Help me with a Tube Setup

[julius]

I am considering purchasing a socket adapter for the crack to allow me to use a great and expensive Telefunken 6922.  I only have one of these tubes and it was purchased originally for my Aune T1 Dac.  I have a few questions and would like some feedback on some setup options.  I prefer a large and vast sound stage, as my primary headphone is the JVC DX1000.  So, powerful deep low and and large staging qualities are top priority. 

Would it be wiser to keep the Tele 6922 inside the Aune T1 Dac, and get some new tubes for the bottlehead amp?  My original 6080 recently failed and I am using a very cheap and bad sounding replacement.  I do not know what any of my tubes are, they were all gifts and all have their markings rubbed off.  The original 6080 I had must have been higher quality, the sound difference is massive from that to the one I am forced to use now.  If this is a wiser route, I would like some 6080 and 12au7 Tube recommendations, I would like to stick around $50 total.

Another option is to get this socket adapter and use the Tele 6922 inside the Bottlehead.  I will still need a 6080 recommendation here.  I will also need some 6922 recommendations for the aune tube dac.  Is this going to make a difference at all if the Aune T1 is using an medium grade 6922, not nearly as good as the Telefunken 6922 that I paid a lot for. 

Would purchasing the socket adapter for use with the 6922 on the bottlehead, AS WELL as buying another Tele 6922 for use in the Aune T1 show significant difference?  I am new to tubes and have little experience with them.  any help or advice in this is appreciated

-J

[Paul Birkeland]

Hello Julius,

Please do keep the 6922 in your DAC.  Even with a socket adapter, the 6922 has way more gain than your 12UA7, and you will likely find that you can barely turn up the volume control before the amp is overbearingly loud.

Right now I see a quad of Hammond branded Mullard 12AU7's on eBay for $15, and some other similar auctions for similar prices.  I'd give those a shot.

Which 6080 do you have installed now?  These tend to have a consistent tube to tube sound, but perhaps give a 6AS7G a shot.

-PB

[julius]

After sitting here thinking hard for the past few hours, I think you are right.  After speaking to some other experts here it seems its not the wisest choice to use this adapter.  I'll keep the 6922 in the Dac.

I have no idea what I am using right now or what I had in there prior.  All of the tubes were gifts and all of them had no markings.  All I know is that the first larger tube I had in there sounded much better than what is in there now.

[Paul Birkeland]

Yeah, I can feel your frustration!

If you still have the old tube, you can post some photos on the Tubes asylum at Audio Asylum and ask for identification, then go out and purchase another.  Do beware that they don't call it an asylum for nothing!

How're the DX-1000's working with the Crack?  I had a pair for a few months, but I never bothered to use them with the Crack.

-PB

[Laudanum]

Julius, if you are going to try some tube rolling on a budget, I would consider an RCA 6AS7.   It's a drop in for the 6080 and a very nice sounding tube.  But dont pay too much.   I picked up 3 or 4 of these in the less than $10 - $15 range back when I built Crack.   On the tube sellers sites you will pay a good deal more, especially for New old stock tubes.   But ebay can be your friend.  More risk with ebay but there are still some good sellers who will back what they sell.   For 12au7's I think my favorites are still the Amperex Holland tubes.  Namely the rebrands which you have to watch for.  Much better deals that way.  Of course, your mileage may vary with all the above.  My preferences may not be yours.   Check the Tube Rolling With Crack thread on the Crack forum.  Lots of info on tube substitutes and plenty of tube reviews.  It's a long thread but well worth reading if you want to roll some tubes. 

Good luck.     

[Grainger49]

Look here for a list of 12AU7 equivalents:

http://www.epinions.com/review/auto_Make-1991_Porsche_944/auto-review-7A57-D928B7F-396C2E61-prod2?sb=1

My current favorites, in my FP 2, are Sylvania JAN (that's important) 7308 from the 70s.

[julius]

I can increase my budget now that I've gotten time with the Aune T1 Dac + Telefunken 6922 + Bottlehead + JVC DX1000 lol
Seriously...that Telefunken 6922 is amazing.  Huge difference from the 6922s I have and that came with the Dac.  I ordered it with the "upgraded" 6922 and it sounds like trash compared to the Tele.  This tube has a seriously potent and deep low end with great clarity.  Its far better on the low end and clarity than some other 6922s I have here.  I prefer a slightly colored experience, not analytical, one that is powerful and deep on the low end, forward mids and the largest sound staging possible.  Thats my preferred sound.  

I am shocked by the Telefunken 6922, I expected great...but not THAT great.  Whoa...I'll definitely need some new tubes for the BC to make it shine a little more so I guess I will continue shopping and researching tubes.  Any more suggestions for the increased budget is recommended.  I am not sure what I am want to pay, so if you can toss out options for me, I would be very happy.  I can go $100 for the 12au7 variant and $100 for the 6080/6as7g  You guys have been so great and helpful, I am so happy I own the Bottlehead and have such a nice support group.  

Also, the JVC DX1000 is phenomenal with the Bottlehead without decent tubes that I am currently using.  With whatever I had before, it was excellent.  Without them, but with the Telefunken 6922 in the Aune Dac...the sound is audibly more clear and much deeper and more powerful on the low end.  So, basically the new 6922 in the Dac is good enough to make the junky tubes in the bottlehead sound great.  Outside of the Burson HA160 or maybe the Apex Butte, I would not touch another amplifier with the DX1000.  The sound staging qualities on most other amps I have used in the audiophile world, even very expensive ones just flat out suck. I've reviewed almost off of them.  The Blue hawaii is nice, but seriously right next to my Bottlehead I just cringed at that price tag. The Bottlehead is the only amp out of dozens of reviewed amplifiers I've tested that was worth keeping for me.  It has the complete package and since I am a sound stage nut, I couldnt do better.  Finding better tubes for it right now is my main priority.  Also, no I cannot take pictures.  I tossed them out as soon as I confirmed they were dead.  Bad move, I guess, Im sorry lol.  

-J

[Paul Joppa]

Sadly, the 5998 seems to be the definitive best output tube. Not cheap!

[julius]

im using a westinghouse 6080 and an unknown 12au7 that says U.S.A on the top.  Its still a noticeably less clear experience than whatever i used to have in there.   Someone is selling a Bendix 5998 for $49 but the reviews on it are not so good.

[Grainger49]

You  will never get a consensus on which tube is best sounding.  We all listen to different things in music.  

I would take Paul's suggestion over an anonymous person on the internet.  If you know them, or their reputation, that is very different.

[Laudanum]

If the budget is up, then definitely seek out the 5998 as Paul suggests.   I got a bit lucky finding 3 good ones back over a year ago now.  I havent seen any real deals since, most Ive seen want more for 1 than I paid for all 3.   You will probably need to exercise a good bit of patience tracking down this tube for a fair price.   In the meantime, I'd still suggest placing an RCA 6AS7G on the list to check out.  They are plentiful and sound good.  IMO of course.

[dhherring]

Julius,

Not to hijack your thread, but how do you like the Aune?  I nervously ordered one this week, given that there are not that many critical reviews just yet.  Would love to hear from someone with first hand experience with one of the units.

Thanks

Don