Tube Rolling w/Crack

Dr. Toobz · 751700

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Offline BNAL

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Reply #300 on: March 24, 2012, 06:03:36 PM
I just got the 12BH7 and think it is a nice sounding tube. I really have not heard any tube that makes the Crack sound bad. There are just some tubes that make it sound great. The 12BH7 reminds me of a Sony TV in that it make it gives the sound a bloom with good separation. It does nothing wrong it is just that I like,not my ears the natural sound of the CBS 5814A tube. This has been my favorite tube so far, but will be spending more time with the Sylvania 12BH7.

Brad Nalitt
Iron Upgraded S.E.X. Amp 2.0
Foreplay III
Quickie w/PJCCS
Eros Phono
Blumenstein Orca Speakers, Baby Benthic Subs
S.E.X.y Speakers W/FT17H Horn Tweeters
Thorens TD 125 MkII W/ Shure M97xE JICO SAS Stylus


Offline dwilli852

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Reply #301 on: March 27, 2012, 12:13:54 PM
Rolled in a NOS RCA 12bh7a and an Tungsram E80CC. The RCA is a great sounding tube maybe the best of those I've tried. The Tungsram E80CC not so great. It sounds a little harsh to me with HD650's. It lacks the warmth of the other tubes I've tried. I'll give it a little time before passing final judgement.
« Last Edit: March 27, 2012, 01:58:24 PM by dwilli852 »

David Williams


Offline BNAL

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Reply #302 on: March 27, 2012, 04:51:00 PM
I bought a 12BH7 for $15 including shipping. I is a nice sounding tube and for the price hard to beat.

Brad Nalitt
Iron Upgraded S.E.X. Amp 2.0
Foreplay III
Quickie w/PJCCS
Eros Phono
Blumenstein Orca Speakers, Baby Benthic Subs
S.E.X.y Speakers W/FT17H Horn Tweeters
Thorens TD 125 MkII W/ Shure M97xE JICO SAS Stylus


Offline dwilli852

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Reply #303 on: March 28, 2012, 02:48:50 AM
The last NOS RCA 12bh7a I purchased was $3.29 plus $5.00 shipping. So there are some deals out there if you can find them. I'll have to revise my opinion of the Tungsram E80CC. It just needed a little more time to burn in. Very nice sounding tube after all. Nice wide soundstage and very detailed mids. I'm running out of tubes to try and mods for the Crack. Must be time to build a different Bottlehead kit. Now which one?

David Williams


Offline BNAL

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Reply #304 on: March 28, 2012, 03:00:37 AM
Sounds like you got a better deal on the 12BH7. Where did you get the E80CC, because I would like to give them a try?

Brad Nalitt
Iron Upgraded S.E.X. Amp 2.0
Foreplay III
Quickie w/PJCCS
Eros Phono
Blumenstein Orca Speakers, Baby Benthic Subs
S.E.X.y Speakers W/FT17H Horn Tweeters
Thorens TD 125 MkII W/ Shure M97xE JICO SAS Stylus


Offline dwilli852

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Reply #305 on: March 28, 2012, 03:29:22 AM
The E80CC come from the ebay seller Electrikua in Ukraine. Took a couple weeks to get here but no problems with the transaction. Ended up costing about $20.00 per tube with shipping.

David Williams


Offline BNAL

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Reply #306 on: March 28, 2012, 03:33:30 AM
That is a lot better then the $75 to $85 I have seen at other sellers. Will look on ebay for them. Thanks

Brad Nalitt
Iron Upgraded S.E.X. Amp 2.0
Foreplay III
Quickie w/PJCCS
Eros Phono
Blumenstein Orca Speakers, Baby Benthic Subs
S.E.X.y Speakers W/FT17H Horn Tweeters
Thorens TD 125 MkII W/ Shure M97xE JICO SAS Stylus


Offline jrihs

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Reply #307 on: April 03, 2012, 12:17:29 PM
Hey all, This is a dumb question but I'm desparate....I got a 5998 that glows but no sound comes out. Again, it looks fine! Any chance it might be fixed with a some home remedy/vodoo. I'm totally bummed about this. $100 off ebay and it worked an hour. I turned on the crack, and before I got the headphones on I heard a load crackling sound...then nothing.

