Need help picking a 12AU7 tube for my Eastern Electric DAC Plus.

TJHUB · « **on:** 29 Dec 2011, 03:03 am »

So far I have heard a Siemens "silver plate" and the Psvane tube I currently use. I'm not one that seeks out a warm sound, but my setup rides the edge of a little thin in the midrange. I think the treble and bass are very good with the Psvane, but I'd like a warmer midrange.

The Siemens "silver plate" sounded very similar to the Psvane to me, with the only exception being the Siemens had a sparkly treble I didn't really care for. I don't remember if the midrange was warmer than the Psvane or not. I don't think it was.

What I really need to avoid is flabby bass. I don't want to lose any definition in the bass. Are there any tubes that I should consider?

nature boy · « **Reply #1 on:** 29 Dec 2011, 03:21 am »

You might want to try a new issue Mullard or Genalex Gold Lion (both manufactured by New Sensor Corp.). Jim McShane sells both (inc. matched pairs if needed), I suggest you drop him an e-mail. He is highly recommended by many AC members. These tubes won't set you back a bunch either. The Gold Lion has a bit bolder sound to it than the Mullard.

Cheers,

NB

mjosef · « **Reply #2 on:** 29 Dec 2011, 03:30 am »

I have settled on the Brimar 13D5/12AU7 in my DAC. But not having heard the Psvane or Siemens, cannot offer a comparative opinion.
I found the Brimar to be balanced across the audio spectrum, with the right amount of warmth, without giving up detail, that suits my taste.
I have tried Madza, RFT, GE, TS reissue, Baldwin, RCA long plates.

TJHUB · « **Reply #3 on:** 29 Dec 2011, 03:37 am »

Quote from: nature boy on 29 Dec 2011, 03:21 am

You might want to try a new issue Mullard or Genalex Gold Lion (both manufactured by New Sensor Corp.). Jim McShane sells both (inc. matched pairs if needed), I suggest you drop him an e-mail. He is highly recommended by many AC members. These tubes won't set you back a bunch either. The Gold Lion has a bit bolder sound to it than the Mullard.

Cheers,

NB

Thanks. I will contact Jim and see what he thinks.

Quote from: mjosef on 29 Dec 2011, 03:30 am

I have settled on the Brimar 13D5/12AU7 in my DAC. But not having heard the Psvane or Siemens, cannot offer a comparative opinion.
I found the Brimar to be balanced across the audio spectrum, with the right amount of warmth, without giving up detail, that suits my taste.
I have tried Madza, RFT, GE, TS reissue, Baldwin, RCA long plates.

I neglected to state that I did try a Brimar 13D5 and found it to be nearly exactly as you describe. To my ears, the Brimar and the Psvane are very similar. I did not keep the Brimar as it was on loan from a friend. I did really like the Brimar. I'm just not sure the Brimar is what I'm looking for either.

Quiet Earth · « **Reply #4 on:** 29 Dec 2011, 03:47 am »

TJ,
Do you leave your DAC on 24/7?

TJHUB · « **Reply #5 on:** 29 Dec 2011, 03:50 am »

No. I only power the DAC when needed.

Quiet Earth · « **Reply #6 on:** 29 Dec 2011, 03:55 am »

Try leaving it powered on for a couple of weeks and see if the midrange improves. It should sound better in just a couple of days, but leave it on longer. I never turn mine off unless I'm going away for a while.

JCarney · « **Reply #7 on:** 29 Dec 2011, 03:57 am »

Quote from: mjosef on 29 Dec 2011, 03:30 am

I have settled on the Brimar 13D5/12AU7 in my DAC. But not having heard the Psvane or Siemens, cannot offer a comparative opinion.
I found the Brimar to be balanced across the audio spectrum, with the right amount of warmth, without giving up detail, that suits my taste.
I have tried Madza, RFT, GE, TS reissue, Baldwin, RCA long plates.

