[Wes S]

So, with the change to the CBS-HYTRON and Raytheon 5814, it's time to see how all my Rectifiers pair up with them. I absolutely love the synergy I am getting with the U709 and 5814, but I have a feeling due to the more intimate staging of the 5814, that a different rectifier could result in something magical. I have noticed rectifiers have an influence and bass and staging the most, so I can't wait to hear the results.

Here are the rectifiers on deck, for today's tube rolls.

Left to Right - Mullard EZ81 55' Square Getter Blackburn (Valvo Relable), Funkwerk Erfurt EZ81 58' Welded Plate Foil Getter, Tungsram EZ81 55' Welded Plate Foil Getter, G.E.C. 54' U709, and Raytheon EZ81 Triple Mica Welded Plate Square Getter (Made in Japan and super rare)

This should be a fun day. . .

 

[Wes S]

The CBS 12BH7A Black Oval Plate D Getter has arrived!

CBS - 5814WA vs. 12BH7A

More to come on the sound. . .

 

[bcowen]

The CBS 12BH7A Black Oval Plate D Getter has arrived!

CBS - 5814WA vs. 12BH7A



More to come on the sound. . .

5814 to 12BH7: "My, what big plates you have."

 

[Wes S]

5814 to 12BH7: "My, what big plates you have."

LOL!! . . .and those bigger plates are yielding a bigger sound. With what I am hearing right now as I type this with the CBS 12BH7, I am not sure I will ever go back to 12AU7, 12AT7 or 12AX7 ever again. So far with minimal hours of burn in with the 12BH7 in the Pendant, this tube has all the power and impact of the 12AX7, combined with the finesse, detail and headroom of a 12AU7, and is sounding incredible.

More to come after burn in is complete. . .

 

[Wes S]

So, with the change to the CBS-HYTRON and Raytheon 5814, it's time to see how all my Rectifiers pair up with them. I absolutely love the synergy I am getting with the U709 and 5814, but I have a feeling due to the more intimate staging of the 5814, that a different rectifier could result in something magical. I have noticed rectifiers have an influence and bass and staging the most, so I can't wait to hear the results.

Here are the rectifiers on deck, for today's tube rolls.

Left to Right - Mullard EZ81 55' Square Getter Blackburn (Valvo Relable), Funkwerk Erfurt EZ81 58' Welded Plate Foil Getter, Tungsram EZ81 55' Welded Plate Foil Getter, G.E.C. 54' U709, and Raytheon EZ81 Triple Mica Welded Plate Square Getter (Made in Japan and super rare)



This should be a fun day. . .

The winner of this roll off was not much of a surprise, but it was worth hearing them all again to see how they paired up with the 5814. The G.E.C. U709 really is in another league and is back in the amp to stay for a good while. The Funkwerk Erfurt EZ81 was my second favorite, with a huge stage in all directions and was very well balanced top to bottom but in the end was a bit too dry and bass light compared to the U709. The Mullard EZ81 Square Getter was nice for Jazz and Folk with very nice and present vocals and nice width to the stage, but the stage lacks depth and this tube has too much Mullard flavor (warmth ie. "Mullard Haze"), and was a bit loose and weak in the bass, compared to the other two previously mentioned. The Tungsram EZ81 is another really nice well balanced rectifier, but did not really blow my hair back like the top two tubes. Lastly, the Raytheon Triple Mica Square Getter EZ81 was just to warm, bloated and slow to keep up with the others. This tube is more of a specialist and could work in certain situations, but does not really do it for me at all.

The G.E.C. U709 combines holographic staging with amazing height and depth in all directions, top notch detail, and a hint a warmth with really good power and punch down low. This rectifier just can't be bested in my system, and man I sure do wish more could hear one. . .

 

[hikaru12]

LOL!! . . .and those bigger plates are yielding a bigger sound. With what I am hearing right now as I type this with the CBS 12BH7, I am not sure I will ever go back to 12AU7, 12AT7 or 12AX7 ever again. So far with minimal hours of burn in with the 12BH7 in the Pendant, this tube has all the power and impact of the 12AX7, combined with the finesse, detail and headroom of a 12AU7, and is sounding incredible.



More to come after burn in is complete. . .

What’s the heater voltage on it? Curious to see if it would work on my SET amp.

Found it - it’s literally just double any of the 12A series.

