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Recently I did a set of comparison of 6922 tubes I use in my Blue Circle BC300-II preamp that takes only a pair of 6922 tubes.The tubes: Sovtek (no longer made), EH Gold Pins, Genalex Gold Lion and Jan Phillips. All these tubes test very strong (for emissions), it was the occasion of calibrating my B&K 707 tested that triggered the comparisons.
I started doing comparisons with my CD player, a song each from 4 CDs ... I would listen to the songs with one set of tubes, then swap and listen to the set of songs with another set. I followed that up with comparison using just one song from a LP.
My impressions were consistent across the listening sessions, basically I felt the Jan Phillips lagged behind the others and the EH seemed like a better Sovtek.
I came down to the EH v. Genalex. I felt the EH had better separation of sonic images and was more extended on top. The Genalex was smoother sounding yet remarkably seemed to match the talents of the EH but in a slightly less obvious manner ... the Genalex seemed quieter but I attributed this to its darker character.
I had been using the Genalex but being quite impressed by what I heard from the EH decided it would be a nice for a change.
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Yet here's the kicker, and the point of the post. No longer doing comparisons and back to normal listening everything I played had an aggressive quality, not harsh mind you, just more forward and pushy, less composed and relaxed.
Back to the Genalex ... Ah, that's better! The point ... direct comparison are one thing but clearly just living with the sound is something different, and ultimately more important.
Never trust an Atom, they Make Up everything!
Edits: 03/31/14Follow Ups:
Totally agree with you. You have to live with a tube in your system for awhile to determine if it really is the one.
That said, go straight to the best Amperex, Tele or Siemens 6922 you can find. What you have can't compare. Saves a lot of time and money.
I call it the "WOW Factor".
Years ago I went to an audio show,
I heard a BIG $$$ Linn system that blew my socks off.
I also heard a Conrad-Johnson/Quad setup that was nice.
The Linn system I heard once and was satisfied.
The CJ/Quad had me keep returning and I didn't even
like the style of music they were playing!
Then I had to do some thinking about it.
I believe it is a right brain, left brain situation.
Or Ying and Yang if that is your bent.
Being impressed vs Satisfying to my soul.
DanL
I agree. This is why the argument in favour of simple ABX testing often tossed around on forums is unconvincing to me.
Put simply, the brain works differently when doing back-to-back comparisons than it does when simply relaxing and listening to music. Two different objectives and processes, even if they are (vaguely) related.
Put even more simply, experimentations that seem internally valid are often not externally valid.
Cheers.
“As long as we have any intention to be right… we should be wary. So long as words have the slightest ego attachment, they are dishonest.” Charlotte Joko Beck
Thanks Doc.
You're welcome son - pay on the way out.
Never trust an Atom, they Make Up everything!
It's funny, I get the same experiences out playing with EQ's too much, ahahhaa!
Working with guitar amps, I find value in the respective sound of different tubes. It's exciting tubing up an amp for a rhythm character, and retubing it for lead tones. Or a bass amp configured for heavy rumbling lows versus slap and funk.
On a last note, it's interesting you mentioned smooth. In the last few days, I got the chance to play with a blackface Fender Dual Showman and a 66-67 Marshall JTM45. All I can say is SMOOOOOOTH, natural but lively! God, nothing I've experienced compares to those amp tones.
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May your tubes be lively and long-lasting. Holy be thy heater.
SMOOOOOOTH is it! ... I'm glad to hear the performance side agrees!
And in that regard for a home system (everyone grows up lol) don't waste time, go straight to 15" Tannoy, JBL, Altec, etc. [the hi-eff forum has a tonne of guys that know speaker like they is]. Saves a lot of time and money.
;)
Never trust an Atom, they Make Up everything!
That is why I did - 15" GPA with Rick Craig's crossovers, tuned to avoid the glare/ electronic-ness of many modern systems. Sounds very nice even with SS... though with the Metaxas amp sounds the system sounds almost too dynamic and a little bright (not surprising with my source).
Cheers.
“As long as we have any intention to be right… we should be wary. So long as words have the slightest ego attachment, they are dishonest.” Charlotte Joko Beck
Mine is tube phono - tube pre - big SS - Tannoy Arden (HPD-385/A - recap).No going back ever.
For a tiny room the Tannoy Sterling sounds great, huge sound in a tiny room.
Never trust an Atom, they Make Up everything!
Edits: 03/31/14
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“As long as we have any intention to be right… we should be wary. So long as words have the slightest ego attachment, they are dishonest.” Charlotte Joko Beck
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