New preamp for Father's Day
pearsall001
Posts: 5,092
I figured I'd treat myself. Picked up this beautiful beast! It's one heavy sucker.
Opera Audio Consonance Reference 1 tube pre.
The sound is incredible, deep & wide soundstage that even extends well out in front of the speakers.
Pin point imaging, lush voices both male & female (only two genders here folks)
I just picked it up Sat so I'm still gathering my impressions
but so far she looks to be a keeper.
The combo with my Border Patrol DAC is a match made in heaven. It melts your arse right into the chair for hours on end.
"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
Post edited by pearsall001 on
Comments
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What tubes it take?
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It has 2-12AU7 & 1-EZ80.
Tube rolling already... these sound pretty dang good so far.
"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up. -
I knew one looked a little different 😉
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Thanks for the guts shots! Enjoy your new toy. I like that wood top panel, very slick.
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Congrats on the new pre man. Nice to see you back into tubes after swearing them off from those Conrad Johnson days. Hard to beat that darn tube sound, rock on.HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's -
looks like a nice preamp
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Congrats on your new preamp, hope you have many hours of enjoyment with it.Yamaha RX-A2070, Musical Fidelity M6si integrated amp, Benchmark Dac1, Bluesound NODE 2i, Audiolab 6000CDT CD Transport, Parasound Zphono USB Phono Preamp, Fluance RT85, Ortofon 2M Bronze, Polk L600's, L400, L900's, RC80i's, SVS 3000 Micro, Audioquest Interconnects and Digital Cables, Nordost Silver Shadow Digital Cable, Cullen Gold and Crossover Series Power Cables, Douglas Connection Alpha 12AWG OCC Speaker Cables, Douglas Connection Alpha Analog Interconnect Cables, Douglas Connection Alpha 11 OCC Custom Power Cable, Signal Power Cable, Furman PL-8C 15 Power Conditioner, Sony 65" 900F, Sony UBP-X700, Fios, Apple TV 4K, Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables.
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Congrats on the new pre man. Nice to see you back into tubes after swearing them off from those Conrad Johnson days. Hard to beat that darn tube sound, rock on.
Older & wiser now! Lol! Man oh man you're going way back Tony. 🤠"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up. -
What tubes it take?
I stand corrected on the tubes, they are not 12AU7 tubes.
They are Electro-Harmonix 6H30 tubes (some call them "super tubes") Kinda like a tube inside a tube.
I thought I called it wrong because these 6H30 tubes are huge, much larger than a 12AU7 tube.
But I must say they do have a very mesmerizing tone so far & the pre isn't ever broken in yet. Will sound even better as it breaks in."2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up. -
I think Acoustic Research also use those Phil.
After you said 12au7 I was still confused. Yes they are very different looking from any 12au I have ever seen.
Thanks for the update. -
I think Acoustic Research also use those Phil.
After you said 12au7 I was still confused. Yes they are very different looking from any 12au I have ever seen.
Thanks for the update.
I believe BAT started using them back in 90's in their top of the line pre's, then AR along with Conrad Johnson started using them also.
Rogue Audio uses them in their top of the line RP-9 pre.
They are definitely different but man oh man do they deliver the sonic fire power.
Most companies that use the 6H30 tubes generally use them in their top gear."2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up. -
The nos 6h30p-dr tubes are really expensive.
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The nos 6h30p-dr tubes are really expensive.
That they are! I've seen them go for upwards of $900.00 for a matched pair... yikes 😳
Mine are stock Electro-Harmonix that sound absolutely divine.
There are other rather reasonable 6H30 tubes to be had though if one gets the itch.
I'm not close to climbing down that rabbit 🐇 hole just yet."2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up. -
try the sovtek 6h30-piAmplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
Puritan PSM156 -
try the sovtek 6h30-pi
Supposedly it's the same tube from the same factory just different pins.
