Big7 tube shootout!

dminches · « **Reply #100 on:** 1 Sep 2015, 11:21 am »

http://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_596.html

wisnon · « **Reply #101 on:** 1 Sep 2015, 09:55 pm »

you need a base adapter, but give it a shot and report back. Not sure what the voltage drop is like…that is a big influence ion the sound.

dminches · « **Reply #102 on:** 25 Sep 2015, 06:32 pm »

Continuing the tube rolling theme...

I received my Big 7 last week and have been burning it in with the stock Psavne 101D and a Sylvania 5U4G. It sounded very nice around day 3.

Today I replaced the 101Ds with a pair of NOS National Union 45s. Wow. A completely different sound. Much deeper bass and much more romantic. This is a great combination which I will stick with for a while before I try a pair of KR Audio 300Bs.

Gopher · « **Reply #103 on:** 25 Sep 2015, 06:58 pm »

Awesome to hear, David.

Shawn was goodly enough to let me listen to his Western Electric 275As in my home and they were really spectacular, vascilating between my present number 1 and 2 spot for favorite. They did intimacy, holography and emotion really well--amazing presence.

dminches · « **Reply #104 on:** 25 Sep 2015, 07:06 pm »

I have a pair of KR 300Bs, not the PX4s. I assume that's what you are referring to.

BTW, am I next on the Shawn WE 275a trial list?

guf · « **Reply #105 on:** 25 Sep 2015, 07:27 pm »

Quote from: dminches on 25 Sep 2015, 06:32 pm

Continuing the tube rolling theme...

I received my Big 7 last week and have been burning it in with the stock Psavne 101D and a Sylvania 5U4G. It sounded very nice around day 3.

Today I replaced the 101Ds with a pair of NOS National Union 45s. Wow. A completely different sound. Much deeper bass and much more romantic. This is a great combination which I will stick with for a while before I try a pair of KR Audio 300Bs.

I only have National Union 45's and the Emmision labs that my Big 7 came with. I primarily use the NU but every once in a while I try the EMLs hoping they are going to be better. I'm not drawn to the music nearly as much.

wisnon · « **Reply #106 on:** 26 Sep 2015, 10:06 pm »

Quote from: dminches on 25 Sep 2015, 06:32 pm

Continuing the tube rolling theme...

I received my Big 7 last week and have been burning it in with the stock Psavne 101D and a Sylvania 5U4G. It sounded very nice around day 3.

Today I replaced the 101Ds with a pair of NOS National Union 45s. Wow. A completely different sound. Much deeper bass and much more romantic. This is a great combination which I will stick with for a while before I try a pair of KR Audio 300Bs.

LoL

I just swapped some of those and some 6a3 with a pal who had the metal base Psvane 101ds he did not like in his system. I had 2 sets of the 45s and 6a3s, so was interested in trading, plus I knew he would LOVE the NUs.

I think it was Luang who turned me onto the NUs.

Gopher · « **Reply #107 on:** 27 Sep 2015, 04:39 pm »

Another strong recommendation I'll make is for the KR Px4 tubes. These are the other tube fluctuating in and out of my first and second place. They offer most of the presence and holography of the 275as but add scale and dynamics to the mix. They aren't quite as magical with small scale intimate vocals and stuff (but very close) however they are more versatile overall and the stage and imaging is really great. I hear sounds coming at me almost from my rear with these.

Check em out!

sfox7076 · « **Reply #108 on:** 27 Sep 2015, 05:02 pm »

All tubes are tradeoffs. Even my WE 300Bs have some weaknesses. I find I like the 275As more on many tracks and even favor them overall to my 300Bs in my system. I know that sounds nuts seeing as 275As are 1/2 the price or less than the 300Bs, but I am not one to wax poetic over prices... I may track some KRs down. In other news, my uTracer is up and running. Let the DHT tube matching begin!

dminches · « **Reply #109 on:** 27 Sep 2015, 06:08 pm »

Decided to try my 596 rectifier today. This is one tall tube.

sfox7076 · « **Reply #110 on:** 27 Sep 2015, 06:13 pm »

That is one of two rectifiers that I have not tried extensively that I would try. That said, I am not willing to pay the price of the 596/adapter...

