And so it begins... a curiosity in tubes

msg

Talking to a guy at work today about tubes and such, he mentioned Sovtek and how he remembers that it was a big deal that we could get Sovtek tubes when the Soviet Union fell.

anyone got any experience with these tubes?

tonyb

You hear that ??

...a slow rumble, getting louder and louder ?


H9's coming...

mhardy6647

Generally mediocre but also generally inexpensive; some are fine (e.g., the Sovtek branded 2A3s are very good for their cost, I'd opine). I am not sure that Sovtek wasn't/isn't just a catch-all brand for the output of several Soviet-era manufacturers... I have never bothered to catch up/keep up with the "Russian" tube story at a high level of detail.

Generally, though, except as "cannon fodder" tubes, I wouldn't much bother with most of 'em -- just my opinion, though, of course.

mhardy6647

DSkip wrote: »

The new 12ax7s aren't bad for current production tubes.

That's sort of like saying that Caitlyn Jenner is rather attractive for someone who just became a woman (i.e., it may well be true but it's a highly qualified statement).

GlennDog

mhardy6647 wrote: »

DSkip wrote: »

The new 12ax7s aren't bad for current production tubes.

That's sort of like saying that Caitlyn Jenner is rather attractive for someone who just became a woman (i.e., it may well be true but it's a highly qualified statement).

Siggy material, LOL, literally

mhardy6647

I am not anti-new tubes. Far from it, in fact. I am using modern Chinese-made "2A3" DHTs as output tubes in my amplifier based on listening tests with a bunch of 2A3s new and old.

That said, I just haven't been impressed with any of the modern-production 12AX7s I've experienced. No, I'm sure I haven't heard 'em all.

msg

mhardy6647 wrote: »

Generally mediocre but also generally inexpensive; some are fine (e.g., the Sovtek branded 2A3s are very good for their cost, I'd opine). I am not sure that Sovtek wasn't/isn't just a catch-all brand for the output of several Soviet-era manufacturers... I have never bothered to catch up/keep up with the "Russian" tube story at a high level of detail.

Generally, though, except as "cannon fodder" tubes, I wouldn't much bother with most of 'em -- just my opinion, though, of course.

thanks for the input. this is my first tube piece and I have no idea what to expect, what I should be hearing, and what sorts of adjustments/qualities specific tubes can make, or are known for. so really no true sense of what exactly the "big deal" was that Sovtek became available.

are these supposed to be original Sovtek tubes, or do you think these are modern tubes capitalizing on this earlier "reputation"?

DSkip wrote: »

The new 12ax7s aren't bad for current production tubes.

when you say current production, this means? and vs?

mhardy6647 wrote: »

I am not anti-new tubes. Far from it, in fact. I am using modern Chinese-made "2A3" DHTs as output tubes in my amplifier based on listening tests with a bunch of 2A3s new and old.
That said, I just haven't been impressed with any of the modern-production 12AX7s I've experienced. No, I'm sure I haven't heard 'em all.

so what's considered modern?

mhardy6647

right -- so, I would qualify "modern" to include "Eastern" (Soviet/European/Chinese) tube production that occurred after the West turned more or less wholly to soiled state. In other words, 1970s (and afterwards) production in Russia, Eastern Bloc(k) countries, China, etc.

As an example: I have a small boxful of (IIRC) 1980s "EI" (which were, I think "Yugoslavian" from when there still was a Yugoslavia) branded 12AX7s for example -- if one picks through them, one can find a few good performers (low noise and microphonics); they're fine for piecemeal restorations of vintage hardware like a Fisher 400 (for example) that use a fistful of 12AX7s -- but they wouldn't be high on my list, e.g., for doin' the heavy lifting in a vacuum tube MM phono preamp/EQ.

All of this being said, I am of the opinion that the circuit matters way more than the tubes, so I am not an expert at the level of the "black plate, UFO getter, cleartop, made on a Tuesday afternoon at the Bendix plant in Towson by a guy with dirty fingernails" detail that some tube buffs can recount!

cnh

mhardy6647 wrote: »

All of this being said, I am of the opinion that the circuit matters way more than the tubes, so I am not an expert at the level of the "black plate, UFO getter, cleartop, made on a Tuesday afternoon at the Bendix plant in Towson by a guy with dirty fingernails" detail that some tube buffs can recount!

