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Inspire by Dennis Had Enjoying Vacuum Tube Audio

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  #6511  
Old 07-29-2021, 09:37 PM
hrparsons hrparsons is offline
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Originally Posted by Isaacc7 View Post
I have gone back to using a National Union 7n7 in the input position of my KT88 Firebottle. And I'm now running a pair of 6ar6 for the output tubes. I think this is my favorite combo so far. It has the warmth of the Firenti 807 tubes but seem to have better bass control. It's a thicker sound and I'm digging it.

Think this'll be end of my tube rolling for a while with the amp. My new preamp will be coming next week and I'll be rotating a variety of tubes through that lol. I have some adapters coming so I can use my 6c5 tubes but I think I'll wait to try this once I get a feel for how the preamp affects everything. The new preamp from Dennis looks amazing and I might have ordered it but I had out in an order for a Supratek preamp months and months ago. I'll still keep tabs on this thread, always looking for more info.
I don't remember seeing but which rectifier tube are you using with the 6ar6? I thought I'd try your tube combo in my fire bottle.
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  #6512  
Old 07-29-2021, 10:18 PM
Bombadil Bombadil is offline
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Originally Posted by Bombadil View Post
Found what looks like a good deal on a quad of them. Said to be NOS and test strong.

What do you think the max output will be on a PSE? Around 8 wpc? With 6V6 it is around 11-12 wpc.
They arrived looking like they had been shipped from the factory. Perfect condition, boxes in good shape but aged. Seller claimed they were NOS, so never used except for being tested.

Tested them again and they had like new readings. Popped them in and slowly turned up the volume. Very quiet. Also substituted in a 5Y3GT rectifier for my 274B.

I've played them for 4 hours now. As they may be NOS, I guess I need to break them in. Seems like an odd thing to have to do with tubes which were likely manufactured in the 1940s.

First impression is that they are a bit forward in the midrange, with strings, horns and vocals having a bit of emphasis. At least in my system. The same has always been true of both of my Inspire amps running 6V6s. Maybe this will change as I burn them in. Deep bass was decent & pleasant if not as tight.

Whereas my "big" power tubes: KT66, KT88, KT120, KT150 sound very neutral, open, big soundstage, well defined bass.

I noticed that after playing for 3 hours that my output transformers were only warm to the touch, not nearly as hot as they get with my "big" tubes.
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  #6513  
Old 07-30-2021, 08:59 PM
Leew Leew is offline
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Originally Posted by straitwire View Post
Just finished, sounds great!
Now I take it to Dennis so he can listen and make final adjustments.

[IMG][/IMG]
Do you know when/ if Dennis will be taking orders for the phono preamp

Thanks,

Lee
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  #6514  
Old 07-31-2021, 07:14 AM
bearcity bearcity is offline
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Originally Posted by Leew View Post
Do you know when/ if Dennis will be taking orders for the phono preamp



Thanks,



Lee


I spoke with Dennis yesterday about this. As before this phono pre is slow rolling. In an effort to lower the noise floor they as moving toward a second chassis for the power supply. It may be a while.
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  #6515  
Old 07-31-2021, 11:05 AM
Leew Leew is offline
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Originally Posted by bearcity View Post
I spoke with Dennis yesterday about this. As before this phono pre is slow rolling. In an effort to lower the noise floor they as moving toward a second chassis for the power supply. It may be a while.
Thank you for the update

Lee
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  #6516  
Old 08-01-2021, 10:36 AM
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straitwire straitwire is offline
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Hey Leew, Dennis and I had a discussion about the phono preamp and I suggested that we separate the power supply from the phono stage.
The phono stage and power supply chassis will be 6"x 9" and should be ready this week.
I'll be posting pics of the layout once I receive them.
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  #6517  
Old 08-01-2021, 06:45 PM
Leew Leew is offline
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Originally Posted by straitwire View Post
Hey Leew, Dennis and I had a discussion about the phono preamp and I suggested that we separate the power supply from the phono stage.
The phono stage and power supply chassis will be 6"x 9" and should be ready this week.
I'll be posting pics of the layout once I receive them.
Awesome !, I am sure I'm not the only one that has been waiting a few years for it.

Thanks,

Lee
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  #6518  
Old 08-03-2021, 09:01 PM
Isaacc7 Isaacc7 is online now
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Originally Posted by hrparsons View Post
I don't remember seeing but which rectifier tube are you using with the 6ar6? I thought I'd try your tube combo in my fire bottle.
Sorry, I missed your question somehow. I'm using an RCA 5u4g.

And remember how I said I was going to stop tube rolling for a while? That was a lie. lol. I'm using a tall bottle 7n7 and the RCA 5u4g and...

A friend gave me a pair of Mullard El38 tubes and the adapters. I'm in love! Here's the maddening thing about this amp, you can get equally enjoyable, but different, sounds out of this amp. The el38 gives me an amazing amount of clarity and that leads to a depth that its lacking with other tubes. I can especially hear it with acoustic instruments. Piano notes and their overtones ring out more, as do the strings and body of classical guitars. Room reverberations are easier to hear leading to a deepening of the soundstage.

But! The 6ar6 (and the 807 to a lesser extent) gives me a much "thicker" sound. That makes the mid bass and bass hit harder and warms everything up. Rock sounds amazing with that combo and anemic with the el38. Do I really want to switch tubes every time I get in the mood for different kinds of music?

I assume that the el38 is a better load or something for my particular speakers and so has less distortion whereas the 6ar6 has a lot more. I think I still prefer these to the Psvane Kt88 tubes that came with the amp but the el38 is closer to that sound.

The el38 tube is beautiful and the blue glow is super strong! Looking at the specs it seems as though they should last approximately forever in this amp. They are being run far below their max ratings and are practically loafing along. Maybe I should put the 5ar4 back in...

Have I mentioned how fun this amp is?
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  #6519  
Old 08-04-2021, 12:18 AM
hrparsons hrparsons is offline
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Thanks for the info. I agree it is a fun amp. I have to admit that I'm also enjoying the heck out of the Western electric 300 b from Dennis. I don't believe I'll be tube rolling much with it though. Yet.
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  #6520  
Old 08-04-2021, 12:32 AM
Isaacc7 Isaacc7 is online now
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Default How high a current for the heater?

Hey straitwire, do you know how much current the heater circuit can handle in the firebaottle kt88? I'm looking at some tubes that pull 1.5 amps on the heater.
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