brimar KB/FB CV4033 input tubes (with adapters).

 

[cavedave]

• Now back to tubes: I have been on a ‘no adapter’ kick with WA2 - so it has been 6DJ8 / 6922 / 7308 / ECC88 / E88CC etc in the ‘6922’ tube sockets. The thought being: “The WA2 was designed with 6922 use in mind, why not explore that?” (A detour from my usual 12AT7/ECC81/adapter use).
• Some of the tubular gems to my ears from the above category are:
~ Amperex PQ 7308 (orange print),
~ Amperex PQ 7308 (green print),
~ Brimar CV2492,
~ Mullard ECC88 (BVA white print),
~ Philips BEL E88CC (India),
~ Raytheon CK 6922 (orange print),
~ Raytheon JAN 7308 (orange print),
~ Siemens E88CC (rohre),
~ Sylvania 7308 (yellow print),
~ Telefunken E88CC (diamond base),
~ Tungsram E88CC (red print),
~ Valvo E88CC (Heerlen / Holland).
• These tubes - with their differences in ‘voicing’ - are to me sonically coherent, musically convincing and lead me to pure enjoyment.

Hey Jonathan Got me some adapters and am listening to a set of GE five star 5751 and they sound way better to my ears then the 12AU7s I have tried. I have a set of three mica black plate 5751 I am going to try and some grey plate gold pin gold letter sylvania 5751 a very nice tube will see how it goes in the w2.

 

[cavedave]

Hey Jonathan Got me some adapters and am listening to a set of GE five star 5751 and they sound way better to my ears then the 12AU7s I have tried. I have a set of three mica black plate 5751 I am going to try and some grey plate gold pin gold letter sylvania 5751 a very nice tube will see how it goes in the w2.

 

[cavedave]

Right now for me the Sylvania grey plate triple mica gold pins gold lettering 5751 is leading the pack and a very fine tube indeed. I think my amp is crying. Sylvania Gold Brand 5751

 

[jonathan c]

Hey Jonathan Got me some adapters and am listening to a set of GE five star 5751 and they sound way better to my ears then the 12AU7s I have tried. I have a set of three mica black plate 5751 I am going to try and some grey plate gold pin gold letter sylvania 5751 a very nice tube will see how it goes in the w2.

The 5751 is an interesting 12AX7; it has gain of 70x versus the typical 100x. By comparison, a 12AT7 has 60x; and a 12AU7 has 20x. I have used a number of 12AT7s in Woo WA2 to great satisfaction.

 

[jonathan c]

I have been on a ‘no adapter’ kick with Woo WA2. However, with a mail arrival earlier today, a new “roll” for Woo WA2 is underway:

RFT EZ81 (foil getter), Tung Sol JAN-CTL 6080, Western Electric 396A / 2C51 (on 5670 => 6922 adapters). Dreamily excellent !!

 

[Slade01]

I have been on a ‘no adapter’ kick with Woo WA2. However, with a mail arrival earlier today, a new “roll” for Woo WA2 is underway: RFT EZ81 (foil getter), Tung Sol JAN-CTL 6080, Western Electric 396A / 2C51 (on 5670 => 6922 adapters). Dreamily excellent !!

Those WE 396A/2C51 are awesome tubes. I used to use those exclusively on a few tube dacs I've had in the past. How are they priced these days?

 

[jonathan c]

Those WE 396A/2C51 are awesome tubes. I used to use those exclusively on a few tube dacs I've had in the past. How are they priced these days?

I got the WE 2C51 tube + 5670 adapter combination for $185 each.