I’ve been considering an Orchid, and I just noticed on the LTA website that the WE396A upgrade is unavailable, but they are offering an Ericsson 5670 for the same price. With all the hoopla about using 6922 or 6SN7 converters, I’m wondering if I’m better off skipping the small tubes altogether and going straight to bigger tubes. I see the 6SN7 requires a case mod and the tube sticks up quite a bit. Does the 6922 require a mod as well?
MHDT Orchid TUBE ROLLING
Interested in hearing about tube rolling experiences with the Orchid and other MHDT dacs, namely, the specific comparative sonic characteristics of the various 396a, 5670 and other compatible tubes used in the output buffer. My only experience is with the WE396a that Linear Tube Audio installed in my new Orchid.
Showing 4 responses by cat_doorman
I have some Russian 6922 equivalent tubes leftover from a tube output CD player I had years ago. I'll need to try to identify them before I try any, but I seem to remember them being 6N1P or 6H30. Anyone try one of those? I think think they are only loosely compatible (heater current?) and I'd rather not let the magic smoke out of any components. Orchid ordered. Going to try the stock tube first (weird, right?) Probably get the 6922 adapter if I can positively identify the tubes I have floating around. Are there any 5670 or 6922 new production tubes worth a look? I have notoriously bad luck with NOS tubes. |
Just wanted to say thanks for the helpful info. I left the stock tube powered on for a few days, but I never really warmed up to it. I’m not sure exactly what was missing, maybe just a bit thin. But a handy (and well made) adapter with an NOS Amperex 6DJ8 fixed whatever it was. Together it still cost less than the tube upgrade LTA was offering. (And it looks like they raised their base prices right after I ordered.) My other DAC is a Chord Qutest and I expected with 2 very different approaches, I would have a clear favorite. So far that just isn’t the case. I might need to devote several hundred hours of careful listening to fully investigate. Sure would be handy if someone else could just figure out my preferences for me so I can just listen to music instead. |
just because it fits in the socket doesn’t mean it will work. The pins need to be attached to the correct parts of the dual triode. Here’s a link to a post I did on headfi with a pin layout https://www.head-fi.org/threads/schiit-vali-3-impressions-thread.972014/post-18177283 |