@fsonicsmith
The M-Steelhead eh. Now there’s a Manley mans piece of gear there my friend.. Tell me how much you like it. |
@terry9
Interesting comments since I work for HP. Been there since 1996 😀. Yeah Bill and Dave did it right in regards to everything in those days. Can’t argue that. However if you want to unload those tubes let me know. |
Oh by the way. Nevermindedon my question. Got the answer from ARC. |
Very interesting article. In my description I used the phrase “laid back” I like the phrase “ to relaxed” better. So Insert that in my opening statement. |
P.S.
curently looking at the Phillips SQ. About $100/tube. Not sure I want to invest that much having not have heard them but they sound like what I’m looking for based on the reviews I have read. I mean not very easy to just go audition tubes right. So recommendations would be appreciated.
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@rodman99999
oh nice. Might be just what the DR ordered. Thanks, and 10-4 on the noise factor.
Thanks |
Hi all. Thanks for the much appreciated recommendations. I decided to try the Phillips SQ platinum pins for the first roll. I really wanted to try the telefunkens but $550.00+/tube is a little out of my price point for this experiment. I have read really good things about the Phillips SQ so I’m very interested to see the difference they will make and how I like them. I may try the Siemens also as a comparison. Since I am going to try a couple different brands I can’t afford the price of the Tele’s and buy a couple more brands as well. Hard enough getting she who must be obeyed on board with this as it is. 😂. I will report back and let you know what I think about the Phillips as they will arrive first. |
@lowrider57
lol. It’s all good. I knew what you meant lol. |
@terry9
It’s funny I never even thought to see if I can find any of those tubes in a lab someplace. Been at the company for 25 years and into home Audio long before that and never even crossed my mind to see what’s available. Lol. Too funny. |
@mijostyn
Nice. The PH3 is a lovely phono stage. The ph7 uses the same circuit boards and ICs as that unit which was the main upgrade from the ph6. However still not the same machine. However it produces a lovely sound and I really like it.. I only wish it had variable gain. At 57db of gain I can’t use anything less than a 5mv output cartridge. Prob could do 4mv but that’s very limiting in regards to what’s out there. Outside of that I love the unit. Also I have not done the single power rectifier tube upgrade yet. ARC is only taking warranty repairs at the moment. Well check that they are doing upgrades but there is a wait list (I’m on it). So that will also help make things sound even better. |
Also these are being used in a phono stage and not a main pre so maybe there is a difference. |
I got them from upscale audio. I trust them. I think Kevin does a good job. Bought some other tubes from him. Buying tubes is risky if you don’t get them from a reliable source. I’m sure im preaching to then choir. |
@lowrider57
Actually I think that what came OEM in my ARC. I don’t push it that hard so I have never experienced the same think you have. I think it’s a good sounding tube tho. Just a little relaxed on the top, and midrange for me. |
@fsonicsmith
I do understand. Manley makes some of the best sounding gear in its price point and beyond. I had the pleasure of hearing a system with the Chinook phono pre and it was impressive. |
Will definitely inquire about it for sure. |
@tomic601
30 years. wow thats a long time to work period, and a blessing. Working for one company for 30 years is an achievement. You should be happy to be able to claim that. |
@lewm
"
This dialog could be superimposed on a discussion of fine wines, just by changing a few words. I think the effects of tube rolling are way overblown, although "real" in the eye of the beholder. In my opinion, a few judicious changes to a circuit or an upgrade in coupling capacitors, can make a far greater difference"
I suppose you are correct. However that's not something I can do myself, and every time I want to upgrade or roll again my gear has to go to the shop, wait for weeks to get it back, etc etc. With tubes I can make a change anytime I want. Now if I were an EE and could do that myself then maybe but for me its more about convivence plus its fun rolling tubes and experimenting. :) |
ratings as such:
2 tubes t1=1200 t2=10000
2 tubes t1=1200 t2=10500
so two sets of 2 perfectly matched
not to shabby at all |
@
mijostyn4
"
I think you meant 0.4 and 0.5 mV."
Yes you would be correct that is exactly what I meant. I actually thought about that last night as i lay in bed and meant to put out a correction. I realize that people read these forums for accurate info and I did intend to correct that statement but you beat me to it.
