|
Post by mvneufeld on Dec 9, 2017 21:14:27 GMT
I just checked on the RCA 12SX7GT and now it says Tuesday, Dec 12, 2017 - Monday, Jan 15, 2018 Sorry! I have the Westinghouse 12SN7GT now, though.
I got word that my Sennheiser HD6XXs have shipped - two weeks earlier than expected! They should be here in about five days.
I sympathize with you re your VT-231 experience. I decided to take your advice and get an RCA 6SN7GT grey glass. Unfortunately, the one I bought on eBay that was a dud, so I just returned it. To console myself I bought a Sylvania 6SN7GT Bad Boy.
|
|
|
Post by mvneufeld on Dec 5, 2017 1:57:42 GMT
Sure thing - I'll let you know as soon as I get it.
|
|
|
Post by mvneufeld on Dec 5, 2017 0:25:03 GMT
Once I get my HD6XX headphones from Massdrop (they should ship 12/20) I really need to spend some time listening to the tubes I have before making any more purchases. (I keep telling myself this is the smart thing to do...) However, I think my next tube will be a grey glass RCA 6SN7. You're right - it's probably a good thing to mention if the tube's microphonic but say that it's not an issue in a headphone amp. That 12SX7 is another thing I'm waiting for. It's coming from Taiwan and should be here in the next couple of weeks. Once it comes I'd be happy to sell it and the 12SN7 to you. How does $15 for the two + $4 for shipping sound? My wife hasn't heard my rig yet - I'm gonna wait until I get the HD6XXs. She has looked at it and says it's very pretty with the LED lighting up the tube. She likes the TS 6SN7 "mouse ears" tube because of the glowing bits in the middle and up top. See avatar
|
|
|
Post by mvneufeld on Dec 4, 2017 18:33:42 GMT
Great post - thanks! I think I'll try flogging my Westinghouse 12SN7GT and the RCA 12SX7GT on eBay or this forum since they are not really compatible with my Horizon. I'm listening to my Raytheon 6GC7 right now, and I have to revise my opinion of it. It's just a bit bass-heavy, but the highs and mids are very full and detailed. This is one thing I'm really enjoying: as my newly acquired tubes burn in (and maybe my DAC, too) their characteristics are subtly changing.
I, too, generally prefer 6SN7s to 12AU7s. A couple of my 6SN7s and even one of my 12AU7 tubes have pretty noticeable microphonics, but as you say, it's not much of an issue in a headphone amp. I'm selling several of my tubes on eBay and Reverb, and I wonder if I need to mention the microphonics (the people I bought them from didn't).
I really want to get a grey glass RCA one of these days, and that Sylvania VT-231 sounds like something to check after Christmas. Need to take a little tube-buying break, though - my wife is getting alarmed at all the little packages that arrive every week.
One question - what is your opinion of 5692 tubes? Are they as good as some say, and are they compatible with the Horizon?
I totally agree about G1217 hybrid amps - and you put it very well. They're incredibly versatile and fun to use. It's nice to be able to use a wide range of headphones and tubes by just changing jumper settings, and tube rolling is a kick.
I'm glad there's a forum where I can talk with like-minded folks, because my wife and friends think I've lost my mind. Thanks again to you and Solderdude.
|
|
|
Post by mvneufeld on Dec 4, 2017 2:36:15 GMT
Thanks for the great explanation - I even understood it! I guess I'm just lucky that this tube sounds so good at half voltage. I've got a 12SX7 tube coming from Taiwan, and we'll see if it even works, but after this I'll stick with tubes that are listed in the Horizon manual. (It's also good to know I'm not risking burning down the house by trying these tubes.)
The thing is I got the 6SN7 adapter (which isn't covered in the tube list in the manual) and wasn't sure what tubes I could with it.
Thanks also for letting me know that I don't need to bother with pre-dialing the bias.
|
|
|
Post by mvneufeld on Dec 3, 2017 19:03:28 GMT
Solderdude, I'm curious about what you said about using a 12SN7 tube in my Horizon. I figured that since I had an 6SN7 adapter, if I just set the jumper to 12 volts I could use a 12SN7GT. And it does work - I'm listening to a Westinghouse 12SN7GT as I type this (in fact it's one of my favorite tubes). The only thing I've noticed is that I have to turn the bias way down for this tube. I'm glad to read that there's nothing unsafe about it.
