Tube Rolling w/Crack

[JamieMcC]

The original (complete) post :

http://the-key.enix.org/~krystal/review-tube-bottlehead.html

Hopefully the incomplete posts will get sorted out later in the week I have noticed a few. Thanks for the link.

[JamieMcC]

Managed to get a great deal on a Mullard CV4003 it is certainly a very nice sounding tube and pairs very well with both the 5998 and GEC 6as7g, I am very much torn between it and the E80cc for the number one spot.
 



 

[serpent68]

Jamie, what is the main difference in sound signature between the CV4003 and the E80CC?  Does the CV4003 add a bit more bass quantity and is warmer?

I've been deliberating on purchasing a CV4003 for some time now.  I'm torn between the 5998 and the Bendix 6080WB.  The 5998 has incredible mids and highs, but the lows are a bit weak and lacks quantity for my taste.  The Bendix on the other hand has incredible drive at the low end but does not have the magical mids-highs of the 5998.

I've paired many input tubes with the 5998 to squeeze more low end out of it, but so far nothing has worked.  Have tried Amperex 7316, Siemens 12AU7 chrome plates, Philips E80CC, Tungsram E80CC, Sylvania 12BH7.

Mullard remains the only popular input tube I've not tried.  I do not like warm, wooly, bloated sound and prefer clarity and transparency.  Hopefully the Mullard is not too rolled off in the highs.

I also read about a long plate Mullard 12AU7.  Anyone with experience comparing it to the CV4003?

[JamieMcC]

Siemens E80CC and Mullard 4003 differences ohh that’s rather hard especially as I find them they both very similar sounding and the differences are subtle but I will give it a go.

E80CC is slightly more edgy with a wider sound stage, slightly better top end extension feels more open, the edge on resolution & dynamics and a tighter bass.

Mullard 4003 is slightly darker but has a better way of conveying the textures in timbres and tone making for rich mids and vocals that can be mesmerizing with the right sort of music it also does a better job at creating ambience.

I look at what I have written and find it is somewhat odd and contradictory to say one has better resolution but that resolution doesn't convey the same detail in tones and timbre. 

They are both great sounding tubes and I doubt I would be able to blind test between them.

I have been very fortunate in the tube department of late as I picked up Tung-sol 12au7 black glass for $1.50 from a guitar shop who just had it listed as a 12au7 and it is another super sounding tube, very similar to a 1950's Tung-sol JTL in the top end but is richer sounding and like the E80cc and 4003 really nice vocals.

I would say all three tubes are very much on a par with one another though each has its own unique style of presentation.

(https://www.head-fi.org/image/id/5748644/width/900/height/900/flags/LL)

[serpent68]

Thanks for sharing your impression, Jamie.  I think I'll get myself a Mullard 4003 to try out.  I've also just ordered a CBS Hytron 5814A yesterday after reading some favourable reviews about it.

[smallmany]

For the potentiometer, which should i get to replace my stock pot, linear or logarithmic?
I noticed some pots do not have those holes to place my wire in to solder, can I still use those?

And for the tubes, as long as it is a 6080 power tube and 12au7 input tube, any variants of those tubes are ok to use in the amp?


Thanks

[Grainger49]

Log, or audio taper.  Linear will drive you nuts and won't work well at all.

[Chris65]

As for the tubes, plenty of reading here: http://www.bottlehead.com/smf/index.php/topic,663.0.html

[Guy 13]

Hi all.
Can I do a direct substitute (No modifications) of the 12AU7 of my Crack
with the following tubes:
12AT7, 12AX7 and 6922.
(I have some spares of those)

Guy 13

[Mike B]

No.

[galyons]

No, as our our overly verbose MikeB stated above. 
Look here:
http://bottlehead.com/smf/index.php/topic,4295.msg39600.html#msg39600

Then here:
http://www.bottlehead.com/smf/index.php/topic,663.0.html

Cheers,
Geary

[Guy 13]

No, as our our overly verbose MikeB stated above. 
Look here:
http://bottlehead.com/smf/index.php/topic,4295.msg39600.html#msg39600

Then here:
http://www.bottlehead.com/smf/index.php/topic,663.0.html

Cheers,
Geary

Hi Geary.
Thanks for the links.
I saw before the second one, but was still wondering about what would happen,
then the first link answered my question.

Guy 13

[Guy 13]

No.

Hi Mike B
Thanks for your NO.
With an answer like that,
you will be in the Guinness world record book under the topic
of the shortest answer ever posted on the Bottlehead forum.
 

Thanks again.

Guy 13

[xcoolhandx]

Angelo, so you like the E80CC as a driver in the Crack, what brand do you have? A friend offered a couple of phillips mini-watts, maybe I should take him up on that.

Cheers,
Shawn

It's an Amperex tube, made in Holland, per the label. It also says "premium quality" and has gold-plated pins.

I recently swapped in a 1950's Sylvania 12BH7, a 2009 Electro-Harmonix 12BH7, a 1960's 5963, and a 1960's RCA clear-top 12AU7 to see if what I am hearing is just my imagination. It's not. The E80CC has, by far, the deepest bass, biggest soundstage, and most extended treble of all. Not a bad investment!

I recently purchased very similar pair of Amperex ..hopefully it works

[Klots]

Hi! Looking for both tubes for my Crack. I use Sennheiser HD700 headphones and Schiit Modi dac. I want something warmer and I dont have a fortune to spend on tubes, so something around 70$ for both tubes. I read somewhere (maybe this thread here) that 6AS7G/6AS7GA are superior to 6080, is that correct?

Because I live in Europe it would be nice to get them from europe. I searched in ebay and found:


 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6AS7GA-GE-6080-NOS-VALVE-TUBE-1-PC-/370622241591?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Valves_Vacuum_Tubes&hash=item564ace9b37
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RCA-6AS7G-Tube-two-tubes-/121303602008?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Valves_Vacuum_Tubes&hash=item1c3e421358
http://www.ebay.de/itm/6AS7GA-6080-Sylvania-OO-Getter-Black-Plates-NOS-NIB-3752-/221095820243?pt=DE_TV_Video_Audio_Elektronenr%C3%B6hren_Valves&hash=item337a567bd3

Is there any difference between 6AS7G and 6AS7GA besides the shape of the glass?


What brand 12AU7 to look for?