Bought My First Set of Tubes

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stretchl
stretchl Posts: 1,334
edited January 2014 in Electronics
A quad of Psvane 6CA7-Tii's from Grant Fidelity for $300. (Link below says $360, but they're on sale for $300.)

These are for my Yaqin MC-10t.

I went back and forth between these and the SED Winged C's, the Gold Lion KT77's.

I finally decided to go with the Black Treasure 6AC7's, but GF no longer carries them so I went with Rachel's advice, here:

http://psvanetube.com/wordpress/store/products/6ca7-tii-aka-el34-quad-or-pair/

So we'll see.

I really appreciate everyone who posted advice and feedback. I felt like if I didn't pull the trigger soon with something I'd keep churning my wheels forever. Hope these work out.

Worst of all, now I've got the itch to replace the input tubes. ::)
“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'”
- Isaac Asimov
Hi-Fi
Apple Lossless --> Squeezebox Touch --> Joule Electra LA-100 Mark iii --> Odyssey Khartargo Mono Plus --> LSiM-705's
Cabling by Groneberg
Visuals
https://media.illinois.edu/journalism/ledford-charles-stretch
bit.ly/stretchonphotojournalism
http://Vimeo.com/channels/stretchphoto
Post edited by stretchl on
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,081
    edited January 2014
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    The input tubes generally have more influence on the sound than power tubes. Rule of "tube" thumb is to roll them all.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • stretchl
    stretchl Posts: 1,334
    edited January 2014
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    That's what I keep reading, H9.

    I'll need 2 12ax7's and 2 12au7's

    Any thoughts or vendor rec's?
    “Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'”
    - Isaac Asimov
    Hi-Fi
    Apple Lossless --> Squeezebox Touch --> Joule Electra LA-100 Mark iii --> Odyssey Khartargo Mono Plus --> LSiM-705's
    Cabling by Groneberg
    Visuals
    https://media.illinois.edu/journalism/ledford-charles-stretch
    bit.ly/stretchonphotojournalism
    http://Vimeo.com/channels/stretchphoto
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  • stretchl
    stretchl Posts: 1,334
    edited January 2014
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    Just bought these from GF:

    http://psvanetube.com/wordpress/store/products/12au7-tii-pair-or-single/

    http://psvanetube.com/wordpress/store/products/12ax7-tii-pair-or-single/

    Wish me luck.
    “Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'”
    - Isaac Asimov
    Hi-Fi
    Apple Lossless --> Squeezebox Touch --> Joule Electra LA-100 Mark iii --> Odyssey Khartargo Mono Plus --> LSiM-705's
    Cabling by Groneberg
    Visuals
    https://media.illinois.edu/journalism/ledford-charles-stretch
    bit.ly/stretchonphotojournalism
    http://Vimeo.com/channels/stretchphoto
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,484
    edited January 2014
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    For 12AX7's and 12AU7's, you can do better with NOS tubes IMO. Psvane tubes may be OK for newer production tubes, and as some have brought up in the past, they may have made some of the older NOS tubes. But, it was also the production equipment, assembly technique and actual materials that make the difference between newer production tubes and NOS tubes. There is an audible difference between the two, with the NOS tubes sounding better (depending on which NOS tubes of course).
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited January 2014
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    Those 6CA7s are very nice and quiet. I use them in my office amp. You made the best choice from the list you provided IMO.
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,081
    edited January 2014
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    stretchl wrote: »
    That's what I keep reading, H9.

    I'll need 2 12ax7's and 2 12au7's

    Any thoughts or vendor rec's?

    I might have something if you are interested. They are used, but strong. It will give you a chance to hear some good old stock tubes on the cheap.
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • stretchl
    stretchl Posts: 1,334
    edited January 2014
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    Awesome, man. PMing you now.
    “Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'”
    - Isaac Asimov
    Hi-Fi
    Apple Lossless --> Squeezebox Touch --> Joule Electra LA-100 Mark iii --> Odyssey Khartargo Mono Plus --> LSiM-705's
    Cabling by Groneberg
    Visuals
    https://media.illinois.edu/journalism/ledford-charles-stretch
    bit.ly/stretchonphotojournalism
    http://Vimeo.com/channels/stretchphoto
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • miner
    miner Posts: 1,305
    edited January 2014
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    I have some Psvane Treasures 12AX7 that I bought in 2011 to use in my McIntosh C2300 preamp. one of the tubes in the MC phono stage (right channel) has developed a static noise issue and I bet these tubes do not have more than 200 hrs. on them. I replaced with some Tele ribs I had on hand.

    H9 - what may you offer for a quiet 12AX7 for a phono stage - balanced and matched?
    [
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 24,577
    edited January 2014
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    Just seen these. I'm not trying to step on any toes here just trying to share.

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Telefunken-12AT7-Matched-Pair-Ribbed-Plates-TESTED-NEW-Small-Large-Logo-NICE-/200945172934?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item2ec94401c6
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  • stretchl
    stretchl Posts: 1,334
    edited January 2014
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    Thanks, Pitt. I just don't know enough about tubes to buy off ebay.
    “Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'”
    - Isaac Asimov
    Hi-Fi
    Apple Lossless --> Squeezebox Touch --> Joule Electra LA-100 Mark iii --> Odyssey Khartargo Mono Plus --> LSiM-705's
    Cabling by Groneberg
    Visuals
    https://media.illinois.edu/journalism/ledford-charles-stretch
    bit.ly/stretchonphotojournalism
    http://Vimeo.com/channels/stretchphoto
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 24,577
    edited January 2014
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    stretchl wrote: »
    Thanks, Pitt. I just don't know enough about tubes to buy off ebay.

    I understand completely. I'm also very new to this, just went from CD2 tube buffer(6ak5) to CD3 (6sn7) tubes still getting my learn on. I posted in hopes that Brock will chime in and comment on them. He likes his TFN tubes:smile:
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