Misc Tube ramblings....

heiney9

I have sort of been out of the audio thing for a bit. In the sense that my rigs have mostly been dormant for long periods of time and the extra tubes put away. The reason is mainly Summer keeps me busy and I needed to take a short break from the rig(s). Although I still fire up each rig, just not several times a week like previously. Absence does in fact make the heart grow fonder. Within the past month I've fired up the main rig more than occasionally and I am thrilled (think goosebumps) at how good it performs.

The Dared SL2000A still continues to amaze me with it's performance considering it's cost. I started rolling some tubes again and found some really nice Raytheon Jan CRP 3mica black plate square getter and Sylvania GB USAF 3 mica gray plate square getter 12AT7's that I hadn't really previously listened to beyond making sure they operated fine after the purchase. Nothing like making a discovery in your own box of tubes :biggrin: They sound excellent.

Office rig workhorse continues to be my Dared MP5 clone (HCT) and Keces DA-151 dac. Another piece (HCT) that still puts big smiles on my face even though it's specs don't make it seem like it should be special, and the dac sounds so RIGHT. The HCT uses (2) ECC85/6AQ8 signal tubes most commonly found in tuning circuits of tube tuners. Most of the ECC85/6AQ8 tubes are of European origin despite what label is printed on them. I have RCA's from Germany (Siemens), RCA's from Holland (Heerlen), GE's from England (Blackburn), Very early Valvo's from Holland and Hamburg. I recently ran across a pair NOS in OB late 60's Sylvania black plate 6AQ8's. I have never really seen an actual US manufactured 6AQ8. In a word they are FANTASTIC. Highly recommended if you can use them.

My other Dared (I-30) for the office rig has been idle simply because in the Summer the quad of 6L6 output tubes and (4) driver tubes puts out too much heat for me. But I have been slowly acquiring 12ax7 and equivalents and 12au7 and equivalents when I can score a good deal. CP member Dawgfish was nice enough to send me a Raytheon long black plate 12ax7 for a single I had.
I recently grabbed a pair of Magnavox 12ax7's (cheap) which are actually early 60's Tung Sol long gray plates with Square, dimple foil getter. The seller had no idea they were Tung Sol's. They are the later (version 2) with 2 crimps in the plates but before they switched to the O getter. All my tube education really pays off when looking for those sleepers people don't know they have.:biggrin:

And finally I have to tell this Ebay sellers shenanigans.

I have been watching for a good deal on Raytheon 5814 3 mica gray plate windmill getter. They are military tubes and not many were made and seem to be highly sought. I found a strong pair on Ebay, yellow label, original boxes, etc. Listed for $30 BIN. I didn't pull the trigger because I needed to do some research as that was a GREAT price, too good really. Thought something fishy was going on. So a couple hours on the internet and go back to the listing and he changed the listing price to $38. He is over half way through his listing and he is raising the price :question:. So, ok, that's still a good deal but then I'm annoyed he raised the price so I figure I'd wait for it to expire and try again when he re-lists. I come back a few hours later and he's raised the price to $44, again WTF :question: They didn't sell in the first 4 days at $30 so raise the price. :rolleyes:

Finally later on in the evening I check again and he has cancelled the auction due to "a listing error". The next morning they are re-listed for $50. I check as the day goes on and he lowers it to $44 and in the evening to $40 and by the next morning he has cancelled again due to "a listing error". Dude must have serious ADD or something was going on behind the scenes. Never seen anything like it

Anyway thanks for reading

H9

stretchl

Nice post. The eBay guy must have more time on his hands than he has sense.

tonyb

About time you came back posting, thought for a second your absence was due to a....gasp.....GIRL !
Oh, the terror !!:biggrin:

Dawgfish

Good to see you back posting! Enjoy the Raytheon.

george daniel

toobs rule

heiney9

Good choice Mike, the Raytheon's are pretty nice sounding too. Still some good deals out there on tubes, but asking prices have risen. NOS from a dealer for the old stuff is outta site!

H9

george daniel

Keiko wrote: »

I sent Dave a pair of those Mil Spec Sylvania 3 mica square getters, late 50s and they are some nice tubes. Had a quad, but wanted to help out Dave since he's working on rebuilding his rig. I've been revisiting tubes from my stash also. Currently got a pair of Amperex Bugle Boy 12AT7 from Herleen in the Dared. Some of the first I bought. Glad I snagged all the tubes I have when I did since they've been creeping up in prices. Brock, I have a pair of Raytheon 3 mica, I bought from Russman awhile back. As I recall, they played nice with the SL2000A. I may put these up next in rotation. Happy rolling, bro.

Well if you are just sendiing tubes out-- I'd like some Holland made AT7's--since you are in the mood!

mhardy6647

meshplate2A3 by mhardy6647, on Flickr

heiney9

So the Dared I-30 is up and functioning as I had a bad power tube. In the past couple of weeks I fell off the wagon and have been purchasing tubes again. So far just 6 transactions :big smiley: and I think I'm done again for awhile. Speaking of that Ebay seller and his shenanigans, I ended up buying said tubes from him BIN. Turns out he was prompt, packaged very well and the tubes sound stellar.

