gs5556, how do I check heater voltages ?
oddiofyl, I could have a second system too with my old SS amp but I just wouldn't listen to it !
Those new EL34 Mullards, are they new reissues or vintage ?
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I wouldn't replace expensive and hard to get tubes unless they do something audibly/visibly wrong. But if you use new productions tubes, yeah, why not ?
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And fewer on/off cycles, I suppose ?
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Oh no, I never leave it on when I am not in the house, or overnight, for that matter.
Though my VAC has some circuit that shuts it down if power tube runs away.
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Yes, bias is adjusted individually for each tube, and I follow the manual. There is no range stated, there is a black dot you aligned the needle with, that's all.
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Lower voltage..
I use PS Audio regenerator that outputs 120V constantly, if you believe it.
But I noticed that, yes, input voltage is sometimes above that but never 125V.
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It would certainly be interesting to try vintage Amperex EL34 but I am currently on the hunt for Mullards XF2 and getting close to them. XF1 would be much more expensive and even more difficult to find. Then there are first generation Mullard EL34 with metal base that some people consider the best. Well, probably impossible to find a matched quad or at least pairs in excellent condition, so I'll just forget about it. Unless I get very lucky.
Yeah, probably "inferior" was a wrong word not always accurately reflecting the difference.
Of course, SED Svetlana Winged are a copy of Mullard, sound signature should be similar.
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When I bought the Avatar I talked to Kevin about tubes. He recommended selected Chinese 12AX7 for the preamp and phono that he had, Brimar or Sylvanis 12AU7 vintage for driver and, yes, Mullard or Gold Lion vintage for power tubes. But I didn't want to go with any Chinese, I didn't like Brimar 12AX7 in the phono and thought that 12AU7 would not be too different, and Sylvania is thought to be bright by some. So, I disregarded his advice and went with 12AX7 Mullard long plates and 12AU7 RCA blackplates, and I am quite happy with the result. But for power tubes, yeah, Mullards are going to be installed soon enough.
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Alright, I will join you in the abandoning the ritual of using white gloves while handling tubes. And the grip is indeed worse than bare hands.
Having extra set of all needed tubes is of course always a good idea, well, some tubes are really expensive and hard to find, at least from reputable sources.
I am not going to use any new reissues, only interested in vintage tubes. I see no reason to just waist money on inferior sounding and less reliable tubes. But if you need 20 power tubes, yeah, you just might be forced into that. I only need a quad.
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I see. Before 60s Sylvania were good, I’ll keep it in mind, thank you. Kevin didn’t specify, by the way, he just said Sylvania and Brimar. Brimar lacks Mullard’s sophistication and has a recessed midrange, both are no-no to me.
No, I’ll get XF2, believe you me. I made a mistake after I bought the amp by getting SEDs instead of seeking out Mullards. I’ll correct this mistake. I should’ve listened to Kevin about that and had more patience.
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Right. I wouldn't like to end up with too many tubes.
Yeah, people chase vintage tubes usually for a good reason.
XF3/XF4 as a spare set..that's not a bad idea at all.
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So you choose particular amps for longest tube life. That's interesting approach, not always works, though.
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mulveling,
Could you suggest particular Amperex EL34 that I might want to try later ?
Perhaps, I should also try Sylvania 12AU7 black plates from 50s as well. What difference would they make compared to RCA black plates from 50s, I wonder ?
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Ralph, thank you.
It appears that I do everything right. There is no standby switch. Voltage is regulated by the regenerator, I hope it is. Ventilation is excellent from all sides. The amp seemingly drives the speakers with ease, no stress that I can perceive. The tubes are clean, no fingerprints. I might try to lower the bias a little and see what I hear.
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Found them ! Matched quad of Mullards EL34 XF2 is coming this way. It's a little risky because they are not new and the exact number of hours on them is unknown, though supposed to be low enough. Test as strong NOS, as the seller with excellent feedback says. It's always a gamble with tubes to a degree, I feel fine about it.
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Jerry, you are right.
Anyway, the best way forward is to have more spare tubes !
mulveling, I think I am done with audiophile expenses for this year, But..let me see..maybe I can cut the expenses somewhere else. This is a disaster.
I saw those Sylvania on ebay but I will wait - currently installed RCA black plates from early 50s work very well, no complaints.
Now that I am going to have better Mullards, I suppose I will not accept anything less in the future. It is either XF2 or XF1 Mullard or perhaps Amperex Holland.
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It is VAC Avatar SE integrated.
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In other words, I can set the bias as low as I want to until the point when I hear the deterioration of the sound quality. Setting bias by the ear not by manufacturer's recommendation.
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Put the Mullards XF2 in. Great tubes, probably need a little of burn in time. So much better than SEDs. Hold the bias perfectly. Should’ve bought them when I bought the amp. Noble, balanced sound.
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I'd say, in the case of my VAC it is 10 minutes of warm up minimum, I usually do a little more than that for critical listening. And VAC's manual says the same - 10 minutes before tubes warm up fully, especially if you want to check the bias before you go.
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Bill, I hear you. How about Montpelier, France or Tuscany, Italy ?
You could try PS Audio's biggest regenerator, I guess. Who else makes this stuff ?
Then there is a German company that makes some very expensive batteries to use with audio equipment, forgot the name.
There is also Accuphase but it's not a regenerator, I think.
How would you Lamm amps react to all that, I wonder ?
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Bill, there was a lot of electrical work done in your house and still the current is not good enough, especially, as I understand, in summer.
Batteries can limit the dynamics, I guess, but maybe some companies overcame this, I have no idea.
I use old PS Audio regenerator in my system, everything is plugged in it. By comparison, without it the system is unlistenable, and this is not exaggeration. The dynamics too is much better.
I think, wall current is the biggest problem in audiophile world. And increasingly so.
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Good tube equipment will last for decades with only occasional tube replacements. The only problem, two problems in fact, NOS tubes will be getting more expensive and more difficult to find. But some transistor equipment is also very reliable, think Gryphon and Accuphase, as an example. If not tubes - that's what I would have.
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Of course, not, just replace tubes as needed.
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You just align the needle with a black dot, no red/green lights.
These Mullards are not excessively warm, though of course on the warm side. Just as my entire system is, including the speakers. So the match appears to be perfect.
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safebelayer, I think you can only use el34/6ca7 power tubes.
The system sounds underpowered in triode mode with my speakers, and I hear nothing positive, anyway.
Yes, it's 60 watts in Ultralinear and I think 37 watts in triode.
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marco1, thank you.
Yes, so now I have 12AX7 Mullard long plates in the preamp, 12AU7 RCA black plates in the driver and Mullard EL34 XF2 power tubes. This is done. Now I will have to think/experiment what to put in the phono stage, since I don't care much for the Brimars that are currently there.
The price was reasonable. A little more than new SED tubes cost.
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Next year maybe, I spent enough already. I would be cautious to take the sound in warmer direction compared to how it is now, that would also probably be the case if I replaced the RCA black plates with Mullards for the driver.
Yes, we discussed it before. You and mulveling helped me choose 12AU7 tubes.
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Yes, not inexpensive. I made approximate calculations. Unless prices for NOS or near NOS tubes go much higher I will need about $40/$50 per month on tubes. This is no problem. But I need only four power tubes. Excellent NOS 12au7 tubes from a reputable source or ebay can be had for about $50 each. 12 AX7 are often two/three times more expensive. Well, the NOS 12AX7 long plate Mullards that I have in preamp were $450 for a matched pair. But they should last for a very long time, so no worries.
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Now I wonder how Mullard XF1 and the earliest ones with metal base would sound in my amp..
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