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Tube heads let see what you say

pitdogg2pitdogg2 Posts: 17,994
in 2 Channel Audio
I may have just acquired a Dared SL2000a. The seller has stated the tubes are new ( less that 2hrs. on them), but like anything else there are tubes to chase.

Two questions
1. What have you found to be the most musical 12AT7 tube to use and why.

2. Which rectifier have you used in the 5Z4 group that is just stellar and which to stay away from?

For now the seller has 2 Mullard 12at7 (m8162) and a 1970's Brimar CV1863 5Z4G rectifier

any 12at7 equivalents I should also be on the look out for ?

I've used a ton of 6sn7 tubes so I'm getting my learn on for these new tubes.
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Comments

  • Dennis GardnerDennis Gardner Posts: 4,901
    Congrats! I've always like that Dared. Having a remote is nice on that level of preamp.
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  • verbverb Posts: 10,313
    Congrats Ivan! Post some pics! :smile:
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    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, PASS ACA Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
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  • NightfallNightfall Posts: 9,483
    I like the Psvane tubes. Depends who you ask though. Jesse likes them. Brock doesn't.
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • pitdogg2pitdogg2 Posts: 17,994
    edited April 2020
    Nightfall wrote: »
    I like the Psvane tubes. Depends who you ask though. Jesse likes them. Brock doesn't.
    While those are well received, for now I'd like to see some N.O.S. that folks have had great experience with.
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  • voltzvoltz Posts: 5,423
    Amperex 7062 isn't to bad. like it over the Psvane or tung-sol I've tried!
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  • vcwatkinsvcwatkins Posts: 1,990
    I don't know squat about tubes so have relied solely on advice from others. For the Dared, that primarily means @heiney9 . My faves:
    • Telefunken 5965 - great detail, tight bass, H9's "Holy Grail" (see thread https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/117770/holy-grail )
    • '59/'60 Amperex Bugle Boy ECC81 - Long arm "D" getter w/foil strip - made in Holland (bt from H9) tight bass, lovely mids, probably expensive (codes would be critical in confirming legitimacy if not buying from trusted seller)
    • Mullard ECC81 - warmer sweeter tone, looser bass, liquid, musical, gooey-in-a-good-way
    • Raytheon 6414 - I remember really liking these, but I don't have any notes on them and they're in storage
    • Brimar 5Z4G - pretty sure I used both brown and black base, recall slight preference for brown but may have have been due to other factors (different Dareds, signal tubes)
    • Mullard 5Z4G - remember this as almost as good as Brimar but don't see any notes
    • Tungsram 5Z4G - remember liking, but the one I used had very little life left
    For good reading on Dared tubes, start with Holy Grail thread and maybe look at other H9 tube threads and comments. He had the SL-2000 (among other Dareds) for a long time, has tested a gazillion tubes, and has a deep knowledge of NOS tubes. Fantastic CP resource.




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  • vcwatkinsvcwatkins Posts: 1,990
    Most folks love the Psvane, but I did not care for it, personally. Etched sound to my old ears. Good enough for me to keep though.
    Study: Roon * ProJect Stream Box Ultra & Pre Box S2 * Pass ACA * DH Labs SS Q10 * Brines Folded ML-TQWT RS 40-1354
    Audio: PS Audio DirectStream Jr. * Belles 20a * Pass Aleph 30 - Zu Omen DW * Sunfire Sig II - Polk SRS 2.3tl * PSAudio PP3 * MIT S3
    Den: Sonore ultraRendu * Cary xCiter * Dayens Menuetto * KEF LS50
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  • pitdogg2pitdogg2 Posts: 17,994
    Thanks man just what i was looking for. I had pm'd Brock right before i made the thread. I tried to search for that thread but came up with a ton of nonsense. I just didn't feel like wading through it all.
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  • NightfallNightfall Posts: 9,483
    Hey Ivan I think I have one of those Telefunken 5965 long plates. If you can find a single at a good price I'll send you mine.
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • pitdogg2pitdogg2 Posts: 17,994
    Sounds good Josh.
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  • NightfallNightfall Posts: 9,483
    95mp2bwqafhy.jpg

