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Audible Illusions Mod III A Questions:

67.72.98.97
Posted on November 1, 2009 at 16:36:41
Vinylly
 I've had my Audible Illusions Mod IIIA for about 10 years. I'm using the same tubes since I bought them and they seem to be still going strong (knock-knock). I read someplace that the tubes need replacing every 12-18 months, however, why replace them if they are still going strong? Since I've never opened up the pre-amp, how many tubes does it have? Also what are the original tubes? I also would like to hear some suggestions for tube rolling, -if NOS tubes can make a difference.

RE: Audible Illusions Mod III A Questions:, posted on November 8, 2009 at 13:13:56
Tantalus
Audiophile

Posts: 17
Location: DC
Joined: June 20, 2003
 Under normal usage, after ten years that preamp would like some new tubes. I bought a used Audible Illusions Mod. 3 a few years ago. This is an earlier model, than yours, but takes the same tubes. The original tubes it came with worked and sounded sort of OK, but things were MUCH improved when I replaced the tubes.

It takes four 6922 tubes- two in the phone stage and two in the line stage. You don't have to use the same brand of tubes. Currently, I'm running two JJ Audio tubes in the line stage, and two "type two" Russian tubes from Upscale Audio in the phono stage.

If you use your preamp as line-stage only and don't play records, or play records very infrequently, you don't need to replace the phone stage tubes. The preamp DOES need to have all four tubes installed to operate properly, but your old tubes will work fine in the phono if that isn't a critical part of your listening.

Switching tubes is easy. Unplug the external power supply, wait a few minutes for the tubes to cool. Remove all the nuts holding the top plate on (you'll need the correct size allen wrench for this; I believe it uses an imperial rather than a metric size). Don't lose the nuts or the rubber donuts. Pull the cover. Using a paper towel or cloth to avoid touching the tube with your fingers, remove the tubes using a gentle rocking motion. Install the new tubes similarly, paying attention to the pattern of the pins in the base. They only go in one way. IIRC, V1 and V2 are phono left and right, respectively, and V3 and V4 are line stage left and right, respectively. Check with somebody who has a Modulus 3A, rather than going by my Modulus 3. (I assume you don't have a manual). If you're replacing all four tubes, it doesn't matter anyway. Just put one matched pair in the south side, and the other matched pair in the north side, so to speak.

The three tubes I'd recommend are the two Russian tubes Kevin Deal sells:

http://www.upscaleaudio.com/Electro-Harmonix-6922_p_50.html

http://www.upscaleaudio.com/Russian-6H236922-Type-3_p_49.html

or set of "low noise and microphonics" JJ/Tesla E88CC tubes from the Tube Depot:

http://www.tubedepot.com/jj-e88cc.html

The JJ tubes run about $16 each when you get the low-noise graded ones, so a total retube with JJ tubes will only run you about $70.

You'll need them sooner or later anyway. I'd suggest going with the JJ tubes and putting them in. If you don't hear an improvement, put the original Russian tubes back in, then when the Russians do eventually wear out, you'll have the JJ tubes ready to go.

I find the Russian type 2 to be a little more quiet than the selected low-noise JJ tubes, but the JJ tubes are still fine in my system. I got some non-selected JJ tubes from Triode Electronics, though, and they were quite a bit too noisy. It depends on the sensitivity of your speakers and amplifier.

Anyway, new tubes are a pretty cheap tweak and they might sound a whole lot better for you, even though the old ones are still going strong.

p.s. My original Russian tubes were still dead quiet and putting out plenty of signal when I replaced them. They just didn't sound good- too much glare...
RE: Thanks For All The Information............, posted on November 9, 2009 at 13:13:38
Vinylly
 I've got some other tubes, from UpscaleAudio. Problem is I don't remember which amp or preamp I bought them for. They are small tubes with just prongs sticking out of them so I assume they are for a preamp. The boxes read Valve Electronic CV4024 KZDD/K. UpscaleAudio has a sticker that reads T1: 5200 T2: 5400 Maullard 12AT7. So, I guess these are Mullard 12AT7 tubes. If the prongs fit in the sockets of the AI, would they work, or just blow up?????

RE: Modulus 3/3A Question, posted on November 16, 2009 at 21:52:08
Tantalus
Audiophile

Posts: 17
Location: DC
Joined: June 20, 2003
 Those are different tubes altogether. They won't work. Don't try, even if the pins are the same.

Don't, posted on November 9, 2009 at 22:18:25
kavakidd
Audiophile

Posts: 14058
Location: Upstate NY
Joined: April 15, 2004
Contributor
  Since: April 21, 2004
 do it! At least not without checking with Kevin

"Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to" Mark Twain
RE: Audible Illusions Mod III A Questions:, posted on November 2, 2009 at 02:37:50
Ozzy
Audiophile

Posts: 5219
Joined: September 21, 1999
 My experience with this preamp runs counter to what others say, and I owned two of them. I used Mullards in one and Telefunkens in the other and had no issues with it "eating tubes" as some have said. I believe it used to ship with russian tubes.


Oz



Don't worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older, it will avoid you.
- Winston Churchill

RE: Audible Illusions Mod III A Questions:, posted on November 4, 2009 at 03:28:29
gary.m
Audiophile

Posts: 80
Joined: August 11, 2002
 I would have to concur with Ozzy's findings. I've had mine for 10 years now and have run them with Siemens 1960 CCA's with no trouble what so ever. In 10 years I've only changed tubes 2 maybe 3 times. A wonderful preamp. And it has a mono switch which I find essential!

RE: Audible Illusions Mod III A Questions:, posted on November 1, 2009 at 18:50:36
mrod
Audiophile

Posts: 64
Location: East Tennessee
Joined: July 8, 2000
 Like everything else, tubes do wear out. You have to be careful what tubes you put in your AI M3a. It takes 6922 or 6H23EB tubes and it is pretty darned rough on them. I suggest using tubes recommended by the factory for this reason. Here's a link to some replacement tubes:

enjoy!
mrod.

Nostalgia is history removed of the burdensome weight of reality
That's a LOT of money when, posted on November 1, 2009 at 22:03:32
kavakidd
Audiophile

Posts: 14058
Location: Upstate NY
Joined: April 15, 2004
Contributor
  Since: April 21, 2004
 you can buy premium matched sets from Upscale for $120. And-to anser the question - there are four and just because they lasted 10-years does not mean they sound anywhere near their best. Time for new ones for sure.

"Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to" Mark Twain
RE: That's a LOT of money when, posted on November 3, 2009 at 15:38:26
Sondek
Audiophile

Posts: 1072
Location: Ft. Worth
Joined: May 17, 2000
 Dave,

No kidding that's a lot of money for those tubes! Nothing against GC Audio, done business with them several times in the past and been happy w/them, but that is crazy. Not to mention the ones in the picture look like Reflektor made. The top of the line Voskhod (Rockets) from Upscale are half the price and probably sound half again as good. I still got a cache of those Voskhods I bought from a fella in Lithuania back in 2001 for $3 a piece. Really nice tubes.

RE: That's a LOT of money when, posted on November 3, 2009 at 15:56:56
kavakidd
Audiophile

Posts: 14058
Location: Upstate NY
Joined: April 15, 2004
Contributor
  Since: April 21, 2004
 I wouldn't blame GC especially either since he has to buy them from AI. It was, however, Upscale that first discovered (got ahold) of the 6H-23s because I remember Kevin saying he was asked "where did you find THOSE" by AI. Kevin had been an AI dealer as well. Have to wonder if that precipitated a rift.

"Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to" Mark Twain

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