Thanks for the comment on the SMSL Sanskrit, too. I realize there are better DACs, but I think it's a very good one for $100. I figure I'd need to pay at least $150 more to get another 5%-10% improvement, and I'm 64, so odds are I wouldn't be able to hear it anyway. I agree that the 32bit/192kHz sampling rate is overkill (ridiculous, in fact). I didn't buy it for the high sampling rate - I thought the components were of good quality, 2 volt output was good for a DAC at this price, and I'd seen some pretty convincing reviews. (The bad reviews were invariably by people who hadn't actually heard the thing - like a lot of the bad reviews for new issue tubes.) I think this DAC is very transparent, and the highs are very good to these old ears. If there is something that might be better, it's the sound stage, but I am I right in thinking that the tube I choose and the headphones I listen with are going to more of a factor?
On the subject of setting the bias(es) - I make it a habit of turning the two bias screws way down before I roll in a different tube (and then of course I turn them back up). Do you think this is a good idea or not really necessary?
|
|
|
Post by mvneufeld on Dec 3, 2017 2:07:28 GMT
Thanks! I'll have to check out E80CC tubes (though the ones I just looked at on eBay were pretty pricey). From what I've read, it appears they sound like this Electro Harmonix 6HP30Pi tube I have - "fast and detailed but it might be a little too clinical sounding for some headphones." But I'm using a pair of Sony MDR-V6s until I get the Sennheiser HD650s in a few weeks and I'm sure that will change things considerably.
Regarding the "Mouse Ears" 6SN7, Jeremy sold that one to me when I bought my amp, and when I got home and rolled it in I was astounded at the sound stage and overall dynamics of the tube - all I'd ever heard up to that point was 12AU7s in my Bravo. That's another tube I'm really looking forward to hearing with my HD650s.
One tube I got that was a disappointment was a Raytheon 6CG7. I'd read good things about them, but this one was just okay - on par with some 6SN7GTBs I have - but nothing special at all. Maybe there are better 6CG7s out there. And I wonder if anyone reading this has any opinion of 12SX7GT tubes?
|
|
|
Post by mvneufeld on Dec 2, 2017 22:58:15 GMT
It kind of makes me sad to see that Project Ember gets all the love with 142 pages, and Project Horizon has 2 measly pages...
Well, I just got a supercharged Horizon 3 with 6SN7 adapter, and it's great! I live in Tempe, so I was able to buy it directly from Jeremy. Everything people say about him is spot on - he's a great guy - super helpful and informative. I had a Bravo Ocean for a while, which got me into tube rolling. Then I started reading posts by Solderdude on how to mod the Bravo, which I did, and then I discovered that Garage1217's headphone amps were tube rolling heaven, so I gave away my Bravo and got the Horizon. I thought about getting an Ember, but I read that the Horizon had a bit more tubey warmth. Also, I've got some Massdrop Sennheiser HD6XXs coming for Christmas and I heard the Horizon is a good match.
So, tubes. I've only been at it for a couple of months, but here are my favorites: 1. New issue Tung Sol 6SN7GTB - perfect in every way 2. Late 40s Westinghouse 12SN7GT - nearly perfect, but a tiny bit noisy) 3. New issue Genalex Gold Lion 12AU7 - excellent for a 12AU7 4. 50s RCA Sentinel 6SN7GTA - really nice (for $5!) 5. 1960 Mullard 12AU7 (typical Mullard - highs are rolled off, but nice for late night listening) 6. New issue Electro Harmonix 6HP30Pi (a bit too bright and fatiguing with my current headphones - might be better with HD650s) 7. 50s Tung Sol 6SN7GT “mouse ears” (fantastic sound stage, bass could be stronger - might be better with HD650s)
I've got 10 or so other tubes that are good, but don't quite have the character or quality to be favorites.
General observances: 6SN7 and 12SN7 tubes are generally more dynamic and have better sound stage than 12AU7s (but the vintage 6SN7s tend to be noisier).
I’m very impressed with my $5 12SN7GT tube, and I have a $10 1948 12SX7GT tube on the way that has gotten some very good reviews. These 12SN7 type tubes seem like a really good deal.
I have two opinions that some people definitely do not share: 1) I found the new issue Russian tubes listed above are as good as the best vintage tubes. (But I'm still into collecting vintage tubes.) 2) I've been told that unless I get a Schiit Modi Multibit I can never be happy. Well, I'm very happy with my S.M.S.L. Sanskrit 6th Anniversary Edition DAC.
Any comments or tube recommendations are welcome. Thanks!
|
|