That's funny! I run one Chinese made tube amp which sounds more than "good enough". Don't have the time nor the money to turn tubes into a search for the "Holy Grail". That's what I rely on youse guys for! And, frankly, I just let what I have die (and then replace them with suggestions from the forums here for another life run) rather than rollerino day after day. But as we all now I'm a budget conscious kind of dude. And I don't have any problem with those of you who want to open your wallets and do my research for me. lol But, as for me, I plan to stay married! I believe at least a couple of our Tube Meisters are "single", BTW!

mhardy6647

It's like the OCD fringe of any hobby -- vinyl (EDIT: or shellac) record collectors, anyone? ;- )

heiney9

Sovtek signal tubes are pretty mediocre compared to tubes from the hey day. What tube designation are you looking for? I can help.

H9

mhardy6647

I think that's a fair statement and that's why there are a fistful of them floatin' around here -- cannon fodder tubes. Their HV rectifiers do have a somewhat checkered reputation... but my (limited) experience with 'em is OK so far.

heiney9

DSkip wrote: »

heiney9 wrote: »

Sovtek signal tubes are pretty mediocre compared to tubes from the hey day. What tube designation are you looking for? I can help.

H9

Better way to put it. The Sovteks are good tubes for the money and are going to become a more appealing option as the rebirth of tubes continues to spread. They are well worth the $, especially as a backup pair.

Except I can buy better tubes for the same money or less, so they really aren't all that great if you only take cost into consideration.

But, if one tries many, many tubes and prefers the Sovtek's, then one really can't argue. But if I was to suggest tubes for a noob, I certainly wouldn't start with Sovteks.

JIMHO,

H9

P.s. I am speaking more about signal tubes. Power tubes are a little different as supply and demand for the really good power tubes from the hey day cost an arm and a leg and sometimes new production tubes are a great alternative if cost is a factor and some sound really nice as a bonus.

msg

thanks for all the info and feedback so far, guy, much appreciated; I know nothing.

heiney9 wrote: »

Sovtek signal tubes are pretty mediocre compared to tubes from the hey day. What tube designation are you looking for? I can help.
H9

here are the system specs and the tubes it uses. I realize that this unit is probably more along the lines of a toy compared to some of the stuff you guys are using, so I'm not really super serious about tuning this thing to the nines with exotic tubes, however I am curious as to which tubes do what, and just learning more about which tube brands are desirable and why.

voltz

Hey Scott, I think those 38wpc will drive your 703's pretty dang good hook up your CD or TT to it and enjoy

When you do think about maybe rolling a few... I'd PM snow and tell him you need
2-12ax7's & 2- 6922 & 2- 12au7's and I bet he can find & match up 6 tubes for you that won't break the bank

msg

Thanks D! indeed, I've yet to give it a proper run.

Thanks for all the input so far, guys.

So do we leave the power tubes alone for the most part?
How do i know what the different tubes do for the unit?

heiney9 wrote: »

DSkip wrote: »

heiney9 wrote: »

Sovtek signal tubes are pretty mediocre compared to tubes from the hey day. What tube designation are you looking for? I can help.
H9

Better way to put it. The Sovteks are good tubes for the money and are going to become a more appealing option as the rebirth of tubes continues to spread. They are well worth the $, especially as a backup pair.

Except I can buy better tubes for the same money or less, so they really aren't all that great if you only take cost into consideration.

But, if one tries many, many tubes and prefers the Sovtek's, then one really can't argue. But if I was to suggest tubes for a noob, I certainly wouldn't start with Sovteks.

JIMHO,
H9

P.s. I am speaking more about signal tubes. Power tubes are a little different as supply and demand for the really good power tubes from the hey day cost an arm and a leg and sometimes new production tubes are a great alternative if cost is a factor and some sound really nice as a bonus.