[dls123]

Hi all...
I am now in possession of a full set of the Ray Tubes Reserve series for the Blackbird amps.  The 6SN7, the KT88, and the 300b.  I have maybe 40 hours on them.  They are still running in.  The get 24-36 hours burn in at the factory as I understand.  That said, power tubes take a good 50-100 hours to really open up, and even the 6SN7 took 20-30 hours at least in the preamp.  I was underwhelmed at first as they sounded dark and closed in with rather flabby bass.  Those are not characteristics I associate with these amps .  However, at 40 hours or so the whole set is really opening up and the micro detail and 3D imaging is now about as good as I have heard in these amps.  I will report back when they have 80-100 hours, but now I am impressed!  As with the 6SN7, they are very quiet, so there is a level of blackness between all the notes that is very impressive.  The high end is almost to where I think it is going, but not quite.  Changing by the day...  but very impressive now.  No pops or clicks or problems.  Their sound character is very much like the 6SN7 in the preamp.  Lush, but highly detailed, and the highs are improving and bass has tightened right up.  Let's see where they get to in another week.

It is very clear you cannot judge these tubes until they have 40-50 hours on them at least!

[dls123]

The other note I will add was that I was really unimpressed with the tonality of instruments in the first few days, but now they are breathtakingly real again.  Hauntingly so.   Once I hit 80-100 hours and things are really stable, then I will swap the flagship Linlai kt88 in, and then the Linlai e-300b, in stages, replacing only one tube type at a time so I can evaluate the sound of each Ray tube.   The full Ray tube set has certainly crossed a threshold in the past few hours though:)

[won ton on]

Do you have any pics.

[dls123]

Do you have any pics.

Look around on the Ray Tubes site:
https://raytubes.com/collections/reserve

scroll down and they have the 6SN7, KT88, and the 300b shown.  Spatial will become a dealer as the supply ramps up.  Just to be absolutely clear again, I get nothing and have zero financial interest in this.  Just reporting my impressions in the Raven and Blackbirds.

[dls123]

Hi all,
OK, here is an update.  Probably 80-90 hours.  The tubes are pretty much cooked now, so I put the Linlai KT88-D back in for an hour.  It is a very good KT88.  It is not nearly as good as the Ray Tubes select KT88.  They sound like the price difference between the two.   The Ray tube has a richer, fuller tone and stonger bass definition, while maintaining all the clarity of the upper mids and treble.. It just invites you into the music in a way the Linlai cannot.   I will try the Linlai e-300b in place of the Ray Tubes select 300b next.  This weekend.   The Ray tubes KT88 quad is not leaving the amp:)  Well, maybe I will try the flagship Shuguang WEKT88, but honestly the Ray tubes select KT88 is superb.   I would not chase old stock GEC or Genelex.  Waste of money.  Buy a quad of the Rays.....  Be patient.  They took well over 50 hours to develop full bass and really the see through clarity.  It took time.  I suspect they, and the 300b may improve subtly now, but they are pretty stable and just superb.  Spendy, but a level up.  Again, don't judge them for 50+ hours, not even the 6SN7.  Just be patient.

[dls123]

Alright, I let the full Ray tube set play in the Blackbird amps all day yesterday, and all day today.  I probably have about 100 hours on them.  The tube set is just wonderful and I will experiment pulling the Ray 300b and putting the Linlai e-300b back in the amps tomorrow, but I really don't want to break up this tube set!   Superb inner detail and wonderful tonality.   Slightly warm, but not laid back at all.  They just draw you in.  I would say this tube set is a winner.   I will post the results of the e-300b vs Ray 300b as I get to it.

The Blackbird amps with this tube set are quite beguiling though.  Tons of inner detail, but no trace of brightness...

[Nick B]

Thanks for your updates. At some point I will likely add a 6ns7 buffer and the Reserves have been at the top of my list. Your detailed comments confirm what I have read and seen on utube.

[dls123]

Thanks for your updates. At some point I will likely add a 6ns7 buffer and the Reserves have been at the top of my list. Your detailed comments confirm what I have read and seen on utube.

It is a good choice, and of course depends on what you are trying to achieve with the buffer.  I would say the Ray tubes are ever so slightly on the warm side, yet highly detailed.   So if you are trying to add some warmth to a system they would be a good choice.  If you are going the other way.... then maybe a Linlai e-6SN7

[Nick B]

It is a good choice, and of course depends on what you are trying to achieve with the buffer.  I would say the Ray tubes are ever so slightly on the warm side, yet highly detailed.   So if you are trying to add some warmth to a system they would be a good choice.  If you are going the other way.... then maybe a Linlai e-6SN7

I enjoy getting better resolution. That is why I switched from a Supratek Chardonnay 6ns7 preamp to the Hattor Big. The Hattor is more quiet than the Supratek and resolves beautifully and the construction is excellent. My thinking is if the Hattor solid state preamp is this good, then Arek likely has designed the 6sn7 buffer to the same high standards. I have also tried various wires, finding that I preferred silver over copper and now prefer using the Neotech silver/gold wire with silver connectors.