I do have to say I was sort of becoming a European tube snob and not really giving American Old stock tubes a fair shake. So far the Sylvania GB 5751 and GE 5751 have been superb rivaling many of the traits of the short plate Euro offerings. Right now I am completely mesmorized listing to a pair of 1960 Tung Sol 12AX7 gray plate w/ D getter. What a superb, well balanced sounding tube. Vividly clear, 3 dimensional w/very firm bass, absolutely right mid range and lots and lots of air. The singer, band is in the room. This tube rivals the long plate Euro tubes. The Long plate Euro tubes are a bit sweeter and a little more colored.

I HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend the 1957-1960 Tung Sol 12AX7 w/D or SQ getter. I am simply in awe of how great this tube reproduces my favorite music. I can't pull myself away from the music.

H9

P.s. LIQUID comes to mind

heiney9

Somebody pour me some scotch and get me a cigar. I am in the house for Jazz at the Pawnshop. Just finished disc 1, breaking in yet another new purchase of tubes. Kept the 1960 Tung Sol 12AX7's in from last night but replaced the Sylvania long gray plate sq getter 12AU7's with a NOS pair of 1955 CBS JHY-5814A black plate D getter. It just keeps getting better and better.

No way this rig should sound this superb, no way. A pair of modded 5B's, homemade speaker cables, MIT T2 I/C's, run of the mill USB cable, Keces DA151 usb dac, Media Monkey player, Dared I-30 tube integrated.

I could listen until the sun comes up.

H9

Dawgfish

heiney9 wrote: »

Somebody pour me some scotch and get me a cigar. I am in the house for Jazz at the Pawnshop. Just finished disc 1, breaking in yet another new purchase of tubes. Kept the 1960 Tung Sol 12AX7's in from last night but replaced the Sylvania long gray plate sq getter 12AU7's with a NOS pair of 1955 CBS JHY-5814A black plate D getter. It just keeps getting better and better.

No way this rig should sound this superb, no way. A pair of modded 5B's, homemade speaker cables, MIT T2 I/C's, run of the mill USB cable, Keces DA151 usb dac, Media Monkey player, Dared I-30 tube integrated.

I could listen until the sun comes up.

H9

Awesome! Glad you are enjoying it. I don't see the CBS 5814s mentioned much around hear until now but they are my favorite 12AU7 type just ahead of the Telefunken Smooth Gray Plates. Great choice!

heiney9

Yes, it's a fairly uncommon tube. So far it's right up there on my short list. Problem is with a 12AX7 in the circuit too, sometimes it's finding the right combo. Have you tried the early sq getter Tung Sol 12AX7? My favorite so far is the 1959 Mullard Mitcham made short plate 12AU7, but these may dethrone it. Another HUGE favorite and very hard to find is the early Westinghouse "charcoal" long plate 12AU7 made at Landsdale. They only made them for a short time before contracting RCA to make them.

Next up is an early 60's pair of Raytheon 5814A, gray plate windmill getter. Haven't found what I would consider a "reasonably" priced pair of Tele's. Still need to find an early pair of GE 5963 black plates and I'm trying to find a reasonably priced pair of "black glass" Tung Sol 12AU7's.

I am enjoying it, thanks

H9

Dawgfish

I haven't tried the early square getter Tung Sol 12AX7, but after reading your comments on it I am going to have to try it! Honestly when I was in my 12AX7 trying/hoarding phase, I got off on a tangent with the 5751 types and 12AX7s went on the back burner. I stocked up with so many 5751 types that I quit looking for 12AX7/5751 types. I'm definitely going to have to try that one! Gee thanks, I thought I was cured :-).

I think you like the Raytheon 5814 windmill getter. They are a very nice tube. Another favorite 5814 of mine is the RCA TM BP 5814 (mid to late 50s, square getter). If you find your system lacking in bass extension in any way, this is the tube! The flip side to them however is if your find the bass to be already ample to full in your system, they may be a little too much.

oldmodman

This was the first "tube" joke I ever heard. So here it is. It's from an old "Ham" forum.


A cathode follower can solve many problems. Some years ago, one afternoon I had the tower cranked over and the garden full of bits of aluminium as I was putting the antennas back together after some work and aiming to get the job finished before dark. Two little old ladies appeared, so I got off the ladder and asked if I could help.

"We are Jehovah's Witnesses and we're her to bring you the word of God"

Why my response was what it was, I cannot think to this day.

"I'm sorry, but we're Cathode Followers here - high mu, not low mu, but we're still Cathode Followers"

"Oh, sorry to have bothered you, good afternoon"

So cathode followers can be very useful...

heiney9

Dawgfish wrote: »

I haven't tried the early square getter Tung Sol 12AX7, but after reading your comments on it I am going to have to try it! Honestly when I was in my 12AX7 trying/hoarding phase, I got off on a tangent with the 5751 types and 12AX7s went on the back burner. I stocked up with so many 5751 types that I quit looking for 12AX7/5751 types. I'm definitely going to have to try that one! Gee thanks, I thought I was cured :-).

