Tube Rolling w/Crack

[ohshitgorillas]

Listening to the HD600 and with a 5998, I've actually had a really hard time deciding whether the Genalex Gold Lion or the Hewlett-Packard branded Amperex (made in Holland) I got sounds better. I really love the Gold Lion, personally. It was the most unimpressive at first, but once it opens up it's really holographic and has great mids and bass, it has a somewhat rich sound in the mids that reminds me in a way of the LCD2 and is a tinge mid forward. The Amperex is just starting to open up after a few nights of burn-in and the clarity and extension in the treble are really impressive, beautiful mids, everything sounds natural through and through. I still like the bass and soundstage of the Gold Lions better though.

I have to say that the Clear Top doesn't impress me as much with the HD600, the bass is too lean. Reminds me of the Etymotic HF5. On the HD650, however, it's a different story: wow wow wow, what a combo. I almost want to keep my HD650 and Clear Top just because it sounded so freaking good.

[Colin]

Is telefunken 6211 can be switch with 12au7 tube? What's the different between ecc82, ecc802s & 6211?
Iam a newbie with this all. But enjoy it very much

[Paul Birkeland]

Is telefunken 6211 can be switch with 12au7 tube?

No, a 6211 is not a substitute for a 12AU7.

What's the different between ecc82, ecc802s & 6211?

Two are 12AU7 equivalents, the 6211 is its own type.  (Despite what the guys on eBay are saying, they are just trying to sell a tube that isn't in serious demand)

[Costes]

Does anybody know how to reduce the start current on the heater filament?
I replaced the stock 12au7 by a mullard blackburn, and when i turn on the amp, the heaters glow quite bright for 1 sec and than go back to normal.

[jdm]

Costes

That is normal behaviour for many European manufactured nine pin tubes.

Jim

[Paul Birkeland]

Does anybody know how to reduce the start current on the heater filament?
I replaced the stock 12au7 by a mullard blackburn, and when i turn on the amp, the heaters glow quite bright for 1 sec and than go back to normal.

Google "Mullard Flash"

[Costes]

Thanks for the useful info! Appreciate the help

[Xeian]

I must say that im very pleased with the following setup...

Crack + Speedball upgrade
HD 650
Cardas microtwins 300b interconnects
ODAC

Tubes :

Tung Sol5998
Genalex Gold lion ECC82

Wow, the sound stage.

I will also run those tubes and give my comment soon :

RCA Clear top 12AU7
Amperex globe 12AU7/ECC82 grey plate top halo  (orange)

Im 100% happy with the bottlehead products, god damn its good to hear music from this...
I was running the o2 amplifier before and the difference is stunning.
Downloading all the FLAC music i can get now!
Thanks to bottlehead for their amazing product.

[Colin]

You can use the 6CG7 with the Crack also.  Just separate the jumper between pins 4 and 5, then run a wire from pin 9 to whicheven pin (4 or 5) has no wire running to it.  The E80CC is another decent choice. 

As for the 6080/6AS7 variants, you really need to stay within the heater current limits, that's the key.  Tubes like the 6336 will overtax the power transformer.  I will test the 6BL7 sometime this week with my Speedball Crack and see how it lines up with the stock operating points.

So, all the wire connect to 4 & 5 must disconnect it then run a single wire from 9 to them(4vor 5), is this what you mean? Thank you

[bocosb]

Hi, can anybody help me with some info on this tubes?.. the one on the right is clearly a 6080wa but there's no mention of the manufacturer, and the one on the left is physically smaller, no visible markings, has copper rods and that weird wire surrounding the base with a little spring attached - never saw one of those. (i can take more detailed pictures if needed, these are taken with the cellphone)

The marked 6080wa is in my crack right now and to my ears sounds as good as the stock RCA, maybe a little less bass, will let it in for a couple days to get burned in

(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fgpwm5ax.jpg&hash=82b06d86a330ae7edac43a162c6c21e60b505fc4)

[Paul Birkeland]

Hi, can anybody help me with some info on this tubes?

Are there any other markings on the glass or bases?

The wire and spring can probably be popped off.

-PB

[bocosb]

No markings at all except that 6080WA..  maybe they are some russian tubes? They came as a package deal with the Crack,  and there was another 6H5C and 6H13C tubes in the box, anyway i'll keep digging.

Do you think i could cause some damage if i plug the one on the left in the Crack? (this sounds wrong.. )

[Paul Birkeland]

No markings at all except that 6080WA..  maybe they are some russian tubes? They came as a package deal with the Crack,  and there was another 6H5C and 6H13C tubes in the box, anyway i'll keep digging.

Do you think i could cause some damage if i plug the one on the left in the Crack? (this sounds wrong.. )

The both look like pretty normal RCA/GE 6080's.  They aren't Russian.

Why would the one on the left be an issue?

[Aeolus Kratos]

Hi guys,

I bought my Crack along with a Tung-sol 5998 last year. Unfortunately, my 5998 got some microphonics ("ting ting" sound) as I typed or touched the Crack and I didn't have a decent DAC/source back then, so I couldn't have any critical judgement on the sound of Tung-sol 5998. Then I was fortunate and bought a Bendix 6080WB slotted graphite plate power tube and the Bendix was totally dead silent. I sold my 5998 right after that (just because of the microphonics).

Time goes by, I've upgraded the DAC/source and my cable and still been using the Bendix since I first bought it. I'm very happy with the Bendix, but the curiosity has grown up in me and the fact that the 5998s have got excellent feedback really make me want to try a Tung-sol 5998 again.

But the thing is, in my country, there are not many audiophiles so I can't sell either the Bendix and 5998 easily if I don't like them. And my budget can only allow me to keep one premium power tube for my Crack, if I order a 5998, I have to sell my Bendix, not to mention it'll take a decent time. So I have to think and choose carefully.

Has anyone had a chance to own both the 5998 and the Bendix and could directly compare or had a A/B testing them? If so, how would you compare the two tubes?

I'm using HD650, but planning to get a HD800 in the near future. My DAC is NAD M51, fed by Audio GD DI-2014. My favorite genres are mainly vocals, jazz, instrumental and country (slow music), I hardly listen to strong or fast music.

Sorry for any grammar mistakes or misleading. English is not my native language and I'm not so good at English so I just tried my best to describe my situation.

Thank you very much. I'm really looking forward to your feedback. All the helps will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Kratos.

[bocosb]

The both look like pretty normal RCA/GE 6080's.  They aren't Russian.

Why would the one on the left be an issue?

Well, i thought maybe there are similar looking tubes out there but with different specs, i'm new in this whole tube  business still reading abut different tubes and the names and codes are confusing. Anyway, i plugged it in and it sound good too so no problems there   Still the stock RCA 6080 is my favorite so far