|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
24.15.103.18
I've read posts about using Groove tube Mullard clones in the 12AX7 spot and Russian type 3 in the 6922 spot. does this significantly improve the sound over the stock tubes? it seems like an inexpensive upgrade to a $4000 pre. Is it worth the trouble and cost or should I just wait until I can sink a lot more money into tubes?
Follow Ups:
I bought NOS tubes from Vintage Tube Services (12AX7 RCAs and Matsushita 6DJ8's). The total cost for 4 tubes was just shy of $200, very worthwhile in my opinion.
It takes a while for them to be selected and tested but is well worth the wait.
Enjoy the Calypso, it's a great piece of equipment as you know.
Hi,I have rolled the Groove Tube Mullards in my Calypso and they sound wonderful if you are willing to put up with some pretty audible tube rush. I found they were just too noisy in my system and took them out.
I am back to using some Sovtek 12AX7LPS along with Russian Type 3. The LPS are dead quiet in my Calypso. I also tried the Shuguang 12AX7C tubes. These are also dead quiet but sound rather thin compared to the Sovteks. I may try the Shuguangs in my Rhea phono stage to see how they sound.
Tom
System Details
Rolling with NOS tubes will definitely improve the Calypso. I currently use Telefunken 12ax7s and Amperex 7308s on mine and it makes the sound more expansive compared to stock.The problem is that not all NOS tubes are quiet. Most NOS that I own are good but noisy, and only a few would make it in the Calypso. Trying to find the right NOS would be expensive in my opinion, but then again it might be part of the fun. YMMV.
Calypso does not need extremely quite tubes. In my limited tube rolling experience with it, I have never heard very noisy combination.On its boards, there are a couple jumpers near the 12AX7s which can be selected for 0db gain or -12db gain. Mine was set at -12db gain from the factory. I presumed this is the default setting now. The manual states that with this setting you get a -12db gain but also a -12db less noise. It's worth trying.
I don't see anywhere to select the gain on the circuit board and this is not mentioned in the "Preliminary Owners Manual" I have. Thanks
I have the instruction sheet on how to do this, if you need it.
I happen to be on the road. I could post the detail sometimes next week after I'm home so that I can look at the Calypso and its manual.Basically (I am trying to recall these), there are a couple of jumper pads on each of the audio board. It's located left to each 12AX7. Each pads has four position for the jumper.
For 0db setting, two jumpers need to be on top and bottom position. For -12db setting, those same two jumpers need to be placed on the middle position.
If I could describe it with a diagram it would be like this:
For 0db setting:
=== Put a jumper pin here
= = leave this open
= = leave this open
=== Put a jumper pin here
For -12db setting:
= = leave this open
=== Put a jumper pin here
=== Put a jumper pin here
= = leave this openYou need to make this change on each of the audio boards (there are two of them) and make sure the unit is completely turned off not just standby.
My Calypso came with an additional sheets explaining how to change to -12db setting although my unit already setup that way. So I presumed this is the way it's setup at the factory now. Mine has a serial number of 37xx.
I asked Aesthetix about this too before I bought the unit and this is part of their reply: "This can be cured by opening the case, changing 2 internal connections on the circuit board. This sets the Calypso for lower gain & in 99% of cases, eliminates the noise."
Hope this helps. If it still confuses you, let me know and I will look it up once I'm back home.
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: