Tube Rolling MC275 MkV......Again
 

One of the pleasures of owning tube gear is being able to tube roll. A good analogy would be buying a dozen donuts at Dunkin' Donuts. Sure, they're all donuts, but the glazed, the chocolate covered cake, the powdered sugar and cinnamon, the jelly donuts, and the coconut covered donuts each have their unique tastes. That's why you get as many flavors as it takes to make up the dozen. Tubes are like that, too. Sure, they're all just glass vacuum tubes, but each one has a respective flavor, albeit an audio essence that separates it from the others. That's what makes it so much fun to tube roll. It is the hunt for the uncharted essence a new tube brings to the sound stage that spurs vacuum heads to keep searching, even when we are gleefully happy with the tubes we presently have in service.

I couldn't help myself. I had to test the new Gold Lion small tubes in my pair of MC275 MkV amplifiers. The porcelain tube sockets are now sporting brand new Gold Lion 12AX7, 12AT7 tubes, as well as the Gold Lion KT88 power tubes. I installed additional Gold Lion 12AX7 tubes in the C1000T preamplifier a month or so ago, so now the entire two channel tube system is operating with a full compliment of Gold Lions tubes. The 12AX7 and 12AT7 tubes look great, too. They have the Lion stenciled on the glass envelope, and the pins are gold plated and gleaming.

I have had the tubes operating in the amps for 21 hours now, and I am thoroughly impressed with their performance. I don't know if it has anything to do with the synergy of all the Gold Lion tubes working together, but the sound produced is so open and so full of life it is amazing. Transparency is off the chart. From the deepest lows to the top of the audio spectrum and everything in between, there is nothing I can find fault with. It is all there, rich harmonics, the organic sense and feel of real instruments in the air, complete blackness in the silence, dynamics that soar with immediate impact, and razor sharp focus of the details in all sonic signatures. Nothing is missing in the sweetness of the female voice, the richness of the male voice, the lingering decay of piano and guitar strings, the natural timbre and overtones of acoustic and wind instruments. The Gold Lions are neutral without exaggeration, and deliver a rewarding audio experience. I am in total awe of the way the studio system is performing with the Gold Lion tube compliments in the pair of MC275's and the C1000T. These tubes are fantastic. I don't believe there is any reason to search any longer. These valves are the cat's meow.

Told ya.

Glad you have found what I did awhile ago -- a very nice, top performing 21st century tube that negates the tube buying rituals required of NOS.

I just hope they (New Sensor, et. al) continue with good QC and don't let the 12 volt tubes slouch in specs as like the KT88's (the KT88's sold today are slightly less in mutual conductance numbers than when first introduced -- still good -- but from my testing, they have dropped about 1K or so MHOMS).

As you recall, the GL 12AX7GENGP's were extremely strong.

Bob

Bob.......You were right on the money. I find it hard to imagine I would remove these tubes for any others. I am thinking seriouslly about selling the NOS Mullard 12AT7's, Philips JAN12AT7WC's, Tung-Sol Gold Pin 12AX7's, Mullard 12AX7's, and Telefunken 12AX7's in my tube locker. I'll just keep spares of the Gold Lions, and that's it. These new Gold Lion small tubes are the absolute real McCoy.

I'm in the same boat Dan -- I have my tubes spread out within a couple Tube Cube Pro's, on my desk, and in a box in a closet. I've got many and wonder why I'm keeping them. Dunno actually; maybe just incase down the road I would wish I had a few A2900's, Telefunkens, or this or that, etc., to try in whatever.

Then I have 20 Treasure KT88's that are drawing dust & have never seen service -- quite satisfied right now. Maybe after everything breaks in & I'll give 'em a slot.

It's actually quite nice not to be tube hunting and spend the time buying music instead.:thumbsup:

Bob

Bob.......Just like butter, I'm on a roll. I couldn't be happier. :)

I have a rather extensive supply of Gold Lion's, glad I loaded up on the right flavor. :D

Now, slot 'em.

But, as I've shown above -- who am I to say slot 'em.:D

Bob

Ivan.......You will not be disappointed with the Gold Lions. Once the stock Mac tubes are history you will wonder why you waited so long.

No doubt, why did I wait... :scratch2:

Ivan.......You weren't really a vacuum head until you bought the MC2301's. Now we have you thinking about the C1000T's, too.

