I agree with previous posts and most of all enjoy this great phono preamp. I use my h3000 with a transfiguration proteus which has an output of .2mv, currently loading at around 278 ohms. I have no issues at any setting though.
Also, tube rolling the rectifier, have only rolled one a Mullard z34 black base and gained significant sonic improvements, who would have thunk it! Have fun,
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There is a WWII era military RCA, I think that a lot of folks like and it isn’t crazy money. I’ll see if I can find it for you and post here. I have used old Mullard fat base 1st series, which was OK, not as good as metal base Mullard which is now very expensive too. I do think that Dubstep Girl write up is pretty informative, not that i’d go throw hundreds of dollars at an unknown tube, but at least you have an interesting list of things to consider. More later....
OK, it is a WW2 Double Bottom getter RCA JAN CRC 5R4GY. If you look up Allnic, rectifiers and Rockitman (who does post here occasionally), he thinks these are the next best alternative to the WE, which are tres expensive. The RCA is not stupid money and is probably worth a try. I gather that the WWII era ones are better than the later ones, but take a look at some of the anecdotals. It may also be covered in the Dubstep list too.
good luck and good listening- enjoy your phono stage! |
Never mind,
After reading the link @whart provided, it is worth to try.
I will order it in the next few months and then report back the results.
Thanks
Calvin
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Oops,
gec u52 is 429.99/tube.
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Thanks,
I will look at those tubes.
Calvin |
Indeed, we ran with the Steelheads for a few years. Then you helped hook me onto the Allnic maybe 4 years ago. A whole 'nother fish and one that I've never wanted to throw back. So thanks again! Always good to read your helpful posts.
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Yep, @wrm57 have done the same things- I think we both had Steelheads, no? Nice to see you, wrm! |
I’m whart’s evil twin and I use the GEC, too. My second fav is Brimar 5R4GY, then probably Amperex Holland Bugleboy 5AR4.
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Calvin- I've never used a Hytron- some look like Sylvania post WWII, others appear to be like Tung-Sol. I'll have to read up. In the meantime, here's a fun piece about the rectifier compiled by someone known as DubStep Girl who listened to a lot of them. I've had several. Right now, using a GEC U52. Her impressions matched mine to the extent I've tried some of the ones she mentioned. |
Thank you all of you who has replied, I really appreciate your amswer.
Now I know that it could be my life time phono stage.
@whart I have changed the rectifier tube to Hytron. It sounds good to me but do yoy have any others to recommend?
Thanks,
Calvin
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As a stopgap, I’m using an old Monster Alpha Genesis for the moment- an ancestor of the ZYX--at .2mv output which is pretty low. No issue on my H3000- I did adjust the loading so that it is a little over 100 ohms, compared to my usual Airtights, which load down closer to 70 ohms. A little less gain at that setting- by 2 db I think, but not a major issue. I’m planning on installing a Koetsu next. Should be no issue.
PS: within the range of settings, it is pretty easy to experiment on the Allnic with the twirl of a couple of knobs - mute your phono output temporarily when you change settings. You can easily select the best loading pretty fast, and keep experimenting as time goes on without much trouble.
PPS: did you roll the power supply rectifier on yours, Calvin? That seems to make a big difference in the performance of this unit and there are plenty of anecdotal reports on the web about various rectifier tubes that work. Most aren’t terribly expensive even for "NOS" compared to the price of vintage small tubes these days.
BTW, the importer in the States (if that's where you are) is the lovely Albert Porter, who is a gem and has lots of hands-on knowledge. |
The 40x SUT in the H3000 will run cartridges down to 0.1mV, provided they have a fairly low number for internal impedance, or DCR. I bought a Benz Ebony TR, tested at 0.14mV with 1-ohm DCR, specifically to take advantage of the Allnic’s design. It is a terrific match. On paper, the same output would work well with a DCR up to around 10. Greater, and you’d probably want to use a separate 30x SUT into the MM inputs.
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Not many here have extensive experience with the H3000, evidently.
why not ask the US distributor?
Are you using the low output version of the ZYX cartridge? If so those cartridges have about the same output as a platinum version Koetsu. So there should be no problem. Plus, it seems to me that I have read of others who use the low output ZYX cartridges with the H 3000 and are very satisfied. |
