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Help this TUBE NUBE with a Sonic Frontiers Line 1

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Feanor

(A)

While impatiently awaiting the arrival of my very first tube component, (after 35 years of S/S), a Sonic Frontiers Line 1, I impetuously bought a supposedly match pair of NOS Siemens E88CC tubes, ($73 on eBay). You tube savants, please help me out. What do I do with them when the Line 1 arrives??
The faithful AA search engine has revealed that the Line 1 has three pairs of 6922-type tubes: back to front, input stage, gain stage, and cathode follower. Great, but there doesn't seem to be 100% consenus as to where to use the choice tubes -- in the input or the gain stages. Your thoughts?
Bill Bailey
___________________________________________
See my stereo config ... but always looking for cost effective improvements

Follow Ups:

Re: Help this TUBE NUBE with a Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - krisjan 08:02:52 02/12/07 (5)
Jea48 is right about the relative importance of tube positions on this preamp. I also recently tried some experimenting with my Line 1 by buying some NOS Siemens tubes (for about the same price as the ones you got). My experience with them was that they were microphonic and I ended up returning them for a refund (twice, from two different sellers on Ebay). I had bought just one pair and put them in the V2 (middle) position and the microphonics were quite obvious. I fear you may experience the same. My best luck has been with new EH 6922's. No microphonics and a good sounding tube to boot in the preamp. I'd suggest those.
Good Luck,
Mark
- Thanks, I'll watch for that - Feanor 09:08:09 02/12/07 (4)
  Have you ever tried tube stablizer rings? Or Pearl Tube Coolers? I was thinking of the latter in any case; apparently they have a significant anti-microphonic as well as cooling effect.
  For the Line 1, Chris Johnson at Parts Connexion is currently recommending NOS Reflektor 6H23P-EB tubes, $45/match pair, as I mentioned below.
  
  Bill Bailey
  ___________________________________________
  See my stereo config ... but always looking for cost effective improvements
  - Here is some great reading material. - jea48 17:05:36 02/12/07 (1)
    Joe's Tube Lore
    http://www.audioasylum.com/scripts/d.pl?audio/faq/joes-tubes.html#6DJ8
    -------
    Siemens 1960s CCa tubes, know what to look for....
    http://gon8.audiogon.com/i/c/f/1115367414.jpg
    ---------
    A Taste of Tubes
    http://home.comcast.net/~enghenry/diy/taste.pdf
    -----------
    Herbie's Audio Lab Tube Dampers
    http://herbiesaudiolab.home.att.net/
    -----------
    http://herbiesaudiolab.home.att.net/halofaqs.htm
    - Joe's Tube Lore (Open in New Window)
    - Really great stuff; lots to read -- thanks -nt - Feanor 18:29:15 02/12/07 (0)
      nt
      
      Bill Bailey
      ___________________________________________
      See my stereo config ... but always looking for cost effective improvements
  - Re: Thanks, I'll watch for that - krisjan 09:12:46 02/12/07 (1)
    Yes I have used tube rings. In fact, one of the microphonic pairs I ordered came with a set of tube rings (complimentary) which I used but to no avail with the NOS tubes.
    Mark
    - Re: Thanks, I'll watch for that - jea48 16:46:03 02/12/07 (0)
      Herbie's Audio Lab Tube Dampers
      http://herbiesaudiolab.home.att.net/
      
      Herbie's HAL-O tube dampers (Open in New Window)
Re: Help this TUBE NUBE with a Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - jea48 15:03:32 02/11/07 (1)
Center row the most important, followed by the back row. The front row being the least.
- Great. Thanks for the tip. - Feanor 16:01:46 02/11/07 (0)
  I'll go with that, for starters at least.
  
  Bill Bailey
  ___________________________________________
  See my stereo config ... but always looking for cost effective improvements
Re: Help this TUBE NUBE with a Sonic Frontiers Line 1 - corerosin 12:01:17 02/11/07 (3)
I may be hopelessly out of date here, but didn't Joe Curcio design that preamp? If so, you might want to post this question over at the Dynaco Doctor Asylum. That's his forum.
- Nope, but thanks - Feanor 13:50:26 02/11/07 (2)
  The technical expertise for Sonic Frontiers lies at Parts ConneXion whose president, Chris Johnson, was president of Sonic Frontiers back in the day. When I asked about tube rolling in genereal, Chris suggested I buy a full six tube set of NOS Reflektor tubes they have on sale -- probably a great idea in itself. However I didn't ask him this question in specific terms; perhaps if I were to press him, he'd express an opinion.
  
  Bill Bailey
  ___________________________________________
  See my stereo config ... but always looking for cost effective improvements
  - Re: Nope, but thanks - JoKath 17:08:37 02/11/07 (1)
    All Chris Johnson wants to do is sell you tubes. The back pair and middle are most important. The front set are cathode follower and least important. You will need to listen and compare for yourself which position gives you the best sound
    - LOL! Yep, thanks - Feanor 12:22:04 02/12/07 (0)
      I figured as much. That's why I thought I'd ask around.
      
      Bill Bailey
      ___________________________________________
      See my stereo config ... but always looking for cost effective improvements

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