JJ 2A3-40 currently not warrantied for BH amps..other recommendations?[resolved]

[Paul Joppa]

I spoke with the technical guy (Eddie) at Eurotubes today. So far as I understand it the only problem they have actually seen was with Paramounts in the direct coupled 2A3 version, and it sounds similar to the problems that led to the soft-start which is now standard on that amp. It seems that at least one of their customers does have the soft start board and still had the problem, so there are still some questions. Further testing will be done by Eurotubes and/or JJ on the "bad" tubes - that information will help us understand what happened more clearly. Both Bottlehead and Eurotubes are in contact and will keep each other up to date; we will post news when we have it.

So far, I believe there should be no unusual problems with Stereomours, and no such problems with soft-start Paramounts either unless the 20-minute rest after shutdown is ignored. Eurotubes will update their warranty policy as more is learned, so if you want to use those tubes check for the current status before ordering.

 

[rusty-jade]

I had a new tube failure with the JJ 2A3-40 some years ago on another amp. They were very nice and sent me a replacement but I was not sure whether the problem was the tube or the amp.  I am currently using the Stereomour as a 45 tube amp and have used the JJ 2A3 as a 45 tube w/o problems, but I find it is nosier than the normal 45 tubes or the stock Sovtek 2A3  ( a slight ringing noise).  I am thinking of changing the Stereomour circuit back to 2A3, and will either use the JJ or if there is a problem, I will get a pair of standard Shuguangs. 

 

[Mordicai]

Just want to let folks know that I received an e-mail from eurotubes letting me know that they will now warranty the JJ 2a3-40 for use in the Stereomour.

 

[Paul Joppa]

Excellent news! Thanks for the update.

 

[HiFiC]

Fantastic!  Thanks to those at Bottlehead who helped sort out the issue with Eurotubes.  I'll be in Portland on Monday and still haven't replaced the tubes in my Stereomour.  I think I'll swing by Eurotubes and pick me up a set of JJ's!

 

[mkane]

  I'll give em' a try also.

 

[kevner21]

im not a techy or an engineer . However I've had other amps with JJ tubes , namely the EL509 JJ and the EL34/6ca7  amps made , or built by me or a very reputable company. these tubes have failed miserably time after time. Me thinking that the JJ2A3-40 was way overbuilt for the stereomour, went and bought 2 with the blessing of most people on this forum . and surprise I bought 2 from Eurotube , and have not had a problem with them in the 2A3 version or the 45version which I now use , but with 45 tubes. Tubes fail and if the stereomour test out good there should be no problems. buy more sovteks, seems you liked them anyway!!!

 

[sharpi31]

I had one JJ 2A3-40 fail after about one month. Nothing dramatic - just one channel died. No issues since going back to Shuguang 2A3C.

 

[Hank Murrow]

Good to hear that Eurotubes and Bottlehead have resolved the issue. My pair from them are still singing sweetly and powerfully now for two years.  Cheers, Hank in Eugene

 

[Paul Joppa]

I had one JJ 2A3-40 fail after about one month. Nothing dramatic - just one channel died. No issues since going back to Shuguang 2A3C.

Can you provide any more details? Was is sudden and complete, or did it fade out? Did the filament still glow after it died? Any other observations?

 

[Natural Sound]

im not a techy or an engineer . However I've had other amps with JJ tubes , namely the EL509 JJ and the EL34/6ca7  amps made , or built by me or a very reputable company. these tubes have failed miserably time after time. Me thinking that the JJ2A3-40 was way overbuilt for the stereomour, went and bought 2 with the blessing of most people on this forum . and surprise I bought 2 from Eurotube , and have not had a problem with them in the 2A3 version or the 45version which I now use , but with 45 tubes. Tubes fail and if the stereomour test out good there should be no problems. buy more sovteks, seems you liked them anyway!!!

??? I didn't know that JJ made 45's.

 

[Paul Joppa]

??? I didn't know that JJ made 45's.

They don't.

 

[kevner21]

no sorry ,like mr. Joppa said they don't. Went to the 45 conversion..........wont comment on the 45 tube here!

 

[HiFiC]

Quick update to close out this thread.  Had a quick 2 day vacation to Portland last week and called EuroTubes before I left home to set up an appointment to pick up a pair of the 2A3-40's while I was down there.  Eddie (the EuroTubes tech) hadn't seen a Stereomour in person, so asked me to bring my amp down so he could look it over and take a listen.

Dropped it off on Monday afternoon at their small shop in a Portland residential suburb, and it was clear that Eddie and the rest of the crew have a passion for tubes and tube amps, in the same way that Bottlehead has a passion for their amp products and Blumenstein with their handcrafted speakers.  Most of the Eurotubes business revolves around guitar amps, but they also support and enjoy the hi-fi scene as well.

Picked up the amp on Tuesday before heading back to Seattle.  Eddie had installed the new JJ tubes and also tightened a couple loose nuts (must've come loose on the drive down in my old vibration-ridden diesel truck).  I missed the listening session he had with the amp since I arrived just before they closed, but he gave a favorable review.  He also suggested a JJ ECC81 input tube for $16 since the stock tube was measuring 10% out of balance, so I figured why not.

After hooking it up at home to my Orcas, my overall impression is noticeably more definition from top to bottom.  Brighter (but not shrill) highs without any compromise to the low end.  Bass is, without a doubt, more defined.  The JJ's provide a different sound and overall, in my book, a substantial and cost-worthy improvement.  The Stereomour with Sovteks was wonderful, but the JJ 2A3-40's have definitely kicked it up a notch.  I'm a happy customer.  That's with the stock 12AT7 tube and with just a few hours on the 2A3-40's.  I'll install the JJ ECC81 in the next few days for comparison.

I'll note that the 2A3-40's have stunning looks, as well.  Taller and wider than the Sovteks.  Sufficiently elegant such that my wife voiced her approval.  The branding is on the ceramic base of the tube, too, rather than on the glass, which I like.  With the way the pin sockets are oriented on the Stereomour, the branding ends up facing mostly to the rear, so can't be seen from the front of the amp.

Again, huge thanks to the Bottlehead crew for making contact with Eurotubes to sort out the concerns.

A few photos of the new tubes in my Stereomour below.  The ECC81 was installed after the first photo to show the full complement of JJ's, but I haven't listened to it yet.

 

[mkane]

  I placed an order for these 3 tubes and no questions asked. Looking forward to these.

 

[Thoburn]

  I placed an order for these 3 tubes and no questions asked. Looking forward to these.

I just ordered a pair of the JJ 2A3-40s and one of their pre-amp tube damping rings. For $4 it is worth giving it a try. I'm going to stick with my Mullard tube for the time being.

 

[mkane]

  ^^^^^^^^^^^^Your set ups similar to mine. Same, VPI, DV, Musical surroundings, Stereomour.

 

[Thoburn]

  ^^^^^^^^^^^^Your set ups similar to mine. Same, VPI, DV, Musical surroundings, Stereomour.

Cool! Have you made a sandbox isolation table for the VPI? I found the plans for one awhile back and it made a noticeable improvement. The wood box sits on hand balls cut in half. A polycarbonate sheet sits on the sand. I sealed the polycarbonate to box gap with wool felt. I attached a photo. Hopefully it will upload.

 

[mkane]

  Interesting, thanks

 

[mkane]

  I placed an order for these 3 tubes and no questions asked. Looking forward to these.

  They arrived today and they are quite a step up from the stock tubes. They mellowed out the briteness of the Cornwall's and really gave the mid range a kick in the pants. I'm impressed. Less that an hour's playtime.