6H30 replacement

Personally I think the 6h30 is a fantastic tube. In the ARC Reference 6, they sound neither exactly like traditional tubes nor solid-state, but actually sound more "right" than either (including excellent tubes like 6SN7 and 6922). Rogue Audio’s old top 6h30 preamps, Athena and Hera, have some similar sonic qualities to the Ref 6, just not as good overall. If I heard a 6h30 based component that didn’t sound excellent, my inclination would be that the stuff around the tubes is at fault. But perhaps I am just so positively biased towards this tube. I think it’s great!

I don’t have experience with the DR version, but have used sets of both the modern Sovtek and EH gold pins over the years - they’re extremely close in sound, and like Kevin of Upscale advises, "don’t stress over the difference". If you don’t like your gear with one version, you probably won’t like it with the other. If I have to order a replacement set tomorrow, it's literally 50/50 which I'll choose. 

When a relay switches and agitates a 6h30 it makes a "ping-tassshhhhhhhhh" sound like no other tube, that feels like audiophile home to me 😂

@astolfor 

The Mazda silver plates are absolutely amazing, and the best 12ax7 I've ever heard as long as you're not depending on this 12ax7 to be a source of warmth. 

@astolfor

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

It’s not from a video. It’s Kevin’s written description under his sales page for Sovtek 6H30 tubes:

There are two types of 6H30 tubes currently being produced. The Sovtek brand which have the chrome pins (listed here), and the Electro Harmonix Gold pin. They are the same tube from the same factory. Don’t get your panties in a bunch over which is better, as the gold plating is laid over the chrome plating. They are both terrific. What is most important is how they test

I’ve been buying 6H30 tubes from Upscale for years, both kinds, and that description has been up for a while. If anything the gold pins make the sound slightly warmer by a fraction of a percent, but it’s really splitting hairs. So, Kevin is right-on on this one.

i am lost all of a sudden

op was asking for 6h30 equivalents for a pathos unit

how come we are talking about 12ax7’s now?

It looks like OP also has an input slot that uses 12ax7. I don’t know if it’s in the same Pathos unit or elsewhere. I really like that mix - 6H30 for clean line stage (or driver) slots, and 12ax7 for MM phono stage gain. That affords both lots of rolling opportunities and some classic tube sound via 12ax7, while imparting some of the great clarity & linearity of the 6H30. 12ax7 can also be a great input tube, but it can impart a LOT of gain.

The Mazda silver plate 12ax7 indeed has a bit of extra "zing" on top, but it’s not analytical nor sterile like a lot of tubes with a hot top end. It has a beautiful, liquid midrange and incredible bass. Gobs of detail and dynamics. Clarity for days (maybe so the French could call in their surrender loud and clear? 😂). But you DO need to avoid the 5751 variant of this tube - that’s just outright BRIGHT! Ugh, I got suckered into buying that one.

@tomic601

@mulveling or the Mule as i have taken to calling him has a LOT of tube knowlege…in addition to others this very informative and civil thread - thanks to all…tuberolling is like winetasting…..

Jim

😂
If necessary I could live for a good while just by selling off extra gear, but it would be like cutting off a piece of flesh each time. Inevitably I’ll decide I NEED something right after I just sold it.

And tuberolling is very much like winetasting! Sometimes I find that I’m just looking for a change. A tuberoll can easily impart that, but its positive effect might not last more than a few days before wanting A DIFFERENT change. That can be fun at first but it gets old. If you don’t find yourself settling down on a tube set, it’s probably best to re-examine the bigger component matches and setup.

Mike