[Frank S.]

I hate to rush to post, as this combo was just installed, but it is so "right" for me from the very first notes I'd like to pass on my find.
 
The killer combo are some Kuhl tubes I got from Brendan at Tubeworld.  Here is the combo-








6H30N-AP=6N30P-DR Russian NOS 1992

Special Quality 6H30, long-life, extra rigid, extra durable DR series tubes have twice the ratings of EB series

$0/pair (more in April)

AND



 GZ32=5V4G Mullard branded Philips 1960's

Very good bass and mids, smooth punchy sound, good bloom.

QUAD II amp, Modwright modded Transporter

$160/each

(4 in stock)

0 platinum low noise pairs in stock


I've been playing around with a bunch of tubes for the Transporter, and while they all sounded very good, I had yet to find that elusive "magic" combo I'd been searching for. While I didn't try every possible tube available 
Here's a few tubes I've been paying around with:

Stock 6N1Ps and 5U4GB.
Kuhl Tubes from Brendan- Tung Sol 6BQ7 and RCA 6BQ7.
Kuhl Tube Rectifiers- 5AS4 Super Radiotron Australia 1960's and 5AR4 Holland Black Base 1958 Rebranded Mullard Double D getter halos, smooth plates.

Tried various combos of the above, and until today, was really liking the Mullard rectifier and either RCA 6BQ7 or 6N1Ps. 

The 6H30-DR and GZ32 combo just opened up my system like no other. The bass and midbass just has so much more texture and detail along with increased weight and dynamics.  Dimensionality increased in spades along with a glorious sweet top end.
As I said in the opening, it just sounds "right" to my ears and awesome synergy my other gear and just made the transporter without hesitation THE best digital source I've had in my system. YMMV

Will try to report back as the tubes get more hours on them.

One caveat- The 6H30-DR tubes are lower in gain than the other tubes I've used and where the volume was say "50 out of 103" on my Ref 3, to get the same volume, it is now around "63 out of 103". 

Other digital sources I've owned recently- Marantz SA7-S1 and EMM CDSA SE.

Associated gear:

Speakers- SP Tech Continuum 2.5 III
Amps- Theta Citadel 1.5
Preamp- Audio Research Ref 3
Interconnects- Stealth Metacarbon
Speaker Cables- Anti-cables.
Power- Power Plant Premier and Michael Wolff Viola and Bohica powercords.  Custom Powercord Co. Model 11+ Series 2 on amps.

[rydenfan]

Thanks so much for the information. I now know what the next combo I should try is 

[Philistine]

A few of us have settled on the 6BQ7's and/or 6N1Ps, my latest preferred tubes being a cryoed pair of 6BQ7's.  In my system the 6H30's are my least preferred.  As my 6H30's are standard I'm curious if you had the chance to compare regular vs cryoed, and if so any difference?  Also can you confirm the $?

At the moment I'm still debating on the GZ32 vs 5AS4, need to live with them for a few months to make a final decision - the GZ32 looks sexier 

   

[Frank S.]

A few of us have settled on the 6BQ7's and/or 6N1Ps, my latest preferred tubes being a cryoed pair of 6BQ7's.  In my system the 6H30's are my least preferred.  As my 6H30's are standard I'm curious if you had the chance to compare regular vs cryoed, and if so any difference?  Also can you confirm the $?

At the moment I'm still debating on the GZ32 vs 5AS4, need to live with them for a few months to make a final decision - the GZ32 looks sexier 

   

I agree- the GZ32 looks way cool in the Transporter.

As far as the 6H30 goes, I believe there are a few varieties. The ones I'm using are the DR versions and ususally sell from $100-$150 per tube.  There is also a P or Pi version.  All my tubes have been cryoed except for the stock ones that shipped with the Transporter. 

Based on what I'm hearing so far, the 6H30- DR version is a real winner, especially with the GZ32 as the rectifier.

