Antique Sound Labs in Verb's House!

verb

So I'm continuing on with my Fleapower journey.

Thanks to none other but our very own and beloved @mhardy6647 for getting me started!

Got these for a steal on CL today. Was asking $350.00 but got em for $240.00! At that price point, who could resist!

So I swapped out my Bottlehead SEX integrated, and now rocking this sweet pair of Wave AV-8 monoblocks! Gonna get some playtime with em, and do a comparison between the two. Rocking the Klipsch's right now. What fun!

verb

These guys use 2 6mb6 tubes each. Russian Svetlana’s are in there now, with 4 spares. Anyone have experience with this tube? Any suggestions for rolling?

halo

Looks GREAT!!

msg

I see Audioengine

verb

msg wrote: »

I see Audioengine

Yep. The B1. Works great, with the APTx codec for BT streaming.

mhardy6647

verb wrote: »

These guys use 2 6mb6 tubes each. Russian Svetlana’s are in there now, with 4 spares. Anyone have experience with this tube? Any suggestions for rolling?

OK I am havin' a flashback now!
The ASL Wave 8 monoblocks were all the rage for a while back, what, maybe 20 years ago? 99 bucks a pop.

I don't think that's the right tube number, is it?
My recollection is that these used two of *BM8 family of triode/pentode in one envelope. This review http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0302/aslwave8.htm
says that they used the PCL82 which is like the ECL82/6BM8, but with 16 volt heaters instead of 6 volt. This family of tubes incorporates a triode and a power pentode in a single glass miniature 9 pin format envelope.

The 6BM8 was used in lots of low power/inexpensive (largely Japanese) equipment late in the vacuum tube hifi era. Basically, two tubes can be used to make a push-pull amplifier. One triode section is the voltage amp (driver), the other's used as the phase splitter, and then the two tubes' pentode sections serve as the push-pull power output tubes.

PP output of these amps is about 8 watts (thus the "Wave 8" moniker) -- these are push-pull, not single-ended amps (in case you didn't know that).

To this day, the 6BM8 tube is held in high esteem by a segment of the Japanese ultra-hifi vacuum tube community, so -- there is that

My little S-5 Electronics "K-502" kit-built amp is broadly similar to two of these on one PC board, but it uses yet another variant of the same tube, the 11BM8 (11 volt heater)! It is a nice little cheap amp. Both of our kids used this amp during their college tenures for a year or two (each) and it held up quite well.

DSC_0631 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

At any rate, I am sure they're nice little amplifiers -- quite different than the little Bottlehead amp, though.

verb

Getting old here Doc - Your right 6BM8 !!!

verb

First think I noticed was the sound to be a bit thin. Not bad, but not nearly the mid bass or bass that the Bottlehead kicked out. For a fleapower amp that is!

Getting a little more hum at zero volume in the left channel amp than the right channel too.

The Klipsch's though, really compliment this setup, IMO.

I'm gonna roll some better tubes in it for sure! Hopefully that'll help.

But so far, so good! Really enjoying it!

aprazer402

Verb, At your current pace you will need a new (larger) home in approximately 32.47 months, or sooner if WAF has a bubble, meltdown... Anyway I envy you and the gear you've put together in the short time you've been here! You've done a truly remarkable job of learning and being able to decide good from bad. There should be a real badge for what you've accomplished. You're a real asset to the forum. Better get that addition going on the garage, the wife may need to move some of her stuff out there.

mhardy6647

OK, looks like the ASL Wave AV-8 dates from ca. 2003 (a little more recent than I thought) and that it did use the 6BM8/ECL82.

Couple of relevant discussions from a quick search @AA (FYI and FWIW):
http://db.audioasylum.com/mhtml/m.html?forum=tubes&n=49786&highlight=antique+sound+labs+WAVE+8&r=&search_url=/default.mpl?searchtext=antique+sound+labs+WAVE+8&b=AND&topic=&topics_only=N&author=&date1=&date2=&slowmessage=&ip=&sort=score&sortOrder=DESC&sortRank=Forum&forum=ALL

http://db.audioasylum.com/mhtml/m.html?forum=tubes&n=107079&highlight=antique+sound+labs+WAVE+8&r=&search_url=/default.mpl?searchtext=antique+sound+labs+WAVE+8&b=AND&topic=&topics_only=N&author=&date1=&date2=&slowmessage=&ip=&sort=score&sortOrder=DESC&sortRank=Forum&forum=ALL


http://db.audioasylum.com/mhtml/m.html?forum=tubes&n=51641&highlight=antique+sound+labs+WAVE+8&r=&search_url=/default.mpl?searchtext=antique+sound+labs+WAVE+8&b=AND&topic=&topics_only=N&author=&date1=&date2=&slowmessage=&ip=&sort=score&sortOrder=DESC&sortRank=Forum&forum=ALL


The biggest problem is gonna be a source of good quality NOS 6BM8s for it To the best of my knowledge, there's no current production, and good NOS tubes aren't inexpensive -- which is kind of ironic, as way back when the tubes, and amps that used 'em, were cheap!


And, strictly FWIW Pioneer built and sold a few components using the 6BM8 tubes for quite a few years towards the very end of the tube hifi era The most common, perhaps, of them all was the SX-34/SX-34B receiver, also sold by Allied Radio Corp as the Allied or Knight 333. Adorable little 8 wpc receiver with decent performance overall.




source: www.alliedcatalogs.com (1970!)

verb

aprazer402 wrote: »

Verb, At your current pace you will need a new (larger) home in approximately 32.47 months, or sooner if WAF has a bubble, meltdown... Anyway I envy you and the gear you've put together in the short time you've been here! You've done a truly remarkable job of learning and being able to decide good from bad. There should be a real badge for what you've accomplished. You're a real asset to the forum. Better get that addition going on the garage, the wife may need to move some of her stuff out there.