Now I'm on the dark side too, what's happening to me... ?

http://nationalpostarts.files.wordpr...rton.jpg?w=620

Ivan.......You've obviosly been hanging with the right crowd. :D

Gold Lion is definitely on a roll with their line of tubes. I am glad this level of craftsmanship and quality materials are available in new tubes. Struggling to locate NOS tubes from days gone by is a difficult hit or miss exercise, and pricing for NOS tubes is all over the place. The new Gold Lion tubes are performing for me at a level that exceeds all the other tubes I presently own, and that is saying something.

Not to mention a complete, vintage, workable, calibratable, tube tester.

Bob

Bob.......Yeah, that too. Buying old used tubes is a shot in the dark, unless they are coming from a totally reputable dealer or individual who has tested them on a calibrated tester.

I have had the Gold Lions in the tube system playing music since 10:00am. Sweet, sweet, sweet.

Gold Lion
 

I am in complete agreement with Dan and Bob. I installed 2 pairs of Gold Lion 12AX7s in the line stage and MM phonostge of my C2300 2 or 3 weeks ago. The GLs replaced Telefunkens. The Teles are not going back in. When I first installed the Teles, over a year ago, I was happy with the improvement in sound although it was only a subtle improvement upon the stock tubes. The GLs really impressed me cold out of the box. I cannot believe the VALUE these tubes possess. I cannot imagine any other way to improve a sound system for so few dollars - amazing to think a $80 investment in a pair of tubes in the line stage can noticeably improve the sound of a 40K system. Bonkers. My system is simply more involving. The bass is fuller, more tuneful. 3-dimensional image is more palpable. I was playing the Jayhawks - Hollywood Town Hall earlier and hadn't ever noticed the wonderful fuzzy tone on a guitar solo before that is now rendered so clearly with these tubes in line. Beautiful. I am finding it more difficult to turn my system off as i reach for just one more LP or Cd. That is my true test. I simply want , need , must listen more more more. I need to buy a bunch as future backups (and eventual use in the MC slot). I would have never given these tubes a shot without those who posted their experiences here. Once again, thanks guys.

Jason.......Like you, I have picked up many golden tips here on Audio Aficionado. There is a wealth of knowledge and audio experience among our group. Sharing
experiences, and finding that they have helped others to better their system is a joy.

I am heavily invested in the Gold Lion camp now, and couldn't be happier. Your description of the improvements you experienced with the Gold Lion tubes in your system are right on the money. Happy listening. :thumbsup:

You're welcomed -- and as I've said on several ocassions, especially for the casual tube swapper -- these tubes take the guess work out of getting something that does gives the NOS a run for their money.

I'm committed to these and have a sufficient stash of 12AX7GENGP's & 12AT7GENGP's to last awhile.

Bob

Has anyone tried the Pavane or the Shuguang black treasure tubes in their MC275? I've heard people saying that they are as good if not better than the Gold Lions. I'm still using the stock tubes in my 275, but I'm wanting to upgrade soon and can't decide which one I want to try.

Dan, I have GL 12AT7's in my Dynaco clone amp, and the glow from them is very dim for some reason. Do they glow dimly in your MC275?

ust want to share some experience with tube rolling in MC275 MKVI. My tube rolling in MC275 was limited to small tubes, mostly the two 12AX7 in V3/5 as phase inverter. The preamp I used is McIntosh MX110Z recently fully restored at Audio Classics. The speakers are Rogers Studio 1A. I first replaced the 2 stock 12AX7 with Amperex orange globe 12AX7/ECC83. The sound became more transparent and neutral (not cold or thin). I also tried Siemens E88CC in V3/5 and it sounded really good (more vivid and grainless). When I played Mendelsohn's violin concerto op.64 thru Spotify (I used dCS Debussy DAC), it was quite obvious to me that Siemens E88CC sounds much better than Amperex 12AX7. I am not sure if I can ever find a pair 12AX7 that would sound as good as Siemens E88CC. Maybe I can try some 5751.
This is the interesting part. I hear some people claim that E88CC(6922) and 12AX7 are not interchangeable simply because of the difference in filament heating config. The suggested voltage for E88CC filament heating is 6.3V between pin4 and 5 (pin 9 is connected to the shield), while for 12AX7, in series, a 12.6V is applied between pin 4 and 5 with pin9 floating, and in parallel 6.3V is applied between pin 4+5 (4 and 5 are shorted) and pin 9. I measured the voltage drop between pin 4 and 5 in MC275 for 12AX7 with multimeter and found it was ~12.5V. The service manual shows that two 12A*** tubes are on 24V DC in series. Pin 9 is floating. So why would E88C even work in MC275? Why didn't 12V filament voltage burn E88CC? Or maybe 12V filament voltage can still make E88CC work, but can significantly reduce its life?