VAC preamp tubes roll

S

suletata

New member
Joined
Feb 3, 2024
Messages
5
Location
Ho Chi Minh
Hi there guys. It is great to find a VAC community here. I have been a lurker here for quite some time, and now have decided to join in. By the way, I am using a VAC Statement line pre. Wonder which tubes you are using with your VAC preamp? Cheers

IMG_0578.jpeg
 
Thank you! I will give it a try. I am using Siemens gold pins, great tubes, lots of details, just a little bright at times.
 
Last edited:
I've used the following in my Master preamp. It sounds good (well, gorgeous) with all. It's a matter of taste and system matching. What's NOT a matter of taste is how many of these tubes are hard to track down in "reliable" examples that won't go noisy, etc :( In random order:

  • Siemens E88CC gold pin, A frame circa 1970s (source: Upscale, Ebay) - I really like these. They keep the midrange magic of Amperex but have more dynamics, punch, and yes a bit more sparkle / zing up top. They've also been more reliable in my experience, and that can TAKE A BEATING. I accidentally ran a pair at the 12V heater setting for a day. They were glowing like the sun when I figured it out, 20 hours later. They had lost 25% of their transconductance reading from that (as measured a MaxiPreamp tester) but still worked fine.
  • Amperex 7308 Holland gold pin (Brent Jesse) - Good all-around tube, relaxed warm sound. Expected 3D image and articulation from a "premium" NOS tube. But maybe a little "boring" at times compared to the other alternatives. I've had one with glass envelope simply crack / crumble in my hand with no apparent abuse.
  • Amperex 7308 USA Gold pin (Upscale, Ebay) - Very similar to the Holland, same kind of sound but I might actually like this a bit better. I've had good experiences with this tube overall.
  • Amperex 8416 gold pin USA (Ebay) - Very good tube, pretty much tracks with the sound of Amperex USA 7308. Run this at the 12V heater setting but DON'T forget to set it back to 6V for you other tubes :( This tube is cheaper than the 7308, if and when you can find them.
  • Philips E88CC gold pin 1960s (Upscale) - Great tube, very much on the lush / warm / liquid "full sound" side. But I do like it better than the Amperex.
  • Mazda 7308 France (Brent Jesse) - Good tube, similar sound to Amperex Holland 7308 with a little more "pizazz". I liked the sound of this tube a lot, but sadly the ones I have (got 2 pairs) are relatively problematic, with noise and other issues emerging.
  • Matsushita Japan 7DJ8 / PCC88 (Upscale, various sources) - Really nice tube, reliable, good balanced overall sound. Maybe a little more exciting sound than the Amperex. Not the best at anything but hard to fault its overall balance. Not problems with any of these yet (across several sets and a few amps). I've got them in my Master now because last time I got frustrated with the Mazdas I wanted a tube I knew wouldn't give me problems and didn't feel like adding the extra energy / brightness of Siemens at the time.
 
mulveling said:
I've used the following in my Master preamp. It sounds good (well, gorgeous) with all. It's a matter of taste and system matching. What's NOT a matter of taste is how many of these tubes are hard to track down in "reliable" examples that won't go noisy, etc :( In random order:

