|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
67.177.242.32
I'm curious to know which brand 6H30 BAT and ARC are selling for their preamps.... or are they selling NOS 6H30?
I've seen inexpensive Sovtek or Electro Harmonix. How do these sound and hold up compared to the costly NOS 6H30 tubes?
What do BAT and ARC charge for NOS 6H30?
I have the ARC LS16mkII that I may want to retube. Thanks.
Follow Ups:
We are selling both the current production and the NOS tubes.
.
PAINTING: Design for a Tragic Theatre (Death of a General Electric 6550)
AbeCollins,
I don't know which 6H30 tubes BAT and ARC are normally supplying for their gear, but I can almost guarantee it's either the current Sovtek or Electro-Harmonix because they need to have a virtually unlimited supply for selection. More importantly, the NOS -DR version is becoming rare and a $150 tube. I think that for a while, BAT would supply the -DR, but I heard later that the price increased to up to $200 and someone even mentioned $300 each. The Tubestore charges about $160 each. Though a Sovtek 6H30 retail is about $30 and the E-H is about $35, I think ARC charges $75 for replacements- reflecting the testing/selection process.
I've never heard the -DR version, but every report I've read says the NOS -DR is noticeably better than current production, but the cost seems to be rapidly equalling and even surpassing even the outrageous prices for 6922s.
Though I've heard superb 6H30 designs- the ARC REF3 for example, if I were to buy a replacement tube preamp today, I would only consider the last Audio Research designs that still used the 6922: LS5, LS15, and especially the 6922 version of the LS25- fantastic and to me makes buying a REF2 unnecessary. These choices are also partly because I have 120 NOS 6DJ8s, 6922s, and 7308s but mainly I prefer the idea of having a choice of tubes to refine the sound and the 6H30 is rapidly becoming a no-choicer.
Can you say something more about the ARC LS16/II sound (which I've not heard properly) and what is making you think about retubing?
Cheers,
Bambi B
I have to agree Bambi; the LS15 is a great preamplifier and easy to improve sound quality with NOS tubes. The LS5 is also a super nice pre-amp, as is the LS22, if you can find one?
My LS22 has Amperex 6922, which makes it sound more warm. The LS15 had the infinicaps and detachable power cord, much like the LS16. The LS5 is a great pre-amp, if you are dedicated balanced, XLR interconnects.
For the money and ease for tube rolling, the LS15 later models are a great buy for a high-end preamplifier.
My used ARC LS16mkII has Sovtek tubes from the ARC factory with old brittle tube damper rings. The only reason I've been researching and thinking about replacing the tubes is because they are probably several years old. The preamp still sounds fine so I may just leave it.
You are correct. According to Leonard at ARC, they are supplying Sovtek 6H30. They match each triode section to within 1/4 dB, test transconductance and other parameters, then grade the tubes in 3 ranges. Cost is $64 per tube.
According to Leonard, "some audiophiles prefer the NOS 6H30 tubes but we have not heard them to sound any better in our testing". Well, I haven't heard NOS 6H30 but I suppose it can be argued that the NOS versions "sound better" or perhaps just "sound different".
I specifically sought out the LS16mkII with FET and 6H30 because I wanted a tube preamp that was pretty neutral and not too "tubey".
I once owned the 6922 based LS16 which was slightly rolled off compared to some other preamps I tried at that time - but not as bad as the CJ PV14L. The CJ was soft in the bass with very little sparkle in it's rolled off treble.
It seems to me that the LS16mkII has wider bandwidth vs the LS16 but I'm going on my "audio memory" and different gear from a different time period several years ago. However, I DO like the "hybrid" ARC LS16mkII mated with my EL34 based Manley Neo-Classic 250 monoblocks.
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: