I have a CJ CT-5 which uses the same tube. Prior to that I owned a CJ 17LS which used the 6922 tubes. Partly depends on what your after. Tube rolling offers many benefits (and frustrations too) but ultimately keep your focus on the preamp itself and not the tubes its uses. Trust your ears, if you like what your hearing you'll be fine. BTW, those BAT preamps are great. Well built with great support if you ever need it.
Good luck
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The 6H30 is considered one of the least "tube" sounding tubes. That is a generalization, of course, but many people don’t like preamps that use it for that reason. Other people seek out preamps that use it. They think that it provides some of the beneficial aspects of tubes (e.g. more 3D imaging) with less of what they consider tube colorations.
Audio Research also uses the 6H30 exclusively. I haven’t heard either company’s preamps but I think they probably sound different. You’re probably better off trying to figure out the house sound of different companies’ preamps and which might appeal to you. The best way to decide is to listen to different preamps, if you can, of course. I don’t get the opportunity to listen, so I’m like you. I try to figure out how they sound by what people write about them.
Also, I like to tube roll, so that keeps me away from the 6H30.
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The military grade (DR NOS) 6H30 is a truly great tube. These were manufactured pre Y2K (year 2000) and are scarce and very expensive ($200 - $300 each). That said, the quality of current production is mediocre (sound and durability). There is a large market for high-quality 6H30s and I've mentioned this to the new Western Electric tube factory in Georgia (U.S.A.) (no reply).
The basic design of the 6H30 is ideal for audio. |
The basic design of the 6H30 is ideal for audio. The main issue with tubes like this (frame grid triodes; includes the 6DJ8) is microphonics, as they were not intended for audio. Linearity is good though. |
Microphonics is the vibration of the tube’s glass, which introduces itself into the signal?
is that the purpose of the damper rings I see around some tubes? You’re saying it’s more of an issue on 6H30’s more than other tubes?
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I've been using the 6H30, in pre-amps, amps and integrated amps for 20 years. never noticed any microphonic anomalies (used with and without tube dampers). |
I had a BAT that used 6H30’s and of all the pre amps Ive listened to I liked its sound the least. Give me a 6922 any day, having said that I also like the 5687 thats used in early Modwright preamps and Manley labs Jumbo Shrimp.
Matt
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thanks for the input, keep it coming. I’m seeing so far that it’s like any other tube in that some like the sound some don’t. Tube rollers would inherently stay away, because they can’t change the sound. I don’t plan to roll tubes, although I once said I wouldn’t get into tubes at all, now I’m very interested in trying them, so...
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I have used 6922/6dj8 and variants with many older ARC preamps and never noticed microphonics. They were the “golden era’ of ARC Sonics IMO.
I buy from good sources on the internet.
I much prefer the large spectrum of tonal balance over 6h30 which sound very cold to me. You can tailor the sound to your own tube tastes very easy.
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My first real tube preamp that I bought to pare with my Mac MC40 monoblocks was a Audio Research LS15 with 6922 tubes. I was really hoping to get some tube warmth from it as the MC40's don't have a lot. I tried rolling tubes and I got it a little better but never to my satisfaction.
I didn't want to stray from Audio Research because at least the LS15 showed me what there build quality was about and I really liked it.So I did a lot of research and knew that either a SP6 or an SP8 should fit me just fine as it uses 12AX7 tubes. After a few months of shopping around on all the usual sites I found a super clean and serviced SP8MkII just under 2 hours from me.
It adds just the right amount of warmth without going overboard and has great synergy with my Mac tube amps and Altec speakers.
During my research I had discovered that Audio Research had shifted the house sound when they switched to the 6922 tubes and Jfets. It had become more dry and clinical, very good at bringing out the most tiny details but not as much to my liking.
Not having heard the 6H30 tube based preamps they build I will reserve comment on them. Well, I have heard one, but it wasn't in my system unfortunately and the system is very different from mine.
BillWojo
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Microphonics is the vibration of the tube’s glass, which introduces itself into the signal?
is that the purpose of the damper rings I see around some tubes? You’re saying it’s more of an issue on 6H30’s more than other tubes? Microphonics has more to do with how the internal structure deals with vibration. It does come through the glass, but damping the glass does little if the tube is microphonic. If you’ve been buying tubes from a manufacturer like ARC, the tubes are already hand-picked for low microphonics, which relates directly to their cost. I’m seeing this from a production point of view; when we buy 100 tubes at a time, its nice if you can use most of them. Some tubes (like the 6H30) simply have a higher rejection rate on account of microphonics. |
To the OP an ARC in decent shape fairly priced is going to be very flippable for little to no loss if you don’t like it. I would strongly suggest good tubes from reputable sources - try RAM tubes for really tight grading |