Shawn

dminches · « **Reply #111 on:** 27 Sep 2015, 06:18 pm »

The tube can be purchased for less than $200. The adapter is about $40. Find a tube and I'll lend you an adapter.

wisnon · « **Reply #112 on:** 27 Sep 2015, 07:35 pm »

David, how does it sound compared to other well known rectis? What output tubes have you tried with them? What is the voltage drop on this tube?

Also, I think I got these adaptors on Ebay for like $15...

dminches · « **Reply #113 on:** 27 Sep 2015, 08:34 pm »

Right now I am using the NU 45s. The KR 300Bs will be next.

Why does voltage drop matter and if it does why don't people just use a good old GZ34?

wisnon · « **Reply #114 on:** 28 Sep 2015, 08:05 am »

Quote from: dminches on 27 Sep 2015, 08:34 pm

Why does voltage drop matter and if it does why don't people just use a good old GZ34?

http://www.tubemaze.info/sound-of-rectifier/

The type matters too, ie Directly heated vs IH.

Indeed, one of my fav rectis is the Phillips metal base GZ34.

dminches · « **Reply #115 on:** 1 Oct 2015, 09:37 pm »

Whoa

I hate to post impressions of tubes after 20 minutes but I am really liking these Sylvania 6A3s. Compared to the National Union 45s the music feels much more alive. Maybe the 45s are too romantic for me which is unusual since I like romantic. The music seems much more three dimensional with the 6A3s but it not harsh in any way.

Very interesting.

BTW, my play list for auditioning is:

Garcia Grisman - Friend of the Devil
Patricia Barber - Bye Bye Blackbird
PB - If I Were Blue
Oscar Peterson - People
OP - The Days of Wine and Roses
Lee Morgan - Search for the New Land
Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing
Dire Straits - In the Gallery
Bill Evans - Waltz for Debby
Dexter Gordon - Love For Sale

dminches · « **Reply #116 on:** 1 Oct 2015, 09:44 pm »

The bass is definitely lighter on the 6A3s than the 45s. I will need to see if a different rectifier can rectify that.

wisnon · « **Reply #117 on:** 2 Oct 2015, 11:07 am »

Quote from: dminches on 1 Oct 2015, 09:44 pm

The bass is definitely lighter on the 6A3s than the 45s. I will need to see if a different rectifier can rectify that.

What settings are the 6A3 playing on? 2a3/300b or 45/101d?

Also, many people in earlier threads loved the 6a3 and considered it the best value for money tube.

Some nice inexpensive rectis here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brimar-5Z4G-Rectifier-Tube-Tested-/252103756463?hash=item3ab28e0aaf
and
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ONE-SUPERB-RARE-5R4GY-CV684-BRIMAR-BVA-BRITISH-made-BLACK-carbonized-plate-274B-/271996764137?hash=item3f54453fe9

and http://www.ebay.com/itm/AMPEREX-BUGLE-BOY-GZ34-5AR4-RECTIFIER-TUBE-D7-/281810117239?hash=item419d312277

dminches · « **Reply #118 on:** 2 Oct 2015, 11:40 am »

Quote from: wisnon on 2 Oct 2015, 11:07 am

What settings are the 6A3 playing on? 2a3/300b or 45/101d?

2A3, for now.

wisnon · « **Reply #119 on:** 2 Oct 2015, 11:43 am »

Quote from: dminches on 2 Oct 2015, 11:40 am

2A3, for now.

That is the official setting, but most seemed to prefer it on the 45/101d setting, even if a bit underheated. If you go back into some old threads here, you will see the discussions.

Try and see what you think...