[ted_b]

Ken,
The last page and a half has been talk about the Lessloss and Black Sand PC's for the Modwright.  Just look there.  What do you need to know that Rydenfan, Philistine and I haven't already said.  As per above, the Lessloss is my preferred PC (and Dan's as well).

Sorry Ted:

Prior to my posts I read some comments about people trying the LessLoss PC and a Black Sands Violet but no others.  It would seem that the LessLoss does a good job!

Thanks,

Ken

No problem.  I think The Black Sands PC's are a great value, and love the Violet Z1.  It's my current 36.5 cord, as well as the Modwright Denon 3910 one.  But the Lessloss, at the promo Audiogon price, is just too good;  it's dynamic and yet smooth and effortless.  It is a black as deep space.  It is a great PC at $285 plus shipping.  I'm not sure, though, I'd pay list (double the price).  That's a lot of ripped cd's.

[Bigfish]

I don't have Silver Refs any more, but I'm planning to use one a Black Sands Statement One with mine.  Based on my experience using them with sources and amps, I doubt I'll care to go looking for a better sounding PC, and the odds are excellent you'll feel the same way about the Silver Refs, Ken.
[/quote]

Thanks Jim:

I currently have the Black Sands Siver Refs connected to the monoblocs, the preamp and to the Burson Buffer.  When I purchased them 9 months ago they were considered by many to be the best value in after market PCs.  I certainly loved the change they made to the sound I heard from my system and I as previously stated will connect the new Transporter to the one currently connected to the Buffer.

When I wrote my initial post I should have been specific and asked if anyone were using a Black Sands Silver Ref with the ModWright Modded Transporter?  I was also interested if anyone had compared other PCs to the Black Sand Silvers and found something like the LessLoss to be better?  Everything I have read about the Statement One raves about the performance of these PCs and I am certain you will be very happy.  

Ken

[IronLion]

I just won an auction for the new Violet ZII with some fancy ATL connectors on it, will be interesting to see how it compares to what I've been using on my Transporter so far, the Zu Mother.  Unfortunately though my Transporter had to be sent back to Dan for a very minor issue and I won't have it back for about two weeks so no comparisons will be able to be made until then, and I think my current speakers won't allow any in-depth comparisons until my TP Minis arrive.  If anybody wants me to do a head to head comparison on the Transporter between the Violet ZII and the LessLoss and has an extra one to lend me, that would probably be a comparison people would be interested in hearing about.  That is of course assuming someone is willing to temporarily part with their LessLoss...

[mikel51]

I will not have the 6H30 DR's till the very end of this week at the absolute earliest, and possibly not till the beginning of the week after so just give me a little time. I can squeeze another 2 or 3 pairs out of him so I like them and someone else want them. They are not cheap though, $250 for the pair.

Parts connexion has them for less.  $60 each or $125 for a matched pair. I have been using them in my BAT power amp for a while.  I bought a stash a while ago, but haven't had my transporter long enough to start tube rolling.

David said his were the originals and sonically superior to what's commonly out there as 6H30 DR's (a reintroduction or spinoff/copy), but that's all I know.  Certainly for half the price the Connexion ones would be the option, if they are sonically equivalent...I'll let David answer this better.

Parts Connexion has the newer (current production) 6H30 tubes (not called DR) for ~$20.  They charge $60 for the NOS original version tubes produced for MIG jet fighters.  The other source of NOS original 6H30 tubes are from Conus on Audiogon--he gets $95 each and includes matching. 

So far, I have only used the DRs I have managed to find, but I haven't compared them personally with the newer production tubes.

[ted_b]

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.

[ted_b]

We almost need a few new stickies for this Forum:

Tube rolling with the Modwright Transporter
Tube rolling with the Modwright LS/PS 36.5
Favorite cable combos with the Modwright Transporter
Favorite cable combos with the Modwrght LS/PS 36.5

Lots of this info spread around various posts, some in unlikely or less-than-obvious thread subjects.

[rydenfan]

We almost need a few new stickies for this Forum:

Tube rolling with the Modwright Transporter
Tube rolling with the Modwright LS/PS 36.5
Favorite cable combos with the Modwright Transporter
Favorite cable combos with the Modwrght LS/PS 36.5

Lots of this info spread around various posts, some in unlikely or less-than-obvious thread subjects.

I totalle agree! I was hinting at that the other day. It would almost seem to make more sense to have dedicated threads for each topic with updated first page of what current users are using or something. I would think this would be more helpful to both current and new customers.

I would think we could do 2 seperate pages maybe? Tips and tweaks for the Transporter and the same for the 36.5? We could cover cords and tubes and other various topics in each? What does everyone else think?

[rydenfan]

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.

