#4941
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It is a task to find the "best" tubes. Not only do we have different preferences, different speakers, and different rooms, but our Inspire amps vary considerably. Some run tubes hard, others easy. Some operate in triode mode, others pentode. Some configs produce only 2-3 wpc, others up to 17-18 wpc.
Case in point, I feel that 6V6GT tubes sound terrible in my amp and system. Way too midrange forward. Yet other Inspire owners love these tubes. |
#4942
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I got a Sophia blue 6SN7 yesterday. It may be the *best* new production I have heard in my rig to date. You may want to try the GLKT77's with a rectifier with more voltage drop, like a 5Y3. They also take a good while to settle in. Last edited by FloridaBoy; 09-19-2018 at 10:59 AM. |
#4943
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If you are specifically looking for more voltage drop out of a rectifier than what a GZ34 provides, then consider a 5U4GB or 5U4G. They spec at 50V and 44V of drop respectively.
A 5Y3GT does have a 60V drop, but it also restricts voltage and current considerably. Max current (PmA) from a GZ34 is 250 whereas a 5Y3GT is just 50% of that at 125. I'd like to hear the Shuguang Black Treasure KT88s, but I doubt I will drop that much coin to try them out. I've read rave reviews of the Sophia blue 6SN7 but they are so expensive. So few dealers carry them too. |
#4944
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So far the Sophia blue 6SN7 is sounding mighty fine. It's the most expensive single tube I've ever bought. I got it from Galen Carol Audio but it was shipped from Sophia. I have found several power tubes I really like. The input tube is the key and that will vary from system to system. |
#4945
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Well, thanks to this thread, I went ahead and bought a bunch more tubes, mostly Shuguand and Psvane. Once they all arrive, here's what I'll have:
Psvane - EL84 Ti, EL34PH (Holland replica), 6CA7 Tii (grey glass), KT88 Tii (Grey Glass), CV181 Tii (Grey Glass) Shuguang Black Treasure - 6CA7, KT66, KT88, CV181 Gold Lion - EL84, KT66, KT77, KT88 Electro Harmonix - EL34 New Production Mullard - EL34 Svetlana - EL34 Penta Labs - KT88-SC Sovtek - KT88 New Production Tung Sol - KT150 Floridaboy, I don't know how the Pentas compare to the Treasures. I bought them recently for a song (like $100 for a set of 5), so they're in the box not even burned in yet. I have so many tubes, burning them all in is going to be a major undertaking! Hmmm, I wonder.... you know, maybe I can hook up my backup tube amp which uses 3 6SN7s and 4 EL34s and just use it to burn in some stuff in parallel to what I'm doing with the Inspire MB12s. I have some big 8ohm resistors I could hook up to it's output, that just might work. At least speed up some of this. |
#4946
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What about for tube like the EL84, doesn't it require the 5y3gt for exactly these reasons? So that the tube is protected. I also thought the original 6L6 (not 6L6GC) also required a low voltage/current rectifier as they just aren't very robust output tubes. Am I wrong? For 6L6 GC and above, I use a 5U4GB, and for KT88's and above I use the 5AR4. |
#4947
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I would consider using a 5Y3GT for 6F6, 6V6, and EL84. Although I'd never try an EL84 in my amp. And yes, you are correct in that the very old 6L6 do run at lower voltages.
There's also a 5V4GA rectifier which lies between a 5Y3GT and 5U4G. |
#4948
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Anyone having any success with Sophia Electric tubes (274B, 6SN7, etc.)?
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Glenn... Canton Reference 9 Clearaudio SM Pro Focal Bathys JLA 10" Dominion Kuzma Stabi S w/MC & MM Magnepan 1,7i McIntosh MA8950 & MR88 Oppo 203 Roon Nucleus Rose Hifi RS150B Shunyata Gemini-4 Sony ST-A6B, TA-F6B, ST-J75 & PS-X75 Sorane SA1.2 & TA-1L Stillpoints LP1v2 WW Pt, Au & Ag |
#4949
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#4950
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I have had a Sophia Electric mesh plate 274B (clear glass) since shortly after getting my Inspire 6L6 in January 2015. Good substitute for a 5U4, and preferable to me with some power tubes. Certainly looks cool with it's blue glow. Should be a lot of comments about it from folks in this thread.
Last edited by nhparrot; 09-29-2018 at 06:55 AM. |
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