Tubes, different makers, different types...but what are your preferences?

Ron Resnick

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Jan 24, 2015
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That procedure makes sense to me. I am a big fan of protective and waterproof plastic boxes.
 

Ron Resnick

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I have never seen pin protectors. Is that an aftermarket item you put on the bottom of each tube?
 

jadis

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jadis

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jadis

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And I was fortunate that my tube sources gave me these, called 'tube sleeves' by the old hands, now quite a novelty for tube collectors. :)

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I never owned National tubes though.
 

Ron Resnick

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That is some case, Phil!
 

jadis

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That is some case, Phil!

Yes, Ron, and I like this part best: :)

"This case is NATO codified and tested to IP-67 (Ingress Protection). You break it, we replace it... forever."
 

andromedaaudio

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Yes, Ron, and I like this part best: :)

"This case is NATO codified and tested to IP-67 (Ingress Protection). You break it, we replace it... forever."

Quote
Maybe you can even drop it from 10 storeys and the tubes will still be safe.

U could try it , put in some old tubes and drop it lol, they will replace the case anyway
 

Sablon Audio

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Afficionados of military overkill will love Bendix 6900 and 6C33 valves. Developed for ICBM guidance systems and MIG 25 fighters, respectively.
 

Sablon Audio

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Iirc it was about ability to withstand huge g forces in ICBM but interestingly the MIG 25 used valves to protect against electro magnetic pulse of a nuclear explosion.
 

jadis

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Quote
Maybe you can even drop it from 10 storeys and the tubes will still be safe.

U could try it , put in some old tubes and drop it lol, they will replace the case anyway

I toyed with that idea, lol. Then I decided to sell my Pelican case in case I actually decided to do it. LOL That case even has a small hole wherein you can put a small padlock, in case somebody picks it up while you are still on the 10th floor. :D
 

Zero000

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Jul 28, 2014
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Odd regarding your findings of the GE 6550's. I had them in several amps, including classic ARC's and they never did what you described. WJZ always spec'ed these tubes in his 6550 based designs. The ATM2 is a nice amp, perhaps something else was amiss??

Here is that amp, in fact. You can just see 3 Tesla KT88s (one had expired and been thrown away - but three blew in total all within warranty - it was a well known issue that they failed). I used the amp for years with no issues apart from the Teslas.

There are some JJ KT88s you can see as well. Not good sounding. The amp is loaded with NOS Tung Sol 6550s in the picture. The other valves I also sold with the amp. Other KT88s and small signal valves were sold separately.



 

DaveyF

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Jul 31, 2010
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A couple of weeks ago I heard a new ATM2. Loaded with KT88's. Was producing a very good sound matched up with baby Serblin's. I have not heard the ATM2 with GE 6550's, but what you describe would indicate that the GE's you had were in some way faulty ( or the amp, as I stated before). Because of their vintage, I have heard a lot of GE 6550's that are way past their prime. While the GE 6550's were a superb tube and very durable, they have a life like all components. When the GE's begin to fail, they certainly can sound as you describe. (Luckily, IME, they don't go volcanic on you) How old were your GE's when you heard the issues?
 

Empirical Audio

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Tesla Vrsovice KT88, now the EAT KT88. Amazing sound the best 6550 or KT88 I ever tried. Horrendously unreliable filaments used to break all the time on the Vrsovice version. A real pity - nothing else came close - anywhere near close. Next best the Tung Sol 6550 but still a big gap between that and the Tesla. To counter and earlier post I hated the GE 6550. In my Air Tight ATM2 it just threw sound all over the place in a really imprecise manner. Which just goes to show how opinions can differ in valve land.

If they have solved the filament problem without affecting the sound on the version now marketed as EAT it will be killer.

Install an inrush limiter from mouser.com or digikey.com in the filament voltage feed. This will bring up the filament slowly and save the tube. It looks like a small disk capacitor. Starts off high resistance and heats up and resistance drops to fractions of an ohm.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
 

Zero000

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Jul 28, 2014
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A couple of weeks ago I heard a new ATM2. Loaded with KT88's. Was producing a very good sound matched up with baby Serblin's. I have not heard the ATM2 with GE 6550's, but what you describe would indicate that the GE's you had were in some way faulty ( or the amp, as I stated before). Because of their vintage, I have heard a lot of GE 6550's that are way past their prime. While the GE 6550's were a superb tube and very durable, they have a life like all components. When the GE's begin to fail, they certainly can sound as you describe. (Luckily, IME, they don't go volcanic on you) How old were your GE's when you heard the issues?

NOS. Flashing was excellent looked brand new.

Please accept they just didn't work in the Air Tight. Its long gone now and irrelevant.

It is maybe deeper than that, though. I have tried a lot of GE valves - quad of 211s, a quad of 6550s and quite a few small signal valves. I never like them no matter how hard I try because they have never proved the best option. Though the GE 211 really isn't too bad, it simply doesn't come close to Amperex 211s.
 

DaveyF

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Jul 31, 2010
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NOS. Flashing was excellent looked brand new.

Please accept they just didn't work in the Air Tight. Its long gone now and irrelevant.

It is maybe deeper than that, though. I have tried a lot of GE valves - quad of 211s, a quad of 6550s and quite a few small signal valves. I never like them no matter how hard I try because they have never proved the best option. Though the GE 211 really isn't too bad, it simply doesn't come close to Amperex 211s.

Ok, good to know.
I agree that in some cases the GE variants are definitely not the way to go. OTOH and IME, in other cases they certainly are. My example of the GE NOS 12AX7 long plates from '63 are a case in point; a superb tube that is at the top of the 12AX7 chain, IMHO.

BTW, I have a friend who swears by the very expensive Takatsuki TA 300B tubes, yet another who feels they are grossly overpriced and extremely microphonic. ( due he says to the large plate and glass area of this particular style of tube). Presumably both of my friends would like the WE 300B's, although perhaps the one who dislikes the Takatsuki's wouldn't??
 

jadis

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Here are some really rare Telefunken 802s, below the letter ECC are marks of what looks like a falcon, said to be selected for the German military.

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And the falcon mark just below and to the left of the word 'Made'.

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Was able to source them 14 years ago, and immediately was picked up by an ardent tube collector.
 
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jadis

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Apr 28, 2010
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When I had an ARC SP 14 preamp, I used its phono stage into my Jadis JPL line stage, and the SP 14 used only 1 6DJ8 and I had a heyday rolling tubes into it as it was a very economical endeavor. :) I have tried the JAN Sylvannia 6922, Telefunken E88CC, Mullard 2492 (6922), Mullard 2493 (7308), Telefunken E188CC (7308), and Telefunken CCa (GABL German Post Office). All are excellent tubes with their strong attributes in the audio frequencies and in soundstaging properties, but I ended up liking the Mullard 2492 the most. It has a smooth and lush mid, with extended highs and tight bass, speed, and a certain tingling musicality that is very addicting. Here are some of my tube pic archives. :)

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And special mention to a much respected tube in the local tube circle, the Amperex USN-CEP 7308 military tube. Very lush sounding, almost hypnotizing mids. :D

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