And more...
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Ted
So here's my latest combo, although the changes I made last night were late into the session, so I got little time to listen, and little time for the tube to break in. This is a new combo not tred before in my setup.
I had been using the nice (and cool looking) Philips GZ32 bottle-shaped rectiier tube with the past few signal tube changes. Thos included the Sovtek 6N1P's (forward and initially impressive, but fatiguing after awhile, with the slightest grunge in the midrange), the RCA 6BQ7's (nice, my previous fave for overall balance) and the beat-up old Zenith/Viking 6CG7's (Dan sent me these awhile ago from his used collection; I was hesitant cuz the Elctro-Harmonix I had were lackluster at best)). They have been my new fave, due to their detail, bass and overall smoothness.
Last night I decided to bring back my previous fave recitifier, the bottle-shaped Mullard (Sylvania, made in England) 5U4G (not GB) and mate it with the 6CG7's. In a word...wow. The depth of soundstage, and the air that I had felt had been missing lately was back in spades. I'll let this combo settle in before any more changes, including a matched set of RCA Clear Top 6CG&7s whisking their way to me as we speak.
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Rydenfan
Hmmm, very interesting. Accoring to Dan the Tung Sol 5U4's rock. I may have to look into trying one in a few weeks after I finish my current swapping. I will be really interested in what you think of botht he Rectifier and the 6CG7's
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Mikel51
Today, I got around to trying some tube rolling.
My first shift was to use an old Mullard GZ37 from my stash. I immediately noticed an increase in mellowness, a rounding off of the bass, and a reduction in the edge on the highs. After about an hour of listening, I substituted in an old bottle shaped Tung-Sol 5U4G. Wow. I noticed an improvement in richness, improved bottom end and top end, a much richer midrange, an increased holography in the soundstage and a punchier livelier sound. I did not put the Philco 5U4GB that Dan supplied back in to compare the two 5U4 variants. I will have to do that one of these days, but am quite content with the Tung-Sol.
I listened to the Tung Sol-5U4G/6N1P combo for a while and was really enjoying the combo. The only obvious flaw I could pick up was that when there were a lot of instruments playing, the sound could get congested and there was a lack of resolution. The tonal balance was very good, but there was a boominess in the bottom end on some selections.
Then I inserted a pair of 6H30-DR tubes from my stash that I have had since 2004. Wow. These really got me close to perfection. My first impression was that the 6H30 relaxed the sound, it was less "frantic." There was a dramatic increase in midrange richness, a more holographic soundstage, and the sound had a better tonal balance from top to bottom. It was noticeably less boomy on the bass than the 6N1P, but had plenty of bass for my system. There was also a real increase in resolution, especially noticeable in passages with lots of loud instruments. In summary, the sound was dramatically improved in all respects.
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Ted
Mike,
Great first Transporter impressions post!! The tube info is invaluable. I too am a 5U4G (not B) fan. It keeps getting put back even after listening to the nice GZ32. I ordered a boatload of different 6CG7's this week, inclduing black plates Raytheons, RCA Clear tops and some black plates RCA's and Emerson's (RCA's).
There seems to be a little confusion over the 6H30-DR's, and since both you and Frank S are gaga over them in this application (and since the plain old Sovtek 6H30's are average-at-best in this application) could you explain what variety or telltale signs yours exhibit (i.e are they the newer Russian remakes that David talks about, and therefore a PArts Connexion grab at $125/pair?).
Anybody hear about this one: in other applications some folks LOVE the Sylvania 1958 gray plate 6CG7's with green lettering. But have stated that the piece-de-resistance is a Tung Sol 6SN7 with an octal-to-9 pin adapter. Is this possible; to open up, with an adapter, a bunch of octal tubes to the Transporter tube rolling category?
Thanks again. This thread is great.
Ted
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rpf
Don't know if they even fit (another larger hole to cut Dan ) but has anyone tried a Mullard "High Wycombe" (early "50s) big bottle GZ37 in a Transporter? These are a substantial improvement over the regular GZ37s although costly and getting more so ($200 and up) as they get rarer (only Tube World and KR Audio have them as far as I know). I like it best in the Modwright Sony 9100 although I prefer the GZ32 in the Modwright 36.5 (I've tried a bunch, though not all, 5U4G/GB, 5V4, 5AR4 variants in both pieces).
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Rydenfan
I cheated a little last night and listened to the 6H30 DR's. I only listened for a few minutes as they had only been powered up for about 2 hours, but so far I like them. Very similar to the detail and clarity I have with the 6CG7's but a way more holographic and 3 dimensional sound, it was almost a little trippy (for lack of a better term). I will listen more tomorrow or Thursday."
I will say that the RCA Cleartops 6CG7's are a very, very good tube. at $48 for the pair they have been far and away may favorite thus far. What I heard last night mimicked all of the qualities of them but also added that extra dimension. I believe the 6H30 DR's are going to be a special tube, but I really want to wait till they have some more time on them to make any real decisions.
My guess right now is that the 6H30 DR's will go into my 36.5 and the 6CG7's will go into the TP, but it is still possible I may need another pair of the DR's so they can run in both the TP and 36.5
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Rydenfan
I know feel confident in saying the 6H30 DR's best my previous favorite RCA Cleartop 6CG7's. As detailed and clear as the 6CG7's sounded to me, placing them back into my system after having the 6H30 DR's things quickly sounded muddy and congested. Actually, a little surprising to me how drastic the change was. For instance, I feel I can actually hear the location of each drum in the drummer's kit, that is how good the sense of detail and realness is.
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Ted
I've been on a used and low-priced NOS tube buying spree lately. All around the 6CG7 signal tube for the TP. I've settled on the Mullard 5U4G as the rectifier so far (although the Philips GX32 keeps getting its turn at bat). I've bought, for the signal side:
RCA Clear tops
Raytheon black plates (Made in USA ones, rather rare but inexpensive)
RCA black plates for the late 50's and early 60's
Sylvania gray plates from 1957-58, with green lettering
Sylvania gray plates, from early 60's, with yellow lettering
Up until this latest push I've been most pleased with the RCA 6BQ7's and to a lesser extent the Sovtek 6N1P's. When I put the RCA Clear Tops in they sounded very bright, as NOS tubes sitting on a shelf for 40 yrs would sound. After a few days they settled into very fine sounding tubes, the bes...so far. But then, after reading about some folks liking the cheap USA-made Raytheon black plates I scored a pair for like $15, along with Emersons and the RCA black plates for similar pin money. The past two days have had the Raytheons warming up, and they are now the benchmark. The soundstage is deeper, the midranges sweeter, the highs a notch less tizzy than even before. If David/Frank's feedback on the DR's are that good, I at least know I've got a few back ups for almost no money. And some folks think the RCA black plates will do almost the same as the Raytheons, with the 1958 Sylvania green labels either a masterpiece (and find of the year) or ho-hum. Once Bob and gang leave this weekend the Sylvanias may go in the hotseats. --
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