EH gold
Sovtek chrome
Do you know differently Marv? -
i have not compared but supposedly they sound different, could be the gold plating.
here's an old discussion on the two.
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/electro-harmonix-6h30pi-gold-vs-sovtek-6h30pi-ebAmplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
Puritan PSM156 -
You can roll the ez80/6v4 rectifier tube a lot cheaper.
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i have not compared but supposedly they sound different, could be the gold plating.
here's an old discussion on the two.
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/electro-harmonix-6h30pi-gold-vs-sovtek-6h30pi-eb
Thanks for the link. A very interesting discussion.
I'm just wondering if the Sovtek would be more of a lateral move from the EH.
I have to check to see if my EH are the gold plated (does that even make a difference?)"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up. -
When looking last night Kevin Deal upscale audio had this. Since I do not know this tube that is why I deferred to Marvin.There are two types of 6H30 tubes currently being produced. The Sovtek brand which have the chrome pins (listed here), and the Electro Harmonix Gold pin. They are the same tube from the same factory. Don’t get your panties in a bunch over which is better, as the gold plating is laid over the chrome plating. They are both terrific. What is most important is how they test. You guys already know that Upscale Audio is the only place that the Audio Research factory people give a thumbs up to. That’s because we actually have our power tubes matched properly and have the highest Gm, and that every small signal tube like the 6H30 is not just measured, but listened to in a special phono stage test circuit by using headphones. That, my friends, is the only way to get the blackest blacks in your system.
Either way a lot of folks like the tube sit back and enjoy your new pre she's a beauty. -
tube testers can only show simple characteristic such as transconductance at only one operating point, curve tracers show you all operating parameters across all operating conditions – all at once.
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When looking last night Kevin Deal upscale audio had this. Since I do not know this tube that is why I deferred to Marvin.There are two types of 6H30 tubes currently being produced. The Sovtek brand which have the chrome pins (listed here), and the Electro Harmonix Gold pin. They are the same tube from the same factory. Don’t get your panties in a bunch over which is better, as the gold plating is laid over the chrome plating. They are both terrific. What is most important is how they test. You guys already know that Upscale Audio is the only place that the Audio Research factory people give a thumbs up to. That’s because we actually have our power tubes matched properly and have the highest Gm, and that every small signal tube like the 6H30 is not just measured, but listened to in a special phono stage test circuit by using headphones. That, my friends, is the only way to get the blackest blacks in your system.
Either way a lot of folks like the tube sit back and enjoy your new pre she's a beauty.
I've seen other videos with him but not the one you posted about with him giving insight on the 6h30 tube. I'll have to give him a listen.
Thanks for the heads up on his video.
Not to worry I am absolutely enjoying the new pre!
"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up. -
I'll be honest and up front....I can't listen to Kevin too long his voice grinds that ear bone😆
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I'll be honest and up front....I can't listen to Kevin too long his voice grinds that ear bone😆
Too funny 😂 He is a character!"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up. -
My Dodd battery preamp was designed for the 6H30 and the 6H30p-dr was highly recommended by Gary but I couldn't pull the trigger on it given the price even then. Gary said the 6DJ8 family would also work well and so I obtained NOS 1950's Amperex Holland 7308 D-getter, which now is pretty dang expensive itself. I would still like to try an NOS 6H30p-dr but keep cringing when I see the price.
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My Dodd battery preamp was designed for the 6H30 and the 6H30p-dr was highly recommended by Gary but I couldn't pull the trigger on it given the price even then. Gary said the 6DJ8 family would also work well and so I obtained NOS 1950's Amperex Holland 7308 D-getter, which now is pretty dang expensive itself. I would still like to try an NOS 6H30p-dr but keep cringing when I see the price.
Just pretend you're buying a new top notch PC or a new pair of speaker cables... the money some drop on those items makes the NOS 6h30p dr pale in comparison. 🤠"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up. -
Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden
https://youtu.be/o7cy7vmv2Cs