Tubes Asylum Questions about tubes and gear that glows. FAQ

---

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] Thread: [ Display  All  Email ] [ Tubes Asylum ]

---

[ Alert Moderator ]

---

Yaqin MC-10L with Soviet NOS 6P3S-E Military Tubes

Posted by desperado915@yahoo.com (A) on September 4, 2009 at 04:30:17

I recently made the move from solid state to tube audio, more out of curiosity than anything else. After perusing various audio forums and much reading, I finally decided to go with an inexpensive tube integrated amplifier. I chose the Yaqin MC-10L. I ordered it and after receipt, was pleasantly surprised at how good it sounded. I tried different combinations of speakers, etc and finally got a set-up that I liked. My current set-up is a nice Mid-Fi blend:
Yaqin MC-10L Integrated Amplifier, Onkyo DX-C390 CDP, Gigalab DAC MK II, Sansui TU-717 Tuner, and to round it all off, I coupled everything to a pair of Polk Audio Monitor 7’s.

I then decided to “roll tubes” and changed out the stock Shuguang 6N1 driver tubes for a set of 70’s vintage Soviet 6N1P-EV’s (the ones with the rocket). That change proved to be a nice improvement over stock. I then decided to try rolling the power tubes. I anguished over this choice, asked many questions and read many posts. Then, after reading about a lot of non-NOS tubes on Audio Asylum, I decided to try some Soviet vintage NOS 6P3S-E military tubes (nickel base) that were purported to sound really good. Not real sure that I could use these tubes on my amp, I enlisted the help of Mike Samara to ensure that I was on the right track. Mike is a big advocate of these tubes and was very helpful to this rookie tube junkie. I then ordered a matched quad from a guy in the Ukraine for the bank breaking sum of $36 shipped and anxiously awaited their arrival.

The tubes arrived in the mail and I immediately decided to try them out. I popped them in place, and with great anticipation, powered up the amp. I half expected red-plating, smoke, and sparks but saw nothing but the nice orange glow I was accustomed to with the stock Shuguang EL-34B’s. I set the bias for each pot at 40ma and then put on a CD. I expected a slight difference but when I turned up the volume my jaw dropped. These things sound good! I mean considerably better than stock. I definitely do not have the pin-point, golden audiophile ears that many others have (must be due to my 24 years in the Army), but even I could hear the difference. I tried different genres of music and the result was the same; extended bass, forward, enveloping mids, and shimmering highs. The whole thing really makes me wonder how good these tubes will sound when fully broken in. I am pretty happy with these tubes. This does not mean that I am going to quit rolling tubes, quite the contrary. As soon as these are broken in, I will order a new quad to try out. The tube rolling process is too fun not to. The bottom line is this: the Russian 6P3S-E Military Tubes are good and for the money, they are fantastic.

I wish to express many thanks to Mike Samara for all of his help and guidance. This tube is everything he claimed it was.

Edits: 09/04/09 09/04/09

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Parts Connexion

---

[ Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]

---

[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]

---