I think you like the Raytheon 5814 windmill getter. They are a very nice tube. Another favorite 5814 of mine is the RCA TM BP 5814 (mid to late 50s, square getter). If you find your system lacking in bass extension in any way, this is the tube! The flip side to them however is if your find the bass to be already ample to full in your system, they may be a little too much.

I have a pair of 1958 RCA USN CRC 5963 black plates that are excellent as well. Which 5751's do you like. Really aren't that many.

H9

Dawgfish

I have all of the usual suspects in TM 5751s both in black and grey plates: Sylvania, RCA, GE, and Raytheon. It's not the number of different types with them, but the number of tubes. I bought a ton of RCA and GE TM grey and black plate 5751s about a year ago or so as I found good deals on them, especially the RCAs. I use them in a lot of different equipment (two preamps, three amps, two phono stages) and I wanted plenty of reserves for all of them. To tell you the truth I like all of them and use them all according to what I'm looking to get more out of the system and/or what equipment combo I'm running at the time. For instance if I need more top end extension I like the Sylvanias or Raytheons, more mid-range bloom I go with the GEs and RCAS, more low-end RCAs.

As an example I recently put some KT-120s in my Primaluna amp. I love the KT-120s and they actually rival or beat most of the NOS power tubes I have tried in bass extension, mid-range, imaging, and soundstage. To me though the KT-120s are just a tad relaxed in the highs. When I'm running Treasure KT-88s or NOS Tung Sol three hole grey plate 6550s in the Primaluna, I usually use GE TM GP or BP 5751s as input tubes on the amp (with CBS 5814s in the driver stage). When the KT-120s went in and I noticed a slight decrease in hi extension, I switched to the Sylvania TM BP 5751s and I got back the high end extension I was missing.

I usually use RCA TM BP 5751s in my preamp because they do everything well. I'll rotate in GE TM 5751s (both gp and bp) from time to time if I feel I need more mid-range bloom or emphasis on vocals. I use the Raytheons if I want a linear sounding tube like the RCA, but with less low end bloom.

I like the Sylvania TM BPs in my phono stage, but have recently went back to using the Raytheon long black plate 12AX7 (like the one I sent you). The Sylvania 5751s give me more pin-point imaging in the phono stage, but the Raytheon LBP 12AX7 gives me more open-ness and air. Right now I like the more airy sound a little better.

vc69

t00b (s)

heiney9

Dawg,

Have you tried real early (early 50's) authentic Westinghouse long charcoal black plate 12AU7's from Landsdale? Very, very sweet if you can find them. Try them if you can.

H9

heiney9

Ok, so I have been amassing yet more tubes the past month or so and I discovered another super gem! Generally I am not a fan of GE tubes unless they are early black plates like 5751 or 6201, etc. History is GE bought out Ken Rad in the mid 40's and continued producing tubes the Ken Rad way until about 1952. You will see both Ken Rad and GE labels with the production code identifier 188 and a single digit date and a 2 digit day/week. Looks like this

188
1-42 - The (1) indicating 1951

I have recently been listening to a pair of 1949 Ken Rad charcoal/dark silvery long ladder plate w/ D getter-flat bar with 2 dimples (some call it a Horseshoe getter) 12AX7's. All I can say I WOW! Largest sound stage yet and the midrange vocals are superb. These are as good or better than long plate Mullards and a helluva lot cheaper.

There are some available on EBAY right now, they tend to be rare since they were only produced for a few years with some speculating the later versions 52,53,54 being more similar to RCA's. The earlier the better. Sources also comment these Ken Rad's are the very first 12AX7 produced.

H9

ALL212

mhardy6647 wrote: »

meshplate2A3 by mhardy6647, on Flickr

Ahhh....someone with REAL tubes!! Can you get mesh plates as old stock? Or are the mesh plates all new builds?

mhardy6647

actually the Sophia "2A3" which as I understand it is in essence their 300B with 2.5 V filaments.
... not the "real thing" :-(


EDIT: Well the 6SL7 and the **** fryer in the amp are "real" (old production) tubes...

mhardy6647

oops, double post hiccup :-P

oh, well - here're the 2A3s in the cold light of day...


newamp by mhardy6647, on Flickr

drumminman

mhardy6647 wrote: »

. . . the **** fryer in the amp . . .

The what!?!?!?! :biggrin:

mhardy6647

it's a technical term - those who aren't in the know usually call them "rectifiers" ;-)

EDIT: The worst part is... I cannot even remember which rectifier I have installed in that amp! I think it is a 5AS4... but I am not sure! Worst of all, of all the choices of rectifiers to use... I left that one in because I liked the shape of the bottle (a little shorter and squatter than most - looks like a TV tube design to me) and the color and Gestalt of the filament glow! How's that for objective assessment?

EDIT^2 Yeah, I think it's a 5AS4A...
http://www.nj7p.info/Common/Tube/SQL/Tube_query.php?Type=5AS4A