I find this combination very detailed and holographic and with a touch of warmth. Adding the Hattor 6ns7 buffer should give me a bit more warmth which I enjoy and maybe a slightly better soundstage and holographic presentation as well.

[dls123]

I enjoy getting better resolution. That is why I switched from a Supratek Chardonnay 6ns7 preamp to the Hattor Big. The Hattor is more quiet than the Supratek and resolves beautifully and the construction is excellent. My thinking is if the Hattor solid state preamp is this good, then Arek likely has designed the 6sn7 buffer to the same high standards. I have also tried various wires, finding that I preferred silver over copper and now prefer using the Neotech silver/gold wire with silver connectors.

I find this combination very detailed and holographic and with a touch of warmth. Adding the Hattor 6ns7 buffer should give me a bit more warmth which I enjoy and maybe a slightly better soundstage and holographic presentation as well.

Hi
I have used Arek's parts for probably a decade in all my builds, and of course the attenuator in the Raven preamp is a custom version of his best Khozmo that I had him design for us.   He builds really top notch products, so I am sure you will be happy!

[dls123]

OK... just spent an hour or two comparing the Linlai e-300b to the Ray Reserve 300b.  The 6sn7 and kt88 in the Blackbirds are the Ray tubes.   The difference is not as pronounced as with the Linlai KT88 vs the Ray KT88.   The Linlai e-300b is a bit more treble focused.  You would never think it is at all bass-shy, but when the Ray 300b goes back in you immediately notice more bass weight.  Not night at day, but you notice right way.

The character of the Ray 300b is just like their other tubes.  Very slightly warm, but still very highly detailed and somehow a blacker background than other tubes of the same type.  The Linlai e-300b are just normal stock, sourced from my Chinese distributor.  If they were the much more expensive Linlai global tubes that are allegedly better tested, then perhaps they would be different.  The Ray tubes are, of course, hand selected and very expensive.  Both the Linlai and Ray tubes are very well matched pairs as measured in the amps.   I would give the nod to the Ray 300b.  If the Linlai is a 9 out of 10, the Ray is an 11:)  The Linlai is very, very good, but I will wager than if I played this system for 10 people, all of them would choose the Ray reserve 300b in my room in this system.  But the Linlai e-300b is certainly no slouch.

Oh, and when I say the Ray tubes are all slightly warm, again, please don't think I mean they are slow and syrupy or anything like that.  More like richness, with very black background, and all the detail I have ever heard from any tube of that type.  They just have this dark background and very rich tone and tight bass, which leads me to call them warm.  It is quite an accomplishment!

Happy listening...
Don

[Nick B]

OK... just spent an hour or two comparing the Linlai e-300b to the Ray Reserve 300b.  The 6sn7 and kt88 in the Blackbirds are the Ray tubes.   The difference is not as pronounced as with the Linlai KT88 vs the Ray KT88.   The Linlai e-300b is a bit more treble focused.  You would never think it is at all bass-shy, but when the Ray 300b goes back in you immediately notice more bass weight.  Not night at day, but you notice right way.

The character of the Ray 300b is just like their other tubes.  Very slightly warm, but still very highly detailed and somehow a blacker background than other tubes of the same type.  The Linlai e-300b are just normal stock, sourced from my Chinese distributor.  If they were the much more expensive Linlai global tubes that are allegedly better tested, then perhaps they would be different.  The Ray tubes are, of course, hand selected and very expensive.  Both the Linlai and Ray tubes are very well matched pairs as measured in the amps.   I would give the nod to the Ray 300b.  If the Linlai is a 9 out of 10, the Ray is an 11:)  The Linlai is very, very good, but I will wager than if I played this system for 10 people, all of them would choose the Ray reserve 300b in my room in this system.  But the Linlai e-300b is certainly no slouch.

Oh, and when I say the Ray tubes are all slightly warm, again, please don't think I mean they are slow and syrupy or anything like that.  More like richness, with very black background, and all the detail I have ever heard from any tube of that type.  They just have this dark background and very rich tone and tight bass, which leads me to call them warm.  It is quite an accomplishment!

Happy listening...
Don

Don,

Your comments continue to be very helpful and have me zeroing in on the Ray Reserve line if I get back into tubes. Some years ago, you built me a beautiful, custom phono preamp. I did get out of vinyl and was easily able to sell it for top dollar. So thanks for that too!

Nick

[dls123]

Don,

Your comments continue to be very helpful and have me zeroing in on the Ray Reserve line if I get back into tubes. Some years ago, you built me a beautiful, custom phono preamp. I did get out of vinyl and was easily able to sell it for top dollar. So thanks for that too!

Nick

I just looked up that phono... that is ancient history!    I can do MUCH better than that now, but phono stages are on the back burner.  Too many other projects.  I will say that the Raven and Blackbird combo, while expensive, is about the best I have ever heard, even the $100K rooms at shows.  The Ray tubes take the gear up a notch or two.   Good luck in your journey, and I hope it brings a little tube magic back into your life:)