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

[rydenfan]

I'm currently using an Acoustic Zen Tsunami on my TP, I'll compare the LessLoss against it.
With the 6H30's, doesn't Brendan over at Tube World get these in from time to time and cryo them?

My understanding, in my limited knowledge, is the ones that Brenden has and the ones that BAT uses are the re-issues of the 6H30 DR's. They do not contain the Gold filament and a few other things unique to the original ones. I will conact my source of them and get a more thorough answer. By my understanding is there is a difference

[Bigfish]

We almost need a few new stickies for this Forum:

Tube rolling with the Modwright Transporter
Tube rolling with the Modwright LS/PS 36.5
Favorite cable combos with the Modwright Transporter
Favorite cable combos with the Modwrght LS/PS 36.5

Lots of this info spread around various posts, some in unlikely or less-than-obvious thread subjects.

I totalle agree! I was hinting at that the other day. It would almost seem to make more sense to have dedicated threads for each topic with updated first page of what current users are using or something. I would think this would be more helpful to both current and new customers.

I would think we could do 2 seperate pages maybe? Tips and tweaks for the Transporter and the same for the 36.5? We could cover cords and tubes and other various topics in each? What does everyone else think?

Guys:

As a future owner I would greatly appreciate stickies or posts specifically geared to tube combinations, ICs and PCs you have evaluated. 

Thanks,

Ken

[modwright]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I presume that I am the only one capable of making these sticky threads.  I am in Munich right now and about to join Jacob George of Rethm Loudspeakers (my co-exhibitor here) and then we have a long day of setup.  I will try do address the sticky threads tonight.

Thanks guys,

Dan

[rydenfan]

I mentioned previously I would find out what is unique about the original 6H30 DR's, and this is what I have found out:

1. Contain a mixture of white gold & platinum filament

2. Manufactured before the fall of the Soviet government

3. The DR means that they are approved for 80,000 Ft. and above

I am unsure how much, if any, impact any or all of these features will have sonically. But I do know they were sold to me from someone's personal collection who swears by them. I will let you guys know what I think of them when I receive them.

[Philistine]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I presume that I am the only one capable of making these sticky threads.  I am in Munich right now and about to join Jacob George of Rethm Loudspeakers (my co-exhibitor here) and then we have a long day of setup.  I will try do address the sticky threads tonight.

Thanks guys,

Dan

Dan,
I lived in Germany for 7 years, so know how to get around.
As it's your first time in Munich you need to try the following if you get the chance:

Weisswurst - white sausages together with sweet mustard.
Hofbrauhaus - a bit touristy but the biggest and most famous beer hall in town.
Weizen - wheat beer

Liudas from LessLoss lived in Germany so he knows his way around also.
Also try and pick up a copy of the major German audio magazine, I forget the name but I'm sure they'll be at the show.  They review equipment in a more structured style than US magazines.

Have fun.

Phil

[mr_bill]

Does the Modwright mod use 'triode' tubes in its design?
I don't know that much about tubes but as I understand the triode is the most linear device of all.

[mikel51]

I received my Modwright Transporter at the end of the first week of April and set it up over the weekend with the stock tubes.  I have to say that I was thrilled with the sound.  For the first time, I felt like I could get rid of my CD playback system.  I have been working to get computer based sound to equal my CD player/DAC combo for about 5 years, and have not succeeded.  I rated the Modwright transporter sound as superior in rhythm and timing to my standard, but not as good in terms of tonal balance, richness and sweetness. My standard is an older Anthem CD player through a Kora Hermes II tube DAC.  I went on a two week vacation and left the transporter playing the whole time to break it in.

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.

Right now I am a very happy camper with my Modwright transporter.

Since many of you have commented that 6CG7s are your favorite tube (and I don't have any lying around), I ordered a pair of Mazda/Brimar 6CG7/6FQ7s from Kevin Deal at Upscale Audio.  Kevin's description of these tubes:

Mazda/Brimar 6CG7/6FQ7 - These are the super cool made in Great Britain version that is so hard to find. This is the ultimate in a 6FQ7, and we found a nice stash of them.

Unlike most 6FQ7 you'll see on the market today, these test extremely low in noise and microphony. Perfect for more demanding circuits such as Stax headphone preamps and the Cary SLP-2002 where the lowest microphony and noise is important. They also kill in Conrad Johnson amps.

and since many of you have also made positive comments about the GZ32, I also ordered a Philips Miniwatt GZ32/5V4:

Philips Miniwatt GZ32/5V4 made in France, the best ever. This tube was designed by Philips Holland and made in the Mullard and Miniwatt factories. This is from Philips Miniwatt, super cool, old production, perfect.

Based on my experience with the Tung Sol 5U4G/6H30-DR, I am expecting to be disappointed with these tubes 

Also, hindsights is 20:20.  I looked at Kevin's comments on the Mullard GZ37, and they mirrored my listening experience:

Mullard GZ37/CV378 - In original military boxes made in the 1960's. Similar to the GZ33, but the net result with be a small drop in plate voltage to your power tubes and perhaps a slightly softer top and bottom.