John Rihs


Offline Doc B.

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Reply #308 on: April 03, 2012, 12:32:57 PM
Presumably you have verified that the amp still works fine with the original tube. If that is the case, the only thing you can fix would be to clean the pins and check to see if the tube socket contacts are tight. If it's a problem inside the tube it's time to contact the seller.

Dan "Doc B." Schmalle
President For Life
Bottlehead Corp.


Offline jrihs

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Reply #309 on: April 03, 2012, 12:53:46 PM
Oh ya...still works great with my 421a...I was hoping to compare the two, but after an hour all I could say was that they were very similar.

John Rihs


Offline Laudanum

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Reply #310 on: April 04, 2012, 12:24:45 AM
Bummer John, they are hard to come by for any semblance of a reasonable price these days.  Hope it's a decent seller who will do right by you and refund the money.   I got 2 used from Brendan at TW a few months back.  Both were listed used, tests as new.  One had a white arc between plates at fire up and then intermittent arcing with static in one channel while it was occuring.  Brendan exchanged the tube for the last one he had.   Also a used, tests new.   I was fortunate to pay $35 and $32 for the two I have from him and both tubes look pretty close to NOS.   Those are my spares as Im using one that forum member Jim (Jrebman) was kind enough to let go of for a very fair price before I found those two.   

I look forward to your comparison with the 421A if you get another 5998.  One of my 5998's has the clear top (like the WE 421A) and I can tell you that I can hear no difference between it and the flashed top versions.  Not saying that a clear top 5998 is a 421.   I have read that all the slight internal variations of the Tung Sol 5998's sound the same, just confirming that with what my ears hear in case you come across one of the different versions.

Desmond G.


Offline jrihs

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Reply #311 on: April 04, 2012, 11:28:53 AM
Thanks. He said on the listing that no refunds were accepted...soooo, I asked if he would consider a partial refund and he said he could. It did become clear that he was not going to suggest anything as for amount, so I kicked it off by asking if he could do a 50$ refund, which he accepted once I sent it back (posted today). He did let me keep the original Tung-Sol box though! So, I got a box for 50$...more than u paid for your tube...sad. But hey, win-some-lose-some. He could have just blown me off though, then I'd have to give him a fairly low rating.

Let me know if you find more at that price!!
« Last Edit: April 04, 2012, 11:31:58 AM by jrihs »

John Rihs


Offline dwilli852

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Reply #312 on: April 04, 2012, 11:51:16 AM
Picked up a Sylvania 12BH7A with the thick halo getter angled at about 45 degrees. Very detailed and good sounding tube.

David Williams


Offline Noskipallwd

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Reply #313 on: April 04, 2012, 04:09:28 PM
Hey guys, I rolled an e80cc into my crack about a month ago, and yes it was a little harsh an shrill at first. After 25-30 hours it began to smooth out, now I am loving it paired with a 5998. I also listen with HD650s. Plus it is a rather beautiful tube. So give it some time you might find you like it

Cheers,
Shawn

Shawn Prigmore


Offline BNAL

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Reply #314 on: April 04, 2012, 04:48:11 PM
Shawn,

What flavor of C80EE tube do you have in the crack?

Brad Nalitt
Iron Upgraded S.E.X. Amp 2.0
Foreplay III
Quickie w/PJCCS
Eros Phono
Blumenstein Orca Speakers, Baby Benthic Subs
S.E.X.y Speakers W/FT17H Horn Tweeters
Thorens TD 125 MkII W/ Shure M97xE JICO SAS Stylus