Tube Preamp suggestions

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  • audioluvr
    audioluvr Posts: 5,603
    george daniel wrote: »
    the best tube that I found for the Belles is the Brimar 13D5,which will go in mine after I do the cap upgrade. Enjoy!

    Great... Now I have yet another tube to test. :D
    Gustard X26 Pro DAC
    Belles 21A Pre modded with Mundorf Supreme caps
    B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
    Polk SDA 1C's modded / 1000Va Dreadnaught
    Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
    Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)

    There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    Trust me,, the Brimar are the ticket,, ther is a guy on eBay,yitry. Who has them for 40 dollars a tube,, I have purchased from him before with no issues
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,572
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/224582062997?hash=item344a225395:g:D7QAAOSw3q1hInu5

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  • audioluvr
    audioluvr Posts: 5,603
    I have some of the Brimar CV4003's. Wonder what difference they are?
    Gustard X26 Pro DAC
    Belles 21A Pre modded with Mundorf Supreme caps
    B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
    Polk SDA 1C's modded / 1000Va Dreadnaught
    Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
    Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)

    There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,572
    edited August 2021
    audioluvr wrote: »
    I have some of the Brimar CV4003's. Wonder what difference they are?

    13D5 are a premium grade and a step above the standard 12au7.
    I've never been disappointed in a Brimar tube. I have several sets.

    Think Mullard 10m tubes or any of the aeronautics or our own 12dt7, 12df7 tubes. Made to demanding specifications and far fewer made.
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  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,903
    edited August 2021
    I would also look into the Mullard CV-4003, although they have gotten a little expensive now.
    https://www.thetubestore.com/mullard-cv4003-m8136-12au7
    Amplifiers: 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
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  • TEAforONE
    TEAforONE Posts: 1,026
    edited September 2021
    Just wanted to give an update on the Motherlode II. I've got a couple weeks on it now,and I smile every time I fire it up. It came with a pair of Ken Rad black glass 6sn7's. This is my first taste of 6sn7 tubes. I am very impressed. I am a soundstage freak,and this preamp gives me more depth, more separation,more detail. Just,well,more! I really feel that this is a true upgrade. To my ears, this system has leapfrogged to another level.

    I'm certain that there are SS preamps that would have sounded great as well as other tubed pre's. I am very familiar with Aric's products. This is the third preamp of his that's I've run. In fact,all three are currently in use. All work glitch free,with great sound.

    Thanks for all the input folks!

    P.S. I just purchased an extra set of 6sn7 tubes. A matched pair of Sylvania 6sn7gtb. They also sound great,but I think the Ken Rads are a bit more detailed. These seem a little smoother.

    v35dxajdcexg.jpeg
    See my profile for list of gear.
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,572
    edited September 2021
    The early Ken-Rads(1940's) are excellent tubes. GE bought out Ken-Rad and the GE tube code for the Owensboro Kentucky plant is 188-4. I found that the sound signature changed after GE took over the plant. Also after the mid 1950's CBS was also made by GE so be aware that they too lost something once GE took over building their tubes. My favorites are OLD CBS/Hytron 1940's parallel T-plates, Raytheon ladder plates 1940-1945. You also may be able to run 6BL7 or 6BX7 tubes as well. They are a little different but Brent Jesse turned me on to a set of 1940's ladder plate 6BX7's that sound DARN good in my tube buffer when I was using it. The 6BL/BX7 tubes can be SUPER cheap as no one really has found them. I was never a fan of the RCA 6sn7 but you may be different so get out there and get some and get ears on some tubes. LOTS of GREAT choices for you.
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  • invalid
    invalid Posts: 1,373
    The ken rads have great bass also
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