[ted_b]

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

[mikel51]

My understanding is that there are basically two versions of the 6H30 tube.  Old stock tubes made before the early 1990s and current stock production manufactured post 2000.  Those made in Russia in the late 1980s/early 1990s would be the DR version.  These tubes were designed for Russian jet fighters and were manufactured in the Reflektor factory.  They were classified as a military secret by the government and not available to the rest of the world (or for any uses outside military applications) until the mid 1990s.  Victor Khomenko, of BAT, started designing audio equipment with the 6H30 BAT tubes in the mid 90s.   He has a nice white paper about the tubes--6H30 Tube - One Designer's Perspective-- the link is near the bottom of the home page on his web site (http://www.balanced.com/).  His viewpoint is that this is a tube where the Russians pushed design parameters beyond those achieved in the west, which stopped making and designing tubes by the 1980s.

Anyway, Victor bought a large stock of these tubes, which were no longer manufactured, and started selling his BAT gear.  Other audio designers also started using 6H30 tubes in the late 90s, and by the early 2000s, it started getting harder and harder to find the original version.  Somewhere in the 2000-2003 timeframe, one of the Russian tube factories started manufacturing these tubes again.  These newer tubes are generally referred to as 6h30-EB.  I recently noticed that Electro Harmonix now has a "gold version" of the tubes.   As BAT's reserves of the old stock tubes started getting smaller, they started reserving the old stock tubes for their top of the line VK51SE and VK75SE amplifiers, and started using current production tubes in their less expensive equipment.  Victor has gone on record as saying that the old stock tubes sound better but that the current production tubes are pretty darn good.  I haven't done any critical listening myself...I have just tried to use the DR version.

The tubes I used in my transporter are old stock version tubes that I bought from Conus Audio on Audiogon in 2004.  At that time, he had just raised the price of the tubes from $19 to $25.  He now sells the tubes for $95.  More recently, I purchased a pair of these tubes from the parts connexion to retube my BAT power amp.  They had similar markings to the set of tubes that I purchased in 2004 from Conus, and had different markings from the 6h30-EB tubes that I pulled out of my BAT preamp.

Parts Connexion now sells at least 3 variants of the 6H30 tube.  They sell the old stock tube for $60, the current production tube ($19) and the current production "gold" tube ($25).  I think they also have some cryo versions of the current production tubes at a more expensive price than the NOS tubes.

If you peruse the web, you will find a wealth of varying opinions about whether there is much difference between the old stock and current production 6H30 tubes.  Some say the difference is night and day, while others say the difference is all hype.  I haven't done a direct comparison myself, so I can't offer an opinion.

[rydenfan]

Mike, excellent review. I am hopeful my Mullard GZ32 and original 6H30 DR's will be arriving today. I also picked up a Tungsol 5U4GB on Dan's recommendation that should arrive shortly.

Mike, what is the associated gear you are using with your Transporter?

[Philistine]

Mike, thanks for the feedback - as we pool the knowledge base this should short circuit (excuse the pun) the tube rolling exercise and eliminate the 'duds' for both new and existing TP owners.

I have a pair of the newer 6H30 EB's, and put them at the bottom of the pile when it comes to signal tubes.  As more users are commenting about how good the vintage 6H30's are I'm interested to see feedback on a comparison of the two by anyone who has both to compare.  Any volunteers?

My LessLoss PC arrived yesterday - great service only 3 working days from Lithuania.  First impressions are smoother and more detailed, however I take the same view that Dan does on cables - they can make a difference, but once you start to spend crazy money then maybe this is better invested in equipment upgrades rather than tweaks?  My TP goes through a Richard Gray power conditioner (I bought this for my HT system), I have not bypassed this for years but did try it with the LessLoss PC and then the LessLoss PC direct to the outlet.  My system sounded better with the Richard Gray, lower noise floor, improved instrument delineation and more 3D soundstage.

 

[TONEPUB]

I managed to get a few sets of the old ones and my experience has been that they
are quite good.  I use four of them in my CJ ACT 2 and I would compare the difference
to a cartridge upgrade, or going to a really good set of interconnects.

As you mentioned, the stock ones are pretty darn good, but the older ones sound a
bit smoother with a touch less grain.

I've had the same result with ARC and BAT preamps that I've had in for review.
It made a bigger change in my ACT2, because it only has four 6H30's, where the
BAT and ARC preamps use other tubes as well.

And the life span of this tube, according to Victor is quite long.  He told me once to
expect 10-30 thousand hours out of a set of 6H30's (the NOS ones) and 5-10 thousand
hours out of the new ones.