600mA in parallel (6.3V) and 300mA in series (12.6V). I think the reason the Pendant can take it is because it only uses one driver tube.

 

[bcowen]

What’s the heater voltage on it? Curious to see if it would work on my SET amp.

Found it - it’s literally just double any of the 12A series.

600mA in parallel (6.3V) and 300mA in series (12.6V). I think the reason the Pendant can take it is because it only uses one driver tube.

Heater current is the same as a 6SN7 at 6.3v. Slightly lower gain. Same pinout as 12A*7's. Hmmmmm. Might have to give one a try in the Incubus.

 

[Wes S]

Heater current is the same as a 6SN7 at 6.3v. Slightly lower gain. Same pinout as 12A*7's. Hmmmmm. Might have to give one a try in the Incubus.

Go for it! Listening with the 12BH7 in the Pendant, is sounding like a perfect blend of a 6SN7 and 12A_7 combined.

 

[hikaru12]

Go for it! Listening with the 12BH7 in the Pendant, is sounding like a perfect blend of a 6SN7 and 12A_7 combined.

From what I’ve read it’s a smoother 12AU7 and they’re cheaper too which is nice.

@bcowen - this presents an exciting opportunity for many entry level hybrid amps or preamps. The Freya+ and the Lyr 3 both take 6SN7s. I have a custom adapter being made to allow a 12AU7 to go into a 6SN7 socket. Since the pin out is the same a 12BH7 with this adapter would work in a 6SN7 socket. A fully loaded Freya with these CBS tubes would probably sound fantastic.

 

[Wes S]

From what I’ve read it’s a smoother 12AU7 and they’re cheaper too which is nice.

@bcowen - this presents an exciting opportunity for many entry level hybrid amps or preamps. The Freya+ and the Lyr 3 both take 6SN7s. I have a custom adapter being made to allow a 12AU7 to go into a 6SN7 socket. Since the pin out is the same a 12BH7 with this adapter would work in a 6SN7 socket. A fully loaded Freya with these CBS tubes would probably sound fantastic.

Smoother is definitely what I am hearing and the more I listen perhaps it's a little too smooth. . .

 

[hikaru12]

Smoother is definitely what I am hearing and the more I listen perhaps it's a little too smooth. . .

Do you feel like it’s obscuring detail? That was my criticism of the 6SN7s.

 

[Wes S]

Do you feel like it’s obscuring detail? That was my criticism of the 6SN7s.

Yes just a bit, and I just switched back to the 5814 and the immediacy and more lifelike feel/sound is back. For me, the 5814 is the sweet spot for the input tube in the Pendant SE.

 

[bcowen]

From what I’ve read it’s a smoother 12AU7 and they’re cheaper too which is nice.

@bcowen - this presents an exciting opportunity for many entry level hybrid amps or preamps. The Freya+ and the Lyr 3 both take 6SN7s. I have a custom adapter being made to allow a 12AU7 to go into a 6SN7 socket. Since the pin out is the same a 12BH7 with this adapter would work in a 6SN7 socket. A fully loaded Freya with these CBS tubes would probably sound fantastic.

For sure. Only question is how the 12BH7 will sound compared to a 6SN7 (versus a 12A*7). Haven't had a chance to listen to mine yet....

 

[hikaru12]

Yes just a bit, and I just switched back to the 5814 and the immediacy and more lifelike feel/sound is back. For me, the 5814 is the sweet spot for the input tube in the Pendant SE.

You linked me to a 5814 back in the day that had red lettering but it wasn’t a Raytheon. Do you recall what it was? It was relatively easy to find and not too expensive. I had that in now and it’s definitely pretty dynamic like how you describe.

Speaking of which you should put a pair of those Raytheon 5814s in your Rogue and report back. Curious how they sound with different amps.

@bcowen I have a 6SN7 to 12AU adapter if you want to do some testing. I can lend it to you.

 

[bcowen]

You linked me to a 5814 back in the day that had red lettering but it wasn’t a Raytheon. Do you recall what it was? It was relatively easy to find and not too expensive. I had that in now and it’s definitely pretty dynamic like how you describe.

Speaking of which you should put a pair of those Raytheon 5814s in your Rogue and report back. Curious how they sound with different amps.

@bcowen I have a 6SN7 to 12AU adapter if you want to do some testing. I can lend it to you.

Very gracious of you to offer, thank you! But I already have one. Just need to get off my butt and use it.