[mfsoa]

Hi Frank,

I'm curious as to your experience with the SA-7S1.

Can you describe what it is about the Mod Transporter that you find more to your liking?
Ever try the Marantz as a transport into the Modwright? It'd be a neat comparo to compare the hard-drive/wifi vs. a CD as transport.

Everything I've read about the SA is really positive - It would be a ringing endorsement for the Modwright to be considered better than the Marantz!

How long did you own the Marantz, and do you still have it?

Thanks,

-Mike

[ted_b]

Everything I've read about the SA is really positive - It would be a ringing endorsement for the Modwright to be considered better than the Marantz!

Mike,
Frank has already stated that the Modwright is better than the Marantz, didn't he?   Above?

IMO, it betters Dan's best mods I've ever owned, the Modwright Denon 3910 and the Modwright Sony 999ES.  It also betters the Esoteric Dv-50 that I've heard in my system, but not owned.  Other than the Sony XA777ES and some other universals like the DV9600, etc I haven't had a lot of hi-end digitals in my system.....and I won't.  The Modwright TP is it for me...until Dan outdoes himself on some future delivery system.

My favorite tube combo so far is the GZ32 and the 6BQ7's (all NOS non-cryo'd).    The 5U4G is a nice sounding rectifier with the 6BQ7's too.

[Philistine]

A few of us have settled on the 6BQ7's and/or 6N1Ps, my latest preferred tubes being a cryoed pair of 6BQ7's.  In my system the 6H30's are my least preferred.  As my 6H30's are standard I'm curious if you had the chance to compare regular vs cryoed, and if so any difference?  Also can you confirm the $?

At the moment I'm still debating on the GZ32 vs 5AS4, need to live with them for a few months to make a final decision - the GZ32 looks sexier 

   

I agree- the GZ32 looks way cool in the Transporter.

As far as the 6H30 goes, I believe there are a few varieties. The ones I'm using are the DR versions and ususally sell from $100-$150 per tube.  There is also a P or Pi version.  All my tubes have been cryoed except for the stock ones that shipped with the Transporter. 

Based on what I'm hearing so far, the 6H30- DR version is a real winner, especially with the GZ32 as the rectifier.

Thanks for the feedback Frank.
I'm interested in your 6H30 findings - if you have a standard pair I'd be interested in any comparison with your high end version, if you need the standard pair I'd be more than happy to send them to you to try (if you have the time).
As time goes on I'm starting to prefer the GZ32 with the 6BQ7's, more so than the 5AS4.  Whereas the 5AS4 sounds better with the 6N1P's. 

[Double Ugly]

This is apparently my day to reopen long dead threads, but after spending the past week listening to the tubes Frank S. recommends, I heartily agree with his findings.

Our speakers are from the same manufacturer (SP Tech), but our systems are otherwise very different.  Nevertheless, the bass, texture, detail, dynamics... all the things Frank said he heard, I heard, and I'm loving it.  Though the presentation with the stock tubes wasn't bad, these tubes take the MW Transporter to a whole 'nother level of performance IMHO.  What was somewhat closed-in is now more open, natural and free-flowing.

Rolling and playing around with different tubes is like a religion to some, but I just want to listen to music.  These tubes allow me to do just that, and I have no interest in looking for anything more than I have right now.

Thanks Frank, and thanks to Brendan @ Tube World for his patience and assistance. 

[Big Red Machine]

Very cool.  Sometimes it can be a real crapshoot and it's nice when you SCORE!!

[modwright]

Thanks to all of you who have chimed in here, about tube choices for the Transporter.  As a manufacturer, I am limited to what I can obtain in good stock, NOS, or new current production. I  feel that the 5U4GB and 6N1P sound very good, but that is not to say that there aren't other options that are better.  There is also subjective preference, so I am grateful to all of you who have contributed here.

I will now officially make a 'sticky' tube rolling thread for the transporter.  Sorry for not doing so sooner.

Thanks guys!

Dan.