Bottlehead Forum
Bottlehead Kits => Moreplay => Topic started by: acrockett55 on April 19, 2021, 03:10:54 PM
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Will any 6v6 tube work with the moreplay? Mine sounds a little thin and I am hoping some tube rolling will fix that. Has anyone had any success with any specific tube?
On a side note, does anyone know the make of the 6V6 tubes that came with the kit?
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I posted in this thread, in January.
https://forum.bottlehead.com/index.php?topic=12949.0
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We are currently shipping kits with Chinese 6V6s. If I remember correctly the earliest kits shipped with Russian 6V6s.
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Greetings - I'm a first-time "tube-roller", to set the context. Last week, I plugged in a pair Electro-Harmonix 6V6 tubes. Although I expected to wait a week or two to hear whether or not there would be an audible difference, I noticed an immediate change. The bass articulation improved, and the "shaping" of the notes by the musicians was conveyed more clearly. Midrange and upper midrange notes were fuller and better-defined. Upper frequency notes, such as cymbal crashes, were cleaner. Over the past week, the sound has continued to improve.
The tubes were obtained from an online retailer in Canada (I won't mention the name, as I'm not sure whether that is OK on the forum). For a few dollars extra, the tubes can be ordered as a matched pair. They arrived pretty quickly (about 8-10 days), in perfect condition. I had also ordered a pair of JJ E88CC tubes (equivalent to the 6922tubes included with the Reduction kit), and will switch the tubes in the phono preamp once the EH tubes seem to have burned in.
BTW, this is no knock on the tubes shipped with the Moreplay kit. I appreciate that Bottlehead makes the kits available as affordably as possible. From what I have read on the forum and website, it's expected that we will experiment and play. The fun has just begun!
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Oh yes, the system is an old Linn LP12 that I've rehabbed, Ittok arm and Sumiko Pearl cartridge, Reduction phono preamp, MOreplay, a Hafler DH220 amp that I built in 1985, and Epos ELPS 8 speakers.
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You might want to try something like this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/174803006316?hash=item28b312336c:g:y2IAAOSwDsxgtil3 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/174803006316?hash=item28b312336c:g:y2IAAOSwDsxgtil3)
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And this, boys and girls, is why I stick to Bottlehead. They are not just a parts supplier. My 2 cents.
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You might want to try something like this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/174803006316?hash=item28b312336c:g:y2IAAOSwDsxgtil3 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/174803006316?hash=item28b312336c:g:y2IAAOSwDsxgtil3)
Paul, what do you think of the 6V6 shoulder tube design for the Moreplay? I know it is more expensive, but is it a good option?
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I use CV509s in one of my Moreplays, which are G shaped tubes. They are quite a bit more expensive, but they are very handsome.
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I have probably 20-30 mostly used 6V6 "old school" tubes, including metal and GT varieties. Current faves are Ken-Rad 1940s pairs, GE (who acquired Ken-Rad in 1945) and CBS labeled ones, some of which have the GE etchings in the glass. Most are gray-coated, some are clear. They all sound superb! Shop around on the usual sites, plenty can be had for $25-30 per pair. If you are testing 6V6 tubes on your tube tester, be aware that some testers (B&K with Jet-test sockets, in particular) will test them as weak. Try them anyway...one of the advantages of the Moreplay is that it doesn't stress 6V6 as much as a guitar amp, and tested gain differences per pair isn't particularly critical, in my experience anyway. Have fun, and enjoy the music!
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OldTriode,
first of all I like your name. I imagine it is quite descriptive! ;D
I appreciate the good info on testing of 6V6 tubes and the fact that the Moreplay doesn't work them that hard.
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Hi Tubegopher,
I chose oldtriode because I couldn't get the forum to recognize my originally registered user name, I suppose it was too old (from the early days of Bottlehead forum)...but I do identify with the simplicity of the triode, especially in single-ended designs. The Moreplay is a unique amp, and I really enjoy how it works driving a "power" amp. Doc, and PB and PJ, hit a home run with this one! I also like rolling tubes through it; when you get to hear the subtle differences between tubes, you know you're dealing with an amp whose design is letting it all come through.
Have you found some tubes you find to be exemplary, for the sound in your setup?
