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John PA, what's your comments on AN DAC tubes?

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any comments on different tube you try for DAC 1.1X,
6922, 5687, 6sn7,...., Currently I still use siemen 7308, I am interested in 5687, and 6SN7. the 5687 is high current(over 20ma), the 6SN7 my amp is about 8ma plate current. I prefer the sound of big 8 octal tubes such as 6sn7 to small one. but I never try 5687/7922/5842...in any place.

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There would have to be changes . . John PA 21:19:25 04/04/01 (5)
in the power supply to use the 5687. There is too much current draw. I like the sound of the 6922 in the DAC 1.1. I have, in the past, found 6DJ8 types to sound grainy but I also did not have the gold pin Seimens to try as I do now. The 6922 is smooth from top to bottom with good bass and a nice bloom to the mid range. The 6SN7 is different to say the least. I think part of the advantage is that the plate are further apart.
I have listened to the 5692 - very smooth but rolled off in the highes and a little less air than some of the other 6SN7's.
The 6SN7 CBS side getter is open detailed and has just about everything I like in a tube.
The VT231 is nice but a little thin and not as robust sounding as the CBS
The Sylvania 6SN7 GTA chrome top offset triangular plates is very, very nice and has no qualities I can fault.
The Tung Sol grey glass is smooth but the one I have is noisy so I can't tell how good this tube is.
The Sylvania 6SN7 GTB grey triangular plate offset angle is very nice and is one of my favorites.
The 12FQ7 is very good and is much the 6SN7 but does not have the same big presentation, even though electrically it is the same.
I also like the 6CG7 clear top with shield, very nice but again nothing works like the 6SN7's, to this point anyway.
ja in, it's going to rain? Tucson, AZ
- WHAT I HAVE TRIED... hifisilver 04:22:50 04/05/01 (4)
  when i first got the dac 1.1 kit, i tried at least 10 pcs. of 12au7 tubes. my top 3 are as follows.
  12au7 bugle boy made in holland, circa 1960. overall the best in terms of tonality, pinpoint imaging and realistic presentation.
  5814a seimens. nice, but the presentation is a little dry and on the hard side. very vivid and detailed, but somehow the sound does not sound palpable enough.
  12au7 telefunken. very nice, but as with all telefunkens, can be too bright in modern day systems. excellent detail, but i think best suited for vintage gear.
  i recently added the power supply upgrade. very nice indeed! however the sound changed. i got more bass and better resolution, but the sound was now a little hard and on the lean side.
  thanks to John PA for his technical expertise, i have made a transition to a 6dj8 tube. i have only tired one tube so far, so here's the comments.
  6dj8 bugle boy made in holland, circa 1960. very, very, very nice! it's not just the quality of the tube, but the change to a 6dj8. i now set the volume control on my preamp 1 -2 notches lower. i at first thought it was an increase in gain, but it's not....maybe a little. the sound now just has more energy. from a soft passage to a loud passage, it can explode with real life dynamics. (e.g. when i listen to clark terry's mr. mumbles, i turn it a little louder since i want to hear the trumpet blare and the kick drum really kick on the dynamic passages. but now i lower the volume control 2 notches and it kicks darn well!) there is just more space now from soft to loud. overall, everything sounds better. more resolution, more 3-d presentation...and the best of all, the sound is no longer dry and lean. i am now so satisfied, i still have not tried to pop in a telefunken or mullard yet....
  my 1.1 is one heck of a performer!
  - I had much the same results with the. . John PA 10:23:04 04/05/01 (3)
    6DJ8. It lowers your output impedence so this may also be the reason with this tube the DAC 1.1 sounds different but I do like the sound with this tube.
    I was listening to a Raytheon 6SN7 GTB tall tube, flat plates, last night and the sound from this is also very, very good.
    Actually any of the 6SN7's that I have tried, sound very good.
    The Bugle Boy, Tele's, Mullards (long and short plate) and so forth sound pretty good but not as good as the 6SN7's. Though the 6C7G clear top w/shield sound very good. It is interesting to try all these different tubes.
    I now use a 12FQ7 in my preamp in place of the 12AU7 and get better results. Without putting in an octal socket it is close to using a 6SN7 type in this position.
    ja in overcast, going to be windy and dusty, Tucson, AZ
    - SOUNDS TEMPTING hifisilver 06:07:12 04/06/01 (0)
      i trust your opinion. i have to start looking for 6sn7 tubes and see what types of nos tubes are available. perhaps when you finish tube rolling (i know, it will be never-ending)with this type of tube, i would very much be interested in what you pick as your favorite.
      in the meantime, i have to get a hold of an octal tube base and see if i can wire it as you suggested.
      i look forward to listening to my fine dac tonight.
      regards,
    - what changes are needed for 6DJ8? dave 12:53:31 04/05/01 (1)
      Is it just the basic change from 12 to 6 volts as described in the upgrade kit? Is that all that is needed to install a 6DJ8? The instructions are vague on this point.
      - Page down and you will find the response to this ?. nt ja in Tucson, AZ John PA 13:53:30 04/05/01 (0)
        
        In Reply to: what changes are needed for 6DJ8? posted by dave on April 05, 2001 at 12:53:31:
        
        :^0

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