"
Where are you getting the Phillips from. Are they tested and graded?"
I by all my tube from upscale audio, and yes they are tested and matched. they provide the T rating on each tube.
These shipped yesterday. I think I am also going to give the siemens a try for comparison as well.
Thanks
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"What’s the problem with seeking the best obtainable reproduction, via EVERY available resource?"
Im taking that as a rhetorical question. Just in case it was a direct question I never said I did not agree with the statement. I am saying one step at a time. I would consider something like that out at some point now that its been brought up. Good point and I appreciate it very much. |
@rodman99999
Gotcha. No worries. I was just covering both bases. I did not take it the wrong way even if it was directed at me. Good conversation.
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@rodman99999
will do. Thanks. |
New tubes have arrived! WOW that was fast. I just ordered them on Wed. Anyway just in time for the weekend. |
So here is my question. Should I stagger these for example:
socket 1 (12000-10000)
socket 2 (12000=10500)
socket 3 (12000-10000)
socket 4 (12000-10500)
or sockets 1&2 (12000-10000)
sockets 3&4 (12000-105000)
oh and correction on the post above that should read 12000, not 1200.
not sure if it matters or not. |
I think that is the same tube as the Phillips SQ if Im not mistaken. Except for the fact that the Amprex NOS is make in Holland and the SQ is assembled in India. |
Wanted to report back on the new tubes.
To catch you up I bought a quad set of the Phillips SQ and I have now been listening to them for 5 days now and have prob put about 30 hours of actual listening time with at least 50 hours of the tubes running. They sounded great the first day but they are really starting to sing now. Extremely musical. They really made a huge difference on the top with with a very natural and pronounced midrange. Noting is over cooked across the entire frequency range. I have listened to everything from Miles to Zeppelin with zero fatigue. Each Day they seem to get better and better. Either that or I’m just getting used to them. Either way I’m extremely pleased with the SQ. The soundstage is wide and deep and I am hearing a bit more airiness on songs I’m most familiar with. I’m trying not to be very long winded here but I rally could go on and on. I have to say for sure these are an improvement over the Eleectro-Harmonix that came OEM with the phono pre. I’m anticipating that with another 50 hours of play they should be even better and I’m looking forward to that.
So thanks for all the recommendations guys. I may try a different set later. Maybe the Siemens A-Frames. I don’t see myself feeling groggy enough to spend the coin on the Telefinken CCa’s at $550/tube but you just never know lol. We will see. For now I’m planning on enjoying these for a while. Oh and by the way I still need to do the rectifier upgrade as soon as ARC calls me. I’m on the waiting list foe that which should also be a significant improvement.
Thanks again
Till next time |
Totally agree. I was not saying the “sq” designated where they were made. I was abbreviating the tube name in that post. Sorry for the confusion. The one poster recommended I go out and buy the “Amprex tube ASAP”. My point was that the Amprex 6922 and the Phillips SQ are the same tube of which I have already purchased.
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@petg60
according to Kevin Deal they are the same components and they sound the same just assembled in different factories. I trust Kevin. Not saying I disagree with you on anything you said. In regards to testing Upscale audio does test each tube before its released and they provide you with the conductance value for each Triode, and they test them for noise. These are very quiet at least to my ears, and they sound amazing. Also I have only dealt with Upscale for all my tubes and I trust them as stated so for me buying them from anyone else that I dont know is out of the question at least until my experience changes. Im sure that there are other places to buy from but I kinda tend to stick with the relationships I have already forged. |
@vusi_khumalo
Thanks. Yes you nailed it. Before I do anything else I will be doing the power tube upgrade. Obviously you know what that entails. For those who don’t ARC used 3 power tubes in the PH7 (prob other models as well). What they found out is that the 3 tubes wear unevenly which causes/could cause degradation in SQ. To resolve this they came up with an upgrade to replace the 3 tubes with a single rectifier tube that is supposed to A. Resolve that problem B improves SQ overall. So I’m really looking forward to that mod. I’m on a waiting list about 7 deep because ARC was only doing warranty work during covid but they are now taking in some upgrades and service work. It must be quite involved because they would not give me permission to have my local tube gear guy get the plans/schematics and the upgrade kit for this mod. So I’m waiting. It’s all good tho. Sometimes patience pays off. |