Yeah - The flushing my money down the toilet badge! Just kidding - loving every minute of this fabulous journey!

verb

@mhardy6647 this is interesting. Not necessary to match all 4 tubes? From the 2nd link above:

Since the Wave is push pull, it would seem desirable for each monobloc to have a pair with at least the pentode sections matched. Matching of the triode sections and matching between the blocs should not be necessary.

smglbrth

mhardy6647 wrote: »

verb wrote: »

DSC_0631 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

Hey, something I recognize! Those RCA's were the best Rat Shack had way back when! Used to have some myself! Meant to put the picture in there, someday I'll figure stuff out...

verb

Whoa. Looks like Electro-Harmonix decided to re-issue the 6BM8!

Available on Amazon!
https://www.amazon.com/Electro-Harmonix-6BM8/dp/B01HQYZ8OK

mhardy6647

verb wrote: »

@mhardy6647 this is interesting. Not necessary to match all 4 tubes? From the 2nd link above:

Since the Wave is push pull, it would seem desirable for each monobloc to have a pair with at least the pentode sections matched. Matching of the triode sections and matching between the blocs should not be necessary.

It would certainly be best for the pentode sections in a push-pull amp to be matched using a transconductance-type tester, I would think... there may (or may not) be a "balance" control (not akin to a preamp's channel balance) on the amp to provide some accommodation for variation in output tube performance.

mhardy6647

Interesting about the EH 6BM8s (presumably Russian tubes). I did not know about them.
I could use a few 6BM8s myself

This little guy is also PP 6BM8, with a vacuum tube HV rectifier.

DSC_3992 (2) by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

Last I knew, there weren't any new production Russian ECL82/6BM8, but maybe they came back(?!). That would be cool.

BlueBirdMusic

Maybe

aprazer402 wrote: »

Verb, At your current pace you will need a new (larger) home in approximately 32.47 months, or sooner if WAF has a bubble, meltdown... Anyway I envy you and the gear you've put together in the short time you've been here! You've done a truly remarkable job of learning and being able to decide good from bad. There should be a real badge for what you've accomplished. You're a real asset to the forum. Better get that addition going on the garage, the wife may need to move some of her stuff out there.

Maybe Verb and family can move in with mhardy6647 and family.

mhardy6647

BlueBirdMusic wrote: »

Maybe

aprazer402 wrote: »

Verb, At your current pace you will need a new (larger) home in approximately 32.47 months, or sooner if WAF has a bubble, meltdown... Anyway I envy you and the gear you've put together in the short time you've been here! You've done a truly remarkable job of learning and being able to decide good from bad. There should be a real badge for what you've accomplished. You're a real asset to the forum. Better get that addition going on the garage, the wife may need to move some of her stuff out there.

Maybe Verb and family can move in with mhardy6647 and family.

Or I can just pack a shipping container full of stuff & send it to him/them


Speaking of ElectroHarmonix... I think I kinda want one of these...



http://ehxblacklight.com/electro-harmonix-flashback-day-glo-poster/

verb

So today after work I went upstairs to the spare room and give the monoblocks some more time. Shpongle (thank you @Clipdat) spinning. Nice detail and depth.

Liking it, kinda proud of myself, I called the Mrs upstairs to look at the new rig.

And what did she say? Are you taking over every room in the house?

Busted? Time to beg for forgiveness. Fellas you know the drill!

Clipdat

That's when you simply reply "Well, yes!"

verb

Clipdat wrote: »

That's when you simply reply "Well, yes!"

If she only knew my master plan!

Clipdat

verb wrote: »

If she only knew my master plan!

What's your master plan?

Tony M

The new detached garage will become a new audio sound studio.

verb

Tony M wrote: »

The new detached garage will become a new audio sound studio.

For sure! Well at least a rocking 2 channel rig in there!

verb

Clipdat wrote: »

verb wrote: »

If she only knew my master plan!

What's your master plan?

Hehe. WIP, but definitely some kinda rig in every major room of the house!

GlennDog

Tony M wrote: »

The new detached garage will become a new audio sound studio.

AND the room above it that the architect doesn't even know 'bout yet!!

Clipdat

verb wrote: »

Hehe. WIP, but definitely some kinda rig in every major room of the house!

Good man.

Tony M

the bat loft.

audioluvr

Clipdat wrote: »

What's your master plan?

Just a sec. He'll go ask her.

oldschlpolkie

verb wrote: »

Whoa. Looks like Electro-Harmonix decided to re-issue the 6BM8!

Available on Amazon!
https://www.amazon.com/Electro-Harmonix-6BM8/dp/B01HQYZ8OK

A friend of mine is from one of the now neighboring (formerly part of the union) countries to Russia. He told me that after the fall of the Soviet Union all those factories were bought up very cheap (or scrapped out) and have been slowly producing and filtering tubes etc. back into the US over the last 10yrs.

halo

oldschlpolkie wrote: »

verb wrote: »

Whoa. Looks like Electro-Harmonix decided to re-issue the 6BM8!

Available on Amazon!
https://www.amazon.com/Electro-Harmonix-6BM8/dp/B01HQYZ8OK

A friend of mine is from one of the now neighboring (formerly part of the union) countries to Russia. He told me that after the fall of the Soviet Union all those factories were bought up very cheap (or scrapped out) and have been slowly producing and filtering tubes etc. back into the US over the last 10yrs.

Forgive my misunderstanding but how does a scrapped out factory produce and filter tubes to the US? I can understand that a tube factory which was purchased by someone and continues to produce tubes but not the scrapped out part or the factory which was bought out and is no longer producing tubes.