New tubes for ARC REF2SE

I replaced the 6550 in the power supply of my arc ref 40 with a SED Winged C (had a 6550 WE prior). Even tho power regulation I hear a difference - better mids and highs ...more textured and open.
 
I swear, I think I have found the winning tube combo for this Phonostage. Selection is VERY limited of these tubes, but oh man, I feel like I have improved sonics 10 fold......ok, not 10 fold, but this is exactly what I wanted in a Phonostage and didn't think it existed. This Phonostage is going no where!
 
Mike said:
I swear, I think I have found the winning tube combo for this Phonostage. Selection is VERY limited of these tubes, but oh man, I feel like I have improved sonics 10 fold......ok, not 10 fold, but this is exactly what I wanted in a Phonostage and didn't think it existed. This Phonostage is going no where!
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Sweet!! Glad it helped out . Give em 25-30 hours and they should sound really nice!!!
New tubes is like a new piece of equip , only cheaper!!
I see that my amp tubes don't make that much of a difference. All 4 sets sound a little different but not much. 5th and final set coming soon. Lol!!!
But the preamp tubes have huge differences, especially in the phono section.
I'm eyeballing some nos mazdas to try soon :)
 
Mike said:
Today I received my Winged C 6550 and 6H30P-DR's and installed them in my ARC REF2SE. I listened for an hour to some familiar LP's and I was pleasantly surprised of the differences - for the better. Midrange is more forward, the sound is meatier and more classic tube sounding and ironically, better balanced through a slight reduction in bass. The most surprising change was how much quieter the new tubes are - and the stock tubes aren't noisy!

I hope to spin some more vinyl tonight - but so far - a very worth while investment!

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Which 6h30p tubes did you buy?
 
Tube envy..lol

It is amazing, but tubes do have that flavor...sometimes its subtle but that subtlety can be what brings the mids forward, position musicians just a bit better and detail the highs..

There is a track on a R.E.M. album (Out of Time), side 1, track 3 - called LOW. Listen to the guitar fuzz on the right with tubes...you literally can tell the make (it definitely sounds like a fender)..Send chills...

Or

Beatles Past Masters - Album II, side 1, track 6 - The Inner light..The sitar is right there with you...

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microstrip said:
If the 6550 or the 6h30 were not previously burned-in sometimes they can go through some slightly noisy periods during the first hours, as the cathode settles by use.
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+1...have had this experience...sometimes you need to remove the tube according to Brent Jessee tap it firmly but carefully on its pins on a firm surface, and replace it back in.
 
LL21 said:
+1...have had this experience...sometimes you need to remove the tube according to Brent Jessee tap it firmly but carefully on its pins on a firm surface, and replace it back in.
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I spoke with the seller today and the tubes were all NOS. So, that's likely what it was.

They continue to amaze me. The difference wasn't subtle.
 
Mike said:
I spoke with the seller today and the tubes were all NOS. So, that's likely what it was.

They continue to amaze me. The difference wasn't subtle.
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Funny...I just retubed this weekend because I could sense a slight lessening of bass impact...sure enough, it all came back and more! unfortunately with 24 hours one of the replacement tubes went bad and create havoc hum/noise...I replaced the old ones back in and (so far) everything is back to normal. So I am going to order a replacement set.
 
Thanks...both sets were NOS tube sets...2 sets of: (2) 1950's Mullard 6CA4 and (1) Sylvania 6X4.
 
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