|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
150.148.14.6
In Reply to: RE: Tube dampers etc. posted by MrDerrick on April 10, 2016 at 10:54:51
I absolutely agree that the quietest tubes are not necessarily the best sounding. (In fact, it would not be incorrect to say they are USUALLY not the best sounding.) Like I did say, I have stuck with the KenRads in the MP1 only because they are my favorites in terms of sound quality, but they have never been the quietest. They were somewhat microphonic from the get-go. And yes, a little microphony can be euphonic, but we as audiophiles are not supposed to admit we like that effect. (Joking.) Anyway, one KenRad has definitely got to go; the other may still be usable.
With me, it's a trade-off. I select first for sonics and then hope the tube is quiet enough to tolerate in the circuit. All I meant to add in the first place was the idea that noisy tubes in gain stages will be more evident than when the same tubes are used in stages that do not add gain, as driver/cathode follower and probably as CCS.
Follow Ups:
In my journey thru 'N7s decades ago, my first good-sounding find was the RCA, but that was quickly replaced by the KR VT-231/6SN7; to me the KRs were a little warmer balanced (a positive) and lacked nothing anywhere else. But then I found the TSRPs and discovered an even-more-attractive tonal balance and overall excellence. I had over two dozen years ago but then I had nothing to use them in and sold some; I was down to 15 until I bought the quad pictured below. But they too can be microfonic.
I'm retrieving a pair of Atma-Sphere M-60 monoamps today and plan to use probably two TSRPs in each amp.
----------
Tin-eared audiofool, large-scale-Classical music lover, and damned-amateur fotografer.
William Bruce Cameron: "...not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."
I don't use 6SN7s in the input stages of my monoblock amplifiers, but I do use them in my MP1. Last night I was going through my stash, and I may at most have only one TSRP. (Until last night, I had no idea what "TSRP" stood for.) I do have a plethora of KRs (mostly used and of several different origins), Brimar CV1988s, and Raytheon 6SN7WGT. One sample does not cut it. I may try any of the others; it's such a pain in the butt to dismantle my MP1 in order to change tubes that I prefer to make a decision however empirically and stick with it until the tubes go bad, as is the case now. I already use the Brimars in the circlotron section of the MP1.
I've got RCA 5692s, too. But they seemed a bit dull last time I had a listen, albeit that was not in the context of the MP1. A few Syls and GEs, too.
...$75 and warrant that it's not dead, e-mail me at jeffreybehr(at)cox(dot)net.
----------
Tin-eared audiofool, large-scale-Classical music lover, and damned-amateur fotografer.
William Bruce Cameron: "...not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."
Anyone?
Jeff, I sent you an email re the single TSRP.
...I gave up on everything else.
----------
Tin-eared audiofool, large-scale-Classical music lover, and damned-amateur fotografer.
William Bruce Cameron: "...not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."
I may have mentioned I found a NOS pair of these in my 6SN7 stash, with the gray smoked glass. They tested as new on my Hickok, whereas only one of my remaining KenRads had not previously seen duty in the MP1, which means I took them out of the MP1 at some time in the past, for some reason, even though they test well. Anyway, I decided to try the RCAs last night. I am very very pleased, especially since these may have been sitting on a shelf for the past 60 or more years. They sound lovely right from the get-go. Bass and midrange to die for. And lack of microphony makes them a bit better than the microphonic KenRads I just removed, which could get shrill on high frequencies. From memory, these sound better than red-base RCA 5692s, of which I have many. I am happy.
Post a Followup:
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: