Tube favorites for Modwright LS100?
IF anyone is still reading this old thread (there are still some of us who are still buying the LS100) I would recommend a NOS pair of CBS Hytrons. These are unsung heroes of the 6SN7 world and coupled with a good 5AR4 rectifier that is NOS, or in my case, a Brimar 5V4, and things really do come alive. I also have a set of Brimar CV1988 tubes (6SN7) which are simply phenomenal with the Brimar rectifier. When these are all paired up, the LS100 sounds like a $10K - $15K preamp. While NOS tubes are not inexpensive in some cases they sure can bring out the best in some equipment. It is not the NOS tubes' fault that there are so many people out there who try to gouge you for every last dime out of your pocket and hence, spoil it for some who really could experience some wonders out of their LS100.. |
Just put a new set of GE 6sn7GTB tubes in a few days ago. It only took about 30 hours for them to start sounding nice. Initially they sounded thin with no bottom end. They are balanced with good upper end extension and solid bass. Nice tubes for $45. My LS-100 had a set of Sophia's in it, but they were terribly noisy. Seller said they were good, but somehow before they arrived they got very noisy, one a lot more than the other. Seller packaged them separately and wrapped well. I'll probably try another set in the future after many people said they're excellent tubes. I just missed the UPS man today who was bringing my set of Shuguang Black Treasures. Will have to wait until Monday for them now. :( |
Stock: Tungsol, Shaugang. Yes, Dan did say 200-400 hrs. This unit is not new but a "demo". I have a feeling it was sitting for a while. I only have about 70-90 hrs on it. I guess I thought that since it was used previously it would only take a light break in. OK so I'll have to just get through another 300 hrs or so. |
I've had my LS100 for about 18 months now. It does require 400-500 hours to fully break-in. I would really recommend that you swap out the rectifier and the 6SN7 tubes. I have tried MANY different tubes and found the Shuguang Black Treasure CV181 and the Mullard 5AR4 to be the best FOR ME. The Sophia Electric 6SN7 tubes are really nice also. So, between full break-in and new tubes, I'm pretty sure the LS100 will be what you are looking for. Of course, I'm biased because I LOVE mine!!!! There are several threads here on Audiogon and on Audio Circle that talk about tube rolling in this unit. |
I purchased the LS100 w/o the ability to audition and went right to using a NOS rectifier and the Black Treasure cv181 based upon prior experience with the latter's KT88s and am very pleased - that said the amp needs about 450 hours or so of break and to my ears continually improved over that period |
I am auditioning a LS100 with stock tubes. I find the top end a little hot, bright, slightly harsh. My reaction may be due to my age and too much rock and roll in my youth, my hearing is down quite a bit at 10,000 hz and higher. Do you think upgraded tubes for the LS100 will tame the top end or just add bass and expand the sound stage. Thanks |
I have about 100 hours on the LS100 which I understand requires at least 400 hours of break-in to reach their intended sound. Have liked the sound of the NOS Tungsol and Sylvania as they and the amp have been working themselves in, but decided to go ahead and pick up a pair of the Black Treasure CV181s. Will say that with only about an hour on these tubes they already offer more top to bottom detail than the Tungsol's. Will look forward to trying the Sophia's at some point. |
I must add an addendum to my LS100 tube review above. After spending a good deal of time with the Black Treasures I decided to try the Sophia 6SN7's as suggested by Dan Wright on the Modwright website. I must concur with him (and others), that the Sophia tubes are absolutely wonderful in all respects, bettering even the very good Black Treasures. I must (somewhat sheepishly) now recommend that you try them in any piece of equipment that calls for the 6SN7 tube. They really are quite special, and reasonably priced to boot. Happy listening! |
I have received a pair of Shugang Black Treasures and put them in the LS100. Below is the email I just sent to Dan Wright and Grant Fidelity... I received the Shuguang CV181-Z (6SN7) Treasures and a NOS 5AR4 and burned them in for a few hours yesterday. Even though the LS100 and the tubes have only a few hours on them, I was quite unprepared for the sounds I heard during my first listening session. For the first time in my audio life my speakers literally disappeared, and the imaging filling my room was almost palpable...very 3-D indeed, to the point of being almost scary-real. I sat in wonderment; left wanting for nothing with the music being produced with such crystal clarity and startling precision from top to bottom. I can only anticipate what further improvements may happen as both the preamp and tubes continue to settle in together. To be brief, my searching for the next best preamp is over, as is my searching for the next best tubes to put in that preamp. This combination has taken my humble audio system from good to "wow"! Thank you Dan for designing such a wonderful preamp at such a fair price, and thanks also to Shuguang for producing a pair of tubes that have taken that preamp way over the top in audio quality. Job well done! |
I preferred the Black Treasure tube in my MWTP over the very dear NOS TungSol round plates. I also prefer the Black Treasure in a headphone amp I'm testing out right now, compared to the same TSR. Go figure. I did not like the Black Treasure tubes right out of the gate though. I think you'll find there are bargains to be had from those who don't give them enough time to burn in and just sell them out of frustration. I have not tried any of these tubes on the LS100 you own though so take this input with that caveat. |
Thanks friends for your thoughts. I must admit a certain fascination for the Black Treasure tubes, even though they are obviously a bit dear in the British sense of the term. I should perhaps not be so brash as to completely discount the reported superb sound quality of the best available vintage tubes, but is the often very high cost of admission really worth it? |
For the 6SN7 I'd give the Shuguang CV181 Black Treasure tube a shot. These take a bit of break in time and in my experience will fluctuate widely in performance in the first few hundred hours, but the stable performance after that will be worth the patience. I do not have experience in that preamp though. You might be able to find a used low-hours pair for $150 or so. There are some NOS Russian variants that are quite good too, but their prices seem to be going up dramatically lately...I think the pair I have that I really liked is a metal-base 6H8C with round-hole plates. The plastic base version of the same tube is also pretty good and cheaper. As far as the rectifier tube, a sleeper tube in that family is the GE copperplate. You might also try a 5U4G, like an NOS Tung Sol in there as I think you can use that tube family as well. |
You could also try some Sylvania 6sn7 "Bad Boys" or some of the early 1950's Russian (Sovtek) 6sn7 with the metal base. I agree that the new production Tung-Sol's are very nice. Also check here for more info: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=14.0 |
