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Aric Audio Super 2A3 owners - favorite tubes?

Hello all,

I've been enjoying my new set of Aric Audio amps (the Super 6SN7 linestage + Super 2A3 amp) and have been playing around with different tubes. I am curious what tubes anyone who owns either of these prefers.

I swapped from the stock 5U4GB to some NOS RCA 5U4Gs, but not sure if there's anything better out there that owners may prefer rectifier-wise. Asking Aric, he said GB or G works fine, but beyond that didn't offer any other alternatives as far as compatible tube options.

For my 2A3 tubes, I have a set of NOS Svetlana SV-2A3 (2C4C) and EML 2a3-S Meshplates and prefer the EMLs. The Svetlanas sound nice - they are a little more 'warm' sounding to me - but they lack the detail and wide holographic soundstage that the EMLs produce.

For the 6SN7 tubes on both the pre-amp and the amplifier (3 total), I've tried Sylvania JAN 6SN7GT VT-231 2 Hole Bad Boy, Black Plates an d NOS RCA JAN 5692 6SN7 (red base) tubes and prefer the Sylvania's by a mile. Swapping from the Sylvanias to the RCAs, bass thinned out quite a bit. Detail was great, and mid/highs were nice, but the Sylvanias are overall much nicer.

What have you tried and liked / tried and kept?

mmcgill829

Showing 2 responses by theflattire

theflattire
230 posts
 

I also just got not a Super 2A3 but a custom 2A3/45 amp from Aric.

Running EMLs.

I just got a pair of Linlai 2A3-D tubes and they sound pretty good. Nice bass without being bloated, and good highs. Compared to the EML, maybe smaller soundstage and less space/air. Comparing them to RCA black plates later today.

I’m running a 5961 RCA(I felt that it tamed the bass some) and a Northern Electric 6SN7. Aric said the 6SN7 wil have less impact than the 6SL7, about a 80/20 split (he said that circuit wise the 6SN7 should have no impact, but he found that it does). Based on that I passed on the RAY. Looking for a Linlai 6SL7-E, but I think it sounds like they are re-designing it so it’s not available (according to one site).

I ordered my amp sans tubes and I trust Aric’s ear so I’m kinda wondering what those black glass Linlais sound like.

theflattire
230 posts
 

I read somewhere else about 6F8Gs and put them in for the 6SN7.

Bass got tighter; I like it.

The 6F8G is an older 6SN7 and you're going to need an adapter.

About to replace the 5961 with a 6SU7.

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