Power Vs. Pre (12AX7 Vs. 6L6)
phuz
Posts: 2,372
I'm curious what your experiences are with power tubes (like 6L6) vs. the pre or I guess they're called output tubes (like the 12AX7).
I'm not a skeptic, more of a realist and I need to experience things for myself before I come to any conclusions.
Ok I'll just get to my point: I just swapped from the first set of 12AX7 that I tried (electro harmonix) to some JJ's, and there was a HUGE difference. Just a single 12AX7 each...
When I first hooked up the amps that George Daniel gracefully blessed me with, I heard what HTrookie described after first modding the amps. Very forward soundstage, almost in your face, somewhat bright, THICK midrange, with a twinge that would gnaw at my eardrums on occasion. I did an A/B comparison with a Music Hall integrated, comparing the internal amps with the ASL monos... and concluded that it was definately the ASL's giving me both great pleasure and pain. I'll save my opinion of the Music Hall integrated for another day...
Long story short, the electro harmonix tubes were the problem. The JJ's evened things out in the midrange, softened the highs, and boosted the lower freq's a little. A really nice change.
Oh, they also put Nora Jones in front of me... instead of on my lap. Not sure how I feel about that one yet...
So, back to my main question: In your experience, what has had the most dramatic effect in your setup? Power tubes? Pre tubes? Rectifier tubes? (I don't think I have rectifier tubes)
Those of you with ASL amps, what did it come with, and what are you using now?
I'm not a skeptic, more of a realist and I need to experience things for myself before I come to any conclusions.
Ok I'll just get to my point: I just swapped from the first set of 12AX7 that I tried (electro harmonix) to some JJ's, and there was a HUGE difference. Just a single 12AX7 each...
When I first hooked up the amps that George Daniel gracefully blessed me with, I heard what HTrookie described after first modding the amps. Very forward soundstage, almost in your face, somewhat bright, THICK midrange, with a twinge that would gnaw at my eardrums on occasion. I did an A/B comparison with a Music Hall integrated, comparing the internal amps with the ASL monos... and concluded that it was definately the ASL's giving me both great pleasure and pain. I'll save my opinion of the Music Hall integrated for another day...
Long story short, the electro harmonix tubes were the problem. The JJ's evened things out in the midrange, softened the highs, and boosted the lower freq's a little. A really nice change.
Oh, they also put Nora Jones in front of me... instead of on my lap. Not sure how I feel about that one yet...
So, back to my main question: In your experience, what has had the most dramatic effect in your setup? Power tubes? Pre tubes? Rectifier tubes? (I don't think I have rectifier tubes)
Those of you with ASL amps, what did it come with, and what are you using now?
Post edited by phuz on
Comments
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On my golden tube se-100 I was skeptical about rolling tubes on it so I did the 2 driver tubes (according to the manual) first and could tell a nice little difference. Then I did the other 8 el34's and couldn't be happier with the results. 10 Mullard el34's. I haven't played with the rectifier tube yet (sovtek 6sl7) because I have no idea if it would have any effect but I did order a couple of rca's to have as backups.
