when a tube goes bad, how does it sound?

danger boy
danger boy Posts: 15,722
edited April 2007 in Electronics
Today while listening to the SDA's I noticed the left channel sounded very muddy.. highs were very muted. So i swapped the left and right tubes in my CAL DAC. bam, sure enough.. the muddy highs follows one of the tubes.

It appears to light up, and sound does come from it.. but it's very muddy highs and mids. IS this normal for when a tube bites the big one? I've only had the tubes about 5 or 6 months tops. I'd say.. maybe 150 hours total use on both.

They are 12AX7's Groove tube gold series. One sounds just dandy, while the other one really sounds bad. I guess there could also be a problem with the DAC, but since it follows the tube. it makes me pretty sure it's the tube.
PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
Post edited by danger boy on
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited April 2007
    Yep, that's the nature of tubes. It's a good idea to always keep spare tubes handy.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,814
    edited April 2007
    Other times when a tube goes bad it will cause distortion while others have a complete melt down, which may include blowing up.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited April 2007
    Early B. wrote: »
    Yep, that's the nature of tubes. It's a good idea to always keep spare tubes handy.

    I am learning the hard way. I can't get my hands on any tubes this weekend.. i'd love to have it up and running right now.. I could always bypass the DAC, but when I do that.. I can easily tell that the DAC isn't in the mix.. and it make music sound bad.

    Anyone want to sell me a matching pair of 12AX7's?? I can Pay Pal you the money.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited April 2007
    I sold the Mullards I had in my DAC last year.. i didn't like their sound, to laid back for me.. so I sold them to a guy locally. cool. he had never seen any like them either. so i let them go for $15 for both. no biggie.

    Well now I find that those Mullards currently sell for $225 a pair! :eek: :eek: :eek:

    Damnit, do i feel stupid. I guess the dude that bought my Mullards got one helluva good deal. :p
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited April 2007
    Don't you just hate that "Backward Vision" of 20/20?

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited April 2007
    I have some almost brand new Mullards for sale..(6sn7gt)

    Need to check my stash for 12ax7`s...I may have aq set

    I have a butt load of 6922/6dj8`s comming up soon
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited April 2007
    Hey DB, I'd suggest giving a pair of these a try. I'm loving mine. I'd send you a pair but it would take as long as ordering new ones...
    http://www.thetubestore.com/ehx12ax7.html
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited April 2007
    madmax wrote: »
    Hey DB, I'd suggest giving a pair of these a try. I'm loving mine. I'd send you a pair but it would take as long as ordering new ones...
    http://www.thetubestore.com/ehx12ax7.html
    madmax

    madmax, thanks for the offer and the info link. I think I will order a couple 3 of those.. and give them a try.. can't beat that price.

    Where do you use them, in a pre amp or amp?
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • rskarvan
    rskarvan Posts: 2,374
    edited April 2007
    When a tube goes bad... it sort of sounds like Emenim.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited April 2007
    can I use either one of these tubes for a replacement of 12AX7's?

    12au7 or 12bh7

    I"m a little leary of using anything in my DAC other than a 12AX7 that it recommends.. but you all know more about tube replacements better than I do.

    I don't want to use any tube that's going to kill the DAC. Lord only know how damn expensive it would be to fix this thing. :eek:
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited April 2007
    ok. i had to wait all of Sunday and not listen to the SDA's because i was dumb and didn't have spare tubes laying around.

    well today I went down to the local pawn shop and bought some Groove Tubes...

    Damn, the SDA's love me again. And I love them back. :D I had no idea how really bad they sounded with the left speaker missing about 50% of it's higher end sound. They sound stunning again. :)
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited April 2007
    madmax i went ahead an placed an order for those EH ones... i look forward to trying them out.. the Groover Tubes now seem a bit to harsh in the top end.. so maybe the EH will smooth things out.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited April 2007
    madmax, yes the EH tubes did sooth things out in the top end.. these new matched pair of Electro-Harmonix 12AX7-EH are very nice sounding. I think they'll be in use for a long time to come.

    thanks for the heads up on em. reasonably priced as well. I love it.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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