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Hi Old Triode, I have the BeePre with some mods made by Paul B. and it is fantastic. My son built the Moreplay on my recommendation. I am planning on taking my son over with his Moreplay to meet Paul and let him take a look at it soon, but Paul and his wife just had a baby girl recently so I thought I would give him some space.
So far, my son Mike is really enjoying the Moreplay. He replaced a Dynaco PAS that I had given him a few years ago. It was a significant improvement.
Regards,
Tubegopher
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Lately I've been using a pair of 6K6-GT tubes in my Moreplay. They seem happy in the circuit. Sound is slightly different, a little more top end maybe, more detail in the upper-mid ranges; hard to quantify it really. Makes vocals really stand out. Plus they are easy to find, and not expensive. These have 400ma heater current, so that's still ok I believe; voltage is measuring 6.48. Current measured across the cathode resistor is about 13ma. I'm thinking about getting a couple pairs of ST big bottles, for the cool factor. Lol!!
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6.48V is nothing to worry about!
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After many hours of use, with several pairs of 6K6-GT tubes in the Moreplay, here are my initial impressions of their performance.
First of all, I believe that the Moreplay circuit, and it's operating parameters, is well suited to this tube type. Or maybe, it's the reverse...the tube is tolerant of the Moreplay design. Whatever the case, all the ones I have tried work well. These range from various manufacturers, RCA, GE, Tung-Sol, Sylvania...all original 1940s and later tubes. Some are smoked glass, others clear, you name it. All have slightly different plate structures compared with each other. So without naming favorites, I'd suggest users that want to experiment with this type will not be disappointed in the sound, and your Moreplay will treat you to slightly different presentations, with no duds. All based on my subjective results, so expect a bit of variation.
I initially wanted to try some early G varieties, but could only find one pair, used, that tested fair on my tube tester. They were branded Wards Super Airline, very dark smoked shield, with bottom getters, so I can't say who the maker was. They were nice and smooth, a little rolled off in the highs, but good bass and great definition. No real objection to them, and they look cool, with that ST-14 bulb.
Next up, a pair of RCA NOS clear glass 6K6-GT with black oval plates. One had a date code of 1956, the other was probably a bit older. These were superb, great air but not harsh, midrange just right for vocals, and plenty of clean bass.
Third, a pair of GE clear glass, gray plates, one dated 1964, the other undated, but similar vintage. These were a bit smoother overall, and even more bottom end compared to the RCAs. I almost stopped with these, being very happy with their presentation of a wide variety of recordings.
Fourth, a visually and gain matched pair of Sylvania NOS Clear glass, round black plates with stapled flanges, top getter, yellow print on the bases...production dates not present. These were very close to the GEs for overall sound, a little more top end, and a little less bass. but nothing affecting the overall balance that would make them objectionable. Still very clear and quick.
At this point, any of these NOS tubes would good to go with, very minor differences between them. Not hard to find, inexpensive, and real old-school quality. Get some and try them out! You'll be amazed...at least I was. And the Moreplay is still a great bang-for-the-buck preamp that can hold it's own against anything costing 3 to 4 times the cost. Great design, Bottlehead folks!
Keep up the good work!
--stereo71
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Hey Oldtriode,
Quick question, did you need to modify your Moreplay to use the 6K6 tubes? In another post by Paul Joppa, he noted, for the 6K6 tubes:
"Different heater currents up to 0.75 amps should be OK with AC heating, but the dropping resistors must be changed, and when the DC heater upgrade is available, it will not tolerate more than 0.45 amps: 6K6 - 0.4A heater so may need slight change in dropping resistors"
Thanks for your post and I'm hoping I can tube roll 6K6's into my Moreplay without any mods.
David
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The heater voltage should still be well within tolerance with the 6K6 in the stock Moreplay circuit.
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I was looking up the price for 6K6 tubes, they are even cheaper than 7C7 tubes. Thanks for the review oldtriode!
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My son has a Moreplay and I gave him a couple of 6K6 tubes for him to audition. His response back was that he did not experience any discernible difference in sound. He does love his Moreplay!
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Yes, I think the 6K6 is a winner. Very slight differences among the ones I tried, none had a problem with the Moreplay circuit as built. And you can afford to sample a lot of them, for the price! Keep the good sounds coming!