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Some may like that silly chart; others find it ludicrous.
correction, our new super mod!!!!!! lol. its a really cool pic but a huge generalization and kinda weird. i agree with the fact that you cant generalize like that and be correct on all counts. ive heard 10 different 300b amps in the last few months and many more in my audio journey and most had that warm beautiful midrange but few of them sounded similar. in my 20+ years of tube amp buying and selling and listening and yes rolling i dont think any of those meters are spot on. although some do describe certain amps pretty close. but not all.
yes my quest continues as well. tube rolling is an endlesss process. im thinking of trying these tj full music 6sn7's for my amps. i think a matched quad is like $250. and they are the same company that makes the sophia 6sn7's , so im told. would be interesting considering im running sophia 300b's now. i been thinking on the rare nos 6sn7's as well and for the money they cost it would be heartbreaking if i didnt like them. i do have some old brimar and melz in there now and am loving the sound. but trying new ones is always fun.
scar
You'll hear me say this a lot guys; passé as it might be. It's ALL good!
I love the hobby; don't love this brand, or that brand. I admire "fan-boys", for their passion; but I can't abide by a my-thing-is-better-than-your-thing approach.
I don't see my role here...to be the Interweb police, and crack cyber-heads. I'm here to contribute!
There's some heavy hitters in the Tank, no doubt; but for the last 10 years...I'd put my volume of gear tried, up against anyone's (though likely, not dollars spent :blush
I like to talk gear...talk music; explore the things, that drive us about the hobby. I like to stir it up. Note...that's not the same, as stir up trouble.
But...I'd like to think, I tend to color outside the lines a bit; and I'll challenge the status-quo...if for no other reason, than it makes for interesting and spirited debate (and usually...you learn a little something, about the "other" side).
If anything has a subtlety and complexity, to their analysis in this hobby; it's glass! So...it's a neat chart, or silly chart; depending on your POV and perspective. But no one meant to hold it up...as the last bastion, of what sound to expect, from said toobs.
good post very interesting. my amps came with 4 brimars and 1 was smashed up when i got them. so i pulled the other for backup and bought the 1950's melz russian tubes off nikolay(tube maze) and im also thinking about getting the 2nd pair of melz just to try them in the driver and input spots. the mullard cv378 rectifiers were smashed too. i bought a cheap pair just to get them quick then i replaced them with the 1964 mullard rectifiers and altogether i have a great sound going on right now. you can find my 300b tests in this area of the forum. and its on going im going to test the emission 300 b xls next as i just heard them in an integrated i was demoing at my house and loved the deep bass and big presentation. and im always open to finding new gems in the tube market.Good morning Petro85,
Yes, the quest can be endless until we understand how certain combinations of tubes should be mixed to offset the weaknesses of both signal tubes or tubes further down the chain, weird thing is, I was about to recommend Brimar Black Glass CV1988/6SN7GTs ( as these are one of the most delicate, yet beautifully balanced ones I've heard to date ), but saw that you're already using them.
I've used TJ Music and Sophia 300B Mesh Plates in a fairly inexpensive Chinese Integrated I owned briefly called the Audio Renaissance LS-845 MK V, and absolutely adored them, but I'm somewhat biased towards Chinese tubes, as I merely question their long term reliability, as I've seen some last between 8 - 12 months, and thought at this rate, I'd be much better off merely paying more for tubes with better metal construction as well as glass work, because after you've taken into account if you were to replace these say 3 - 7 times in less then 6 years?, then better quality made NOS versions which would have a life spam approaching say 10.000 hours can in fact calculate into about an average of 3.5 hours use per day - everyday for nearly 10 years, then it becomes more obvious which then becomes a better investment.
And looking at the contents of your system, I'd say it deserves better made/sounding tubes built during a time where the resources were behind them, which costed millions and millions to develop - and then take into account just how many current produces of tubes, are willing to invest that much into said technology and/or machinery to match the overall quality of construction as well as sound of those designed during a time where tubes were the only game in town.
Even though some might see it differently?, even Russian designed tubes were made to last, they might not be as warm or cuddly as some might prefer!, but they are rugged, transparent and neutral as some might like, unless of course one is seeking to add sweetens to their sound to begin with?, I'm of the mindset that transparency and neutrality are were each of us should want the sonic of our systems to be!, but I'd be wrong.
Quality glass and alloy materials are in fact a thing of the past, those 50s, or in some rare cases tubes built upwards of 1963 wouldn't be duplicated sonically ever again, just food for thought.
Regards,
h, it's topics like this that move me to tears! and here I am enjoying writing again! as it seems to me! it's nicer here and more often then not, many here seem more grounded and willing to at least listen and know that some have gained more insight into some studies/fields then others, and this is one area where I can take on most challenges if need be, because if nothing else?, I know my tubes.