    i17m9j3ozgyp.jpg
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • dromundsdromunds Posts: 9,099
    I may have another TFK 5965 (or a pair) I’ll have to look, thinking it’s a pair tho. When I had my Dared I found the 1950’s CBS 7728 to be superb. I have a pair but keeping them just in case. I could part with a pair (I have four) Sylvania JHS 12AT7 gold pin 3 mica gray plate angled square getters, three from around 1958 and one from 1961. I also have two Valvo 6201 gold pin falcon logo solid disc from 1968 and 1970 that I may part with, these were also H9 favorites.
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  • pitdogg2pitdogg2 Posts: 17,994
    Yea Don you once bought a pair from Neil. Yep I'm glad to hear about the CBS, I'm on the hunt for a set.
    Let me know pal I'm interested for sure.
    The Dared should be here tomorrow. Hopefully it was packed well and FedEx handled it carefully as well.
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  • verbverb Posts: 10,313
    edited April 2020
    Sweet looking pre! :smile: Congrats brother!
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,Enlightened Audio Designs CD Transport, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, Marantz SA-14 SACD, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Digital Cables, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, Wireworld Oasis 8 RCA IC's, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, PASS ACA Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
    Spare Room: Antique Sound Labs Wave AV-8 Monoblocks, Tisbury Mini Passive Pre, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
    Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
    Garage: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
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  • dromundsdromunds Posts: 9,099
    Nice, brings back fond memories. I tried a lot of tubes in the Dared and I have notes but They’re probably at my office at work and I’m working remotely these days. The Mullards are pretty good but depends on your tastes of course and associated equipment. I seem to recall liking the Brimar and also Tungsram rectifiers as mentioned by VCWatkins above, and perhaps another - I’ll see if I can find my scribblings, but I would think you may be set on the rectifier for awhile. I preferred a few tubes over Mullards for my application with the Dared, I can PM you about it. One thing about the Dared, it will respond nicely to tube rolling. It was like my Dodd ELP in that regard, and both were amazing values - and it’s no wonder they were so popular around here.
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  • pitdogg2pitdogg2 Posts: 17,994
    dromunds wrote: »
    Nice, brings back fond memories. I tried a lot of tubes in the Dared and I have notes but They’re probably at my office at work and I’m working remotely these days. The Mullards are pretty good but depends on your tastes of course and associated equipment. I seem to recall liking the Brimar and also Tungsram rectifiers as mentioned by VCWatkins above, and perhaps another - I’ll see if I can find my scribblings, but I would think you may be set on the rectifier for awhile. I preferred a few tubes over Mullards for my application with the Dared, I can PM you about it. One thing about the Dared, it will respond nicely to tube rolling. It was like my Dodd ELP in that regard, and both were amazing values - and it’s no wonder they were so popular around here.

    yea Don I'm all ears. I'm new to these tubes 6sn7 is my knowledge base. Yes I'd like to be able to roll tubes and a couple of rectifier's just to kind of get my bearings on these tube types. At the same time I do not want to waste time and money on those tubes that others found distasteful IF you know what I mean. Some good outstanding tubes to roll to see what jives with my ears and gear.
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  • NightfallNightfall Posts: 9,483
    You've had it for like 2 hours already. Where's the 10 page in depth review with words I have to look up?
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • pitdogg2pitdogg2 Posts: 17,994
    Nightfall wrote: »
    You've had it for like 2 hours already. Where's the 10 page in depth review with words I have to look up?

    🕺🕺🤸🦸👅🍑
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  • NightfallNightfall Posts: 9,483
    It makes you dance around and lick butts? :p
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • dromundsdromunds Posts: 9,099
    That’s a peach not a butt
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  • Mikey081057Mikey081057 Posts: 7,430
    Congrats Ivan

    looks Shaweet
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  • pitdogg2pitdogg2 Posts: 17,994
    edited April 2020
    dromunds wrote: »
    That’s a peach not a butt

    Yep it's peaches 🍑🍑🍑🍑

    Thanks Mikey

    Josh I have not had time to really sit and listen. Too many outdoor stuff to do today.
    I'll get into it but I will say it really drives to Aragon. The Adcom 565 pre did a good job no complaints except that it may of been a little low on the output side since there were many times i was past 12 o'clock on the volume knob. The Aragon never broke a sweat. The Dared well i was at 9 o'clock on the volume at it was VERY VERY LOUD and I thought the drivers were going to jump off the 2.3tls.
    Tubes man need some tubes to roll. I just bought a pair of these for 70.00 for the pair. The seller sent me a special offer after they were in my cart for a day. Maybe the others will do the same.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/6414-7062-12AT7-premium-tube-Raytheon-blackplate-orange-National-label/114139119880?pageci=efe3077d-0d0b-4da2-9a16-5975f184708d

    So we will see I'm looking at others and have two sets in my cart.

    Anybody else have some good tubes reach out.
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  • FaustinFaustin Posts: 1,007
    The Dared SL2000 was my first experience with tubes. A lot of bang for the buck. I mainly used the Brimar rectifier and Mullard 12AT7's. I have quite a few 12AT7 tubes that I bought to roll into the Dared, but sold it before I had a chance to try very many of them. Hope you enjoy it!
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  • pitdogg2pitdogg2 Posts: 17,994
    Faustin wrote: »
    The Dared SL2000 was my first experience with tubes. A lot of bang for the buck. I mainly used the Brimar rectifier and Mullard 12AT7's. I have quite a few 12AT7 tubes that I bought to roll into the Dared, but sold it before I had a chance to try very many of them. Hope you enjoy it!

    Well if you want to thin the tube herd let me know. I'm not for from you. I can maybe take a few off your hands if you'd like.
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  • indyhawgindyhawg Posts: 1,563
    Nice pre Ivan. I liked the Brimar rectifier in mine like other have mentioned. If I can remember correctly, I liked the Mullard 12 AT7s the best.
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  • FaustinFaustin Posts: 1,007
    @pitdogg2 - I will take a look at what I have and let you know.
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  • pitdogg2pitdogg2 Posts: 17,994
    Faustin wrote: »
    @pitdogg2 - I will take a look at what I have and let you know.

    thanks Bruce
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  • FaustinFaustin Posts: 1,007
    Hey Ivan, how are you liking the Dared? Is it a keeper for the time being?
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  • pitdogg2pitdogg2 Posts: 17,994
    Faustin wrote: »
    Hey Ivan, how are you liking the Dared? Is it a keeper for the time being?

    Yep I'm enjoying it. Just ordered 2 early 50's Brimar 5z4g foil getter rectifiers. Brand new never used seller has a case of them. I thought he was pricey but he made me an offer on 2 shipped from down under. I had to give them a try for the price he shot me. Between the Sylvania 12at7 triple mica from you and a Raytheon 6414 I picked up too close to call.
    I'm digging it.
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