6H30 replacement

@stereo5 I checked with them.

Since I am stuck with 6H30s, I will have to look at different 6H30s than the Sovteks.

@dekay  I have the Telefunken ECC803S-diamond mark-gold-pins, which are magic, I just checked and I have over 40! not 20 as I thought. My father was a tube madman so the Heritage will get a pair of them in the input sockets.

The thing I want is to get the Sovtek replaced for something that sounds better and it appears to be that I can either get the DRs, for which I have yet to find a reputable dealer, of go with Upscale

the question would be are the Electro-Harmonix 6H30Pi Gold Pin superior to the sovtek? I know they are from the same factory

@jjss49 I got 2 different answers. One that I could replace them with the 6DJ8, 6922 or 7308, and another answer that I could not.

I "know" enough to know that the 6H30s have a big tolerance for plate voltage, and that if the amp is fully energizing the plates the 6DJ8, 6922 or 7308 will last about a blink of an eye. 

I had a BAT, and really it but there was something that I could not identify that "bothered" me, and I talked to Victor(?) the owner and he said that he was not fully energizing the plates and although I would sacrifice lifespan, I could try a couple different tubes. I tried them and I loved the amp, until I replaced the amp with a couple of nhb-458.

I really like the Heritage, but I want to try to soften(?) a little the edges. The Telefunken ECC803S-diamond mark-gold-pins, I have about 24 of them that I inherited from my father 😁, did marvels to the Heritage.

Now it is clear to me from the discussions here, that I should stay with the 6H30s or maybe 6N6P. 

@tsushima1 do you have a reliable tube source? I would love to try  the Reflector Corp 6h30 DR.

thank you

@tomic601 Hello Jim! I reached out to Brent, hopefully he has some. If not I will get them from Upscale.

How are things there?!

@jjss49 the tubes are for my Heritage in the USA home. I called Andy and he only deals with Western and USA tubes and will call Brent and Jim.

I am Basque/German and live in a neighborhood from Barcelona. 

@tomic601 I am jealous, last week I was in Sunnyvale (?) CA visiting my team and it was glorious! 

The Vintage Tube Services website has a great picture of how tubes matcha section on a symphony house! My dealer here in Barcelona has a similar one for the Berlin house and Vienna and it is so much fun to play with the different tubes. 

@nmolnar I have a lot of Western tube amps in my home in Spain; the Heritage, which I like a lot, especially for the cost, is in the USA and do not plan to change it. Just trying to bring it closer to what I like.

@tomic601 I like my seats in the middle center, maybe a touch forward than back, I like to feel the music and look at the musicians expressions. 

I will look at the 12AX7s, after this roll to my Telefunken 803s  and Electro-Harmonix 6H30Pi Gold Pin ARC from Upscale.

When I get back to the USA to receive my TT, I will have the Telefunken and EH 6H30s with me.

I also talked to Andy, Brent and Jesse and since I have the Telefunken the common tubes they recommended are:

Mazda France SILVERPLATE TRIPLE MICA.

12AX7 Mullard LONGPLATE, Square getter, 1950s.

12AX7 Amperex Bugleboy type, long narrow plates, foil-strip D-getter, 1950s codes.

12AX7A / CV4035 / F6057 RARE Brimar box plate military type.

I have a few amps/preamps I could use these so it will be fun.

As for the DR, I am in touch with a French dealer and he has some so I will probably get one pair and see if I like them, he will put on hold another for 30 days so I can a pair for replacement. 

If you have a specific  12AX7 you love, I would love to hear.

Hello @jjss49 some here suggested to also change the other tubes in the Heritage, and I will try different tubes there.

I have some EH gold pins and DR coming.

This weekend match a few Telefunken that my dad bought many many years ago, and I am shipping them to USA so a colleague can swap the ones that came with the amp and power on the Heritage for a week or so to bring to life the tubes.

@mulveling I went to Kevin's site and did not see a video where he talks about 6H30s. Would you kindly share the link?

Thank you!

@tsushima1 he sold them to someone else although we had agreed.

maybe it is for best, something else will show up.

Pathos will not give me any technical information, beyond saying that the amp is designed for the 6H30. 

6n6p specs look similar to the uneducated eye. 

@mulveling What do you think about 6n6p as a direct replacement for the 6H30? 

I have been reading in the ARC forums that some use them and like the dynamics and not as in your face. 

Victor Khomenko (BAT), commented in a forum they are not exactly and might not last long so to buy a lot of them.... :) 

Any thoughts?

@pesky_wabbit  I am trying :) with Pathos. Hopefully they will give  them up.

@pesky_wabbit  the adapter route would not work because the very tight space in the tube sockets. the tubes are 3/4 of the way down the chassis. The last thing I want is to start replacing sockets in the amp...😶

@dekay I will give it a try to the 12ax7.

thank you for the advice 

Wasn't in 1999 when the factory got bought/reopened?