Tube Rolling w/Crack

[Doc B.]

Compare it with another tube.

[Francisco]

Hi, does anyone knows the markings on this 5998 tube? I cannot find any information about the FAA-CAHG. Thanks.

(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1213.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc479%2Furecheus%2F5998.jpg%7Eoriginal&hash=8f92667c5715996493faeaf4395de1d27bb520d7)

[mcandmar]

Curious, i wonder if its anything to do with the Federal Aviation Administration.  You usually see them labeled JAN for Joint Army and Navy, and the CAHG is just an abbreviation for Chatham Electronics.

[Paul Birkeland]

Hi, does anyone knows the markings on this 5998 tube? I cannot find any information about the FAA-CAHG. Thanks.

It's a Chatham 5998, the FAA would mean that it may have been sold to the FAA.

[Francisco]

Thanks. I wonder if these tubes, made for FAA, have anything special? low noise etc.

[atromic]

If a newcomer to Crack asks me what the best readily available / budget tubes would be i'd recommend the Russian combination.
6H13C with Genalex Gold Lion ECC82 new production.

Great starter pack: full bodied bass, large soundstage, musical mids. A combination made for easy listening, hour after hour.

Edit: And i never encountered any problems with these tubes.

Thanks for the tip! I just built my crack and have been a little intimidated about getting into tube rolling. This seems like a great entry point, and it's nice to see a recommended NOS tube that can be had for $20-$30 on ebay.

Would this combination produce a notable change over the Crack + SB sound with stock tubes?

[Tom-s]

For me it did. With my headphones i liked the added bass and soundstage.
I got a Raytheon 6080wb and GE 12au7 with my Crack stock.
Start with the 6H13C, these are good. And input tube rolling will make more of a difference with a better power tube IME.
For the input, if in Europe, it's worth to search for a Telefunken ECC82 for cheap.
These are sold cheaper vs the Gold Lion if patient.
YMMV etc etc.

[mcandmar]

A 6H13C and RCA clear top 12AU7 is hard to beat, and wont break the bank either.

[atromic]

A 6H13C and RCA clear top 12AU7 is hard to beat, and wont break the bank either.

Wow, yeah that is cheap. I may start there and pick up a gold lion later.

For the 6H13C, is this what I'm looking for?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Svetlana-Winged-C-6H13C-6AS7G-Vacuum-Tubes-Black-Plates-/122233511030?hash=item1c75af5c76:g:ZTUAAOSwHMJYMLGC

Really appreciate the advice. Like I said, the 600+ pages of discussion I have bookmarked on various forums had me pretty intimidated about getting started with rolling tubes.

[mcandmar]

Thats the one.  You can source them direct from Russia for less, but be prepared to wait a month or so for it. e.g. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182415022045

[Tom-s]

You can either hate or love the clear top RCA's. I don't like them. It's personal.

Another cheap (and for me way way better than RCA's clear top 12AU7): Tungsram E80CC*, 22€ shipped. http://www.ebay.de/itm/NEW-NOS-TUNGSRAM-E80CC-CV5989-6085-DOUBLE-TRIODE-lot-1pc-/302085125181?hash=item4655ad343d:g:SlgAAOSwImRYOzEe

[atromic]

You can either hate or love the clear top RCA's. I don't like them. It's personal.

Another cheap (and for me way way better than RCA's clear top 12AU7): Tungsram E80CC*, 22€ shipped. http://www.ebay.de/itm/NEW-NOS-TUNGSRAM-E80CC-CV5989-6085-DOUBLE-TRIODE-lot-1pc-/302085125181?hash=item4655ad343d:g:SlgAAOSwImRYOzEe

Yeah I did a little reading. Not sure if I would appreciate the clear-tops. Pulling the trigger later today on a set of 6H13C and a single gold lion. Really like what I read about both of them.

[Paul Birkeland]

Thanks. I wonder if these tubes, made for FAA, have anything special? low noise etc.

Just special paint.

-PB

[atromic]

For me it did. With my headphones i liked the added bass and soundstage.
I got a Raytheon 6080wb and GE 12au7 with my Crack stock.
Start with the 6H13C, these are good. And input tube rolling will make more of a difference with a better power tube IME.
For the input, if in Europe, it's worth to search for a Telefunken ECC82 for cheap.
These are sold cheaper vs the Gold Lion if patient.
YMMV etc etc.

I've been running the 6H13C and Gold Lion for a few days now... Wanted to report back in to say that this combo is awesome! I wasn't sure if there was going to be an audible difference, but right out of the gate I could hear it. With my HD6xx the bass is punchier and more impactful. Soundstage is definitely improved as well, not necessarily in size but I feel like there were a couple gaps before that have been filled in. Soundstage seems much more 3-dimensional with the Dr. Chesky test track I used from the headphone demonstration disk.

Thanks for the recommendation. Money well spent. A matched pair of the 6H13C's ran me $30, and a brand new gold lion was $26 on ebay. I've been loving the HD6xx + stock crack, but felt like I could use just a tad more bass and soundstage. Really enjoying this combo!

[attmci]

I've been running the 6H13C and Gold Lion for a few days now... Wanted to report back in to say that this combo is awesome! I wasn't sure if there was going to be an audible difference, but right out of the gate I could hear it. With my HD6xx the bass is punchier and more impactful. Soundstage is definitely improved as well, not necessarily in size but I feel like there were a couple gaps before that have been filled in. Soundstage seems much more 3-dimensional with the Dr. Chesky test track I used from the headphone demonstration disk.

Thanks for the recommendation. Money well spent. A matched pair of the 6H13C's ran me $30, and a brand new gold lion was $26 on ebay. I've been loving the HD6xx + stock crack, but felt like I could use just a tad more bass and soundstage. Really enjoying this combo!

Welcome to the club.

Your next step is GEC 6as7g + 7316.

🐷