I second the 13D5's. Great tube. mjosef describes them as I would. They just sound right. Mine are in a phono stage if that means anything.

Good Luck,
JCarney

TJHUB · « **Reply #8 on:** 29 Dec 2011, 04:01 am »

Quote from: Quiet Earth on 29 Dec 2011, 03:55 am

Try leaving it powered on for a couple of weeks and see if the midrange improves. It should sound better in just a couple of days, but leave it on longer. I never turn mine off unless I'm going away for a while.

This is something I'd rather not do. I have left the DAC on for a week, but I've never noticed any changes the longer I leave it running.

Quiet Earth · « **Reply #9 on:** 29 Dec 2011, 04:16 am »

I understand. I just know that my transport and especially DAC really open up and relax about the 2nd day after I have turned it all back on when returning from vacation or being out of town. My DAC also uses 12AU7s.

Have you tried GE 5star 5963 and 6189? I like those tubes too.
The CV 4003 are very easy going too. No edge to those.

I haven't tried the Psvanes or Full Music yet but I plan to some day!

shadowlight · « **Reply #10 on:** 29 Dec 2011, 08:17 pm »

Sorry to hijack the thread but anyone have email address or url for Jim McShane?

TJHUB · « **Reply #11 on:** 29 Dec 2011, 09:11 pm »

Quote from: shadowlight on 29 Dec 2011, 08:17 pm

Sorry to hijack the thread but anyone have email address or url for Jim McShane?

I believe this is what you are looking for:

http://www.mcshanedesign.net/

shadowlight · « **Reply #12 on:** 29 Dec 2011, 11:19 pm »

Quote from: TJHUB on 29 Dec 2011, 09:11 pm

I believe this is what you are looking for:

http://www.mcshanedesign.net/

Thanks. All the links that I was finding was going to prodigy.com or something similar

etcarroll · « **Reply #13 on:** 30 Dec 2011, 12:26 am »

Warmer mids w/o flabby bass - you need to try an NOS Mullard.

Freo-1 · « **Reply #14 on:** 30 Dec 2011, 12:55 am »

You might want to try a Westinghouse Black Plate, or a Raytheon Black Plate (shiny vesrion). They both have a magical midrange with clean, non fatiguing treble.

I've used both in mine with excellent results.

Gopher · « **Reply #15 on:** 30 Dec 2011, 02:03 am »

I find the 1950s Mullard long plate to be excellent, but its quite costly. I was never big on the the psvane. I found its presentation to be a little sterile and unemotional.... I know I'm in the minority with that feeling though

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #16 on:** 30 Dec 2011, 03:17 am »

Went round and round with about 4 different tubes and ended up back at the Psvane as the best of all worlds.

TJHUB · « **Reply #17 on:** 3 Jan 2012, 04:08 am »

A fellow AC member I met last week happened to have a couple of tubes that were recommended to me. The one I got a chance to try today was a Genalex Gold Lion. I had a very interesting few hours with this tube. I found it to be too "warm" overall, but when I switch from my current speaker cables to the Morrow SP4's I was about sell, the whole world changed. One flaw I do think I'm hearing is the bass is not as defined as I'm used to. Still, the overall sound is very good.

Tomorrow I'll be listening to the other tube. I also plan to check with another tube vendor for suggestions. I may try and round up a Mullard or one of the "black plates."

max190 · « **Reply #18 on:** 16 Jan 2012, 07:24 pm »

I like GE 6189's

TJ, are you using any kind of dampers on your tubes? Makes a hell of a difference and you can change the sound by adjusting the location on the tube.

I recommend Herbie's Ultrasonic SS-9

mjock3 · « **Reply #19 on:** 20 Jan 2012, 04:01 am »

I too really like what Herbie's has been able to do in this area. I use UltraSonic Rx on all tubes. I think they have some great products and I own a number of them happily. And of course the owner is one really nice guy and was able to help me in a personal project.

Mark