  • Siemens E88CC gold pin, A frame circa 1970s (source: Upscale, Ebay) - I really like these. They keep the midrange magic of Amperex but have more dynamics, punch, and yes a bit more sparkle / zing up top. They've also been more reliable in my experience, and that can TAKE A BEATING. I accidentally ran a pair at the 12V heater setting for a day. They were glowing like the sun when I figured it out, 20 hours later. They had lost 25% of their transconductance reading from that (as measured a MaxiPreamp tester) but still worked fine.
  • Amperex 7308 Holland gold pin (Brent Jesse) - Good all-around tube, relaxed warm sound. Expected 3D image and articulation from a "premium" NOS tube. But maybe a little "boring" at times compared to the other alternatives. I've had one with glass envelope simply crack / crumble in my hand with no apparent abuse.
  • Amperex 7308 USA Gold pin (Upscale, Ebay) - Very similar to the Holland, same kind of sound but I might actually like this a bit better. I've had good experiences with this tube overall.
  • Amperex 8416 gold pin USA (Ebay) - Very good tube, pretty much tracks with the sound of Amperex USA 7308. Run this at the 12V heater setting but DON'T forget to set it back to 6V for you other tubes :( This tube is cheaper than the 7308, if and when you can find them.
  • Philips E88CC gold pin 1960s (Upscale) - Great tube, very much on the lush / warm / liquid "full sound" side. But I do like it better than the Amperex.
  • Mazda 7308 France (Brent Jesse) - Good tube, similar sound to Amperex Holland 7308 with a little more "pizazz". I liked the sound of this tube a lot, but sadly the ones I have (got 2 pairs) are relatively problematic, with noise and other issues emerging.
  • Matsushita Japan 7DJ8 / PCC88 (Upscale, various sources) - Really nice tube, reliable, good balanced overall sound. Maybe a little more exciting sound than the Amperex. Not the best at anything but hard to fault its overall balance. Not problems with any of these yet (across several sets and a few amps). I've got them in my Master now because last time I got frustrated with the Mazdas I wanted a tube I knew wouldn't give me problems and didn't feel like adding the extra energy / brightness of Siemens at the time.
Click to expand...
Great summary. Brent Jesse tubes for me, as of late, have been very suspect and don’t measure anywhere near the reported values.
 
mulveling said:
I've used the following in my Master preamp. It sounds good (well, gorgeous) with all. It's a matter of taste and system matching. What's NOT a matter of taste is how many of these tubes are hard to track down in "reliable" examples that won't go noisy, etc :( In random order:

  • Siemens E88CC gold pin, A frame circa 1970s (source: Upscale, Ebay) - I really like these. They keep the midrange magic of Amperex but have more dynamics, punch, and yes a bit more sparkle / zing up top. They've also been more reliable in my experience, and that can TAKE A BEATING. I accidentally ran a pair at the 12V heater setting for a day. They were glowing like the sun when I figured it out, 20 hours later. They had lost 25% of their transconductance reading from that (as measured a MaxiPreamp tester) but still worked fine.
  • Amperex 7308 Holland gold pin (Brent Jesse) - Good all-around tube, relaxed warm sound. Expected 3D image and articulation from a "premium" NOS tube. But maybe a little "boring" at times compared to the other alternatives. I've had one with glass envelope simply crack / crumble in my hand with no apparent abuse.
  • Amperex 7308 USA Gold pin (Upscale, Ebay) - Very similar to the Holland, same kind of sound but I might actually like this a bit better. I've had good experiences with this tube overall.
  • Amperex 8416 gold pin USA (Ebay) - Very good tube, pretty much tracks with the sound of Amperex USA 7308. Run this at the 12V heater setting but DON'T forget to set it back to 6V for you other tubes :( This tube is cheaper than the 7308, if and when you can find them.
  • Philips E88CC gold pin 1960s (Upscale) - Great tube, very much on the lush / warm / liquid "full sound" side. But I do like it better than the Amperex.
  • Mazda 7308 France (Brent Jesse) - Good tube, similar sound to Amperex Holland 7308 with a little more "pizazz". I liked the sound of this tube a lot, but sadly the ones I have (got 2 pairs) are relatively problematic, with noise and other issues emerging.
  • Matsushita Japan 7DJ8 / PCC88 (Upscale, various sources) - Really nice tube, reliable, good balanced overall sound. Maybe a little more exciting sound than the Amperex. Not the best at anything but hard to fault its overall balance. Not problems with any of these yet (across several sets and a few amps). I've got them in my Master now because last time I got frustrated with the Mazdas I wanted a tube I knew wouldn't give me problems and didn't feel like adding the extra energy / brightness of Siemens at the time.
Click to expand...
Thank you for sharing, great insights. The reminder about switching to 12v back to 6v is really important as I do have a pair of Amperex 8416 as well.
 
Mike said:
Great summary. Brent Jesse tubes for me, as of late, have been very suspect and don’t measure anywhere near the reported values.
Click to expand...
Sadly, I 100% agree. Seems like he's trying to stretch out the very THIN supply of what's left out there. Transconductance can be very weak, clearly below "NOS" standards.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top