Tube Rolling w/Crack

[networkn]

Hi There!

I finally got my Crack Finished and fixed up. I know the forums rules suggest no "what's best" type questions, but I am unsure how to clarify beyond asking what next if I was wanting a reasonable upgrade to the stock tubes for ~100. I'd need to be able to buy them from somewhere that ships internationally. Tube rolling seems to be the logical next step as I am concerned about my lack of electronics understanding to put better capacitors in them or different other components or what voltage check results would then be without an idiot guide.

I listen to pop, soft rock, mostly vocal or easy listening stuff.

I love the experience of trying a track I've listened to many times and get the hair on my arms up.

I have a HD650 and T1 as HP's and a BiFrost DAC

[Doc B.]

Surely with 78 pages in this thread called Tube Rolling w/Crack there might be some info useful to you?

[ohshitgorillas]

While the 5998 seems to be everyone's favorite power tube, I'm wondering what is the most natural sounding input tube in most people's opinions? The consensus from my own notes seems to be the Amperex Bugle Boy, but I thought I'd ask. My headphones are HD6x0 and my preferred sound is natural and realistic. Is there another power tube that other people think sounds more natural than the 5998?

Edit: I ended up going with a HP-branded Amperex ECC88. Gonna have to wait a while on the 5998.

[Paul Birkeland]

Edit: I ended up going with a HP-branded Amperex ECC88.

An ECC88 will not work in the Crack.

-PB

[ohshitgorillas]

An ECC88 will not work in the Crack.

D'oh! I thought the 12AU7 was an equivalent. Welp, I guess I'll have to sell it as I don't really have any other use for it.

I ended up going with a Genalex Gold Lion and an RCA Clear Top. Will probably end up buying a 5998, the only other cheaper power tube which seemed to get consistently good reviews is the Svetlana "Winged C" which I'm researching more.

[John EH]

D'oh! I thought the 12AU7 was an equivalent. Welp, I guess I'll have to sell it as I don't really have any other use for it.

I ended up going with a Genalex Gold Lion and an RCA Clear Top. Will probably end up buying a 5998, the only other cheaper power tube which seemed to get consistently good reviews is the Svetlana "Winged C" which I'm researching more.

I personally hate my 5998 and prefer the stock 6080 or Western Electric 421A.  99% of the time I run the Winged C tube now.  I think it is an excellent bang for the buck and "good" enough. Don't underestimate the 6080.  I have two cracks built more or less identically and one of them seems to have a sweet spot for a particular JAN 6080 tube and that's what I run in that Crack.

Look for the Mullard Box Plate CV4003 for your 12AU7, personally my favorite.

[Rocketman248]

I loved my 5998.  Unfortunately, it died on me the other day.  I was switching out the 12AU7, and I didn't let it cool down long enough.  Turned it back on, and I get very little output.  Now I'm running a Bendix 6080WB graphite plate.  It's not as pretty as the 5998, but it does sound great.

[ZacharyP]

I loved my 5998.  Unfortunately, it died on me the other day.  I was switching out the 12AU7, and I didn't let it cool down long enough.  Turned it back on, and I get very little output.  Now I'm running a Bendix 6080WB graphite plate.  It's not as pretty as the 5998, but it does sound great.

Are there any consensus great 6080 variants besides the Bendix 6080wb graphite plate, the 5998, Brown base 6as7g and 421a?

While those are all great tubes finding something comprable without as high of a price would be very nice for the long term (I can stock up on them).

[JamieMcC]

Are there any consensus great 6080 variants besides the Bendix 6080wb graphite plate, the 5998, Brown base 6as7g and 421a?

While those are all great tubes finding something comprable without as high of a price would be very nice for the long term (I can stock up on them).

Try GEC or Mullard 6080 

[Maxhawk]

Are there any consensus great 6080 variants besides the Bendix 6080wb graphite plate, the 5998, Brown base 6as7g and 421a?

While those are all great tubes finding something comprable without as high of a price would be very nice for the long term (I can stock up on them).

Sylvania Gold Brand GB6080 is in my regular rotation, along with the 5998 and graphite plate 6080.

[ZacharyP]

Try GEC or Mullard 6080 

The GEC 6080 looks interesting, as does the Telefunken 6080 but I can't find much information on the latter.

[serpent68]

Try GEC or Mullard 6080 

Jamie, is the GEC 6080 and Mullard 6080 the same tube?

[JamieMcC]

Jamie, is the GEC 6080 and Mullard 6080 the same tube?

No the GEC 6080 was only made as far as I am aware at the Marconi/GEC Brook Green Works, Hammersmith the same factory as the GEC 6as7g brown base and it looks like they both have the same plate structure but the 6AS7G version has the cup getters at the bottom while 6080 has halo getters at the top.

While the Mullard 6080 was manufactured at perhaps four or five location both in the UK and Europe.

[ohshitgorillas]

I loved my 5998.  Unfortunately, it died on me the other day.  I was switching out the 12AU7, and I didn't let it cool down long enough.  Turned it back on, and I get very little output.  Now I'm running a Bendix 6080WB graphite plate.  It's not as pretty as the 5998, but it does sound great.

Could you elaborate more on what it is you did that ruined your tube? How long should one let the amp cool down before pulling a tube?

[ohshitgorillas]

Also, I recently got my hands on a 5998 in good condition as well as a clear top RCA and a Gold Lion.

Some quick notes (using HD600):

The 5998 is more linear than the stock tube and with significantly better separation, although I think I still prefer the stock tube for some music for its fuller bass and low mids.
The Genalex Gold Lion is my favorite thing so far. Bass is tight and clean and hits hard, mids are rich and full, vocals are smooth and real, and soundstage is very good.
The RCA clear top has really pretty treble, but I felt that the combo of the RCA and 5998 was a little bass light. I have yet to experiment with the stock tube and the clear top but I suspect it'll be quite good.