Tube Rolling w/Crack

hi guys,

I'm planning to get a CBS/Hytron 5814A tube for my Crack after reading many positive feedback on this tube. I've searched for a few days on Ebay and all I found was this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5814A-CBS-Hytron-12AU7A-Tube-NOS-Tube-Black-Curved-Ladder-Plates-D-Getter-50s-/201367997999?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item2ee277ce2f

Is this tube the famous CBS/Hytron 5814A that everyone has been mentioning?

Cheers,
Kratos.
 
(headphones: HD600) I recently got a Winged C tube in and paired with the RCA Clear Top 12AU7, it's blowing my mind compared to the 5998. The soundstage is significantly improved, and I feel like it's much much more musical compared to the 5998's linearity. The 5998 is more dynamic and detailed in general, but the Winged C is so much more enjoyable. It also responds to the input tube completely differently...

Listening with the 5998, my take on my 12AU7 tubes are:

RCA Clear Top: bright and revealing with a good timbre but lacking bass entirely, so meh (worth noting that the 5998/RCA combo with HD650 was absolutely jaw dropping)
Genalex Gold Lion: Awesome soundstage, great bass slam, rich mids, slightly recessed treble, spectacular for rock and metal
Amperex made-in-Holland: Totally natural through and through, sweet sound, the only choice for classical/jazz/anything well produced

Now with the Winged C, it's become:

RCA Clear Top: amazingly clear and revealing and dynamic, incredible timbre and soundstage I didn't know HD600 were capable of, no lack of bass at all
Genalex Gold Lion: meh, a little too mid-centric IMO
Amperex made-in-Holland: warm, smooth, and sweet... still need more time for more

The range of sound available from the Crack-HD600 combination is incredible! Not to mention that the Winged C/RCA combo is so absolutely one of the best and most lifelike things I've ever heard. I was finding it hard to get work done last night because I was just so breathless from how good everything sounded. Definitely too revealing for poorly produced music, although I'd swear the 5998/Gold Lion combo can make bad recordings sound like good recordings.

Still keeping my eye out for a good price on a Tung Sol 7236 then I swear I'm done buying (power) tubes for this thing and it's on to 6SN7 input tubes... when does it end?!
 
Hello good people. I built my Crack with couple of years ago, upgraded it later with speedball. I had some problems after speedball, and just dusted and repaired it with a friend (thanks to bottlehead for quick delivery of led´s!) about a week ago after it sitting for 1,5 years. I also purchased second hand HD 600 with Cardas smurf blue cable.

I had a problem with low hum in the right channel, but the amp went dead silent after i switched the original 12AU7 with Philips ECC82 i had lying around. But after listening it for some, i have a little urge to get more body or punchiness to the sound. What would be a good budget upgrade to the tubes, to achieve that?
 
Aeolus Kratos said:
Is this tube the famous CBS/Hytron 5814A that everyone has been mentioning?

While that one might be made by Hytron, the ones that folks talk about have red lettering with angled square/D getters that point about 30-45 degrees upwards. The black plates seem to be more well regarded.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-Of-2-NOS-CBS-Hytron-JHY-5814-12AU7-Black-Plate-Same-DC-Tubes-TV7-Tested-/381351365861?hash=item58ca500ce5
 
dusk said:
hello! Can I use mullard NOS e88cc / cv 2492 tubes in the input stage for the crack? :)

In a word, no. The e88cc / CV2492 is a substitute for the 6922 and 6DJ8 not a 12AU7. You should try and stick to the list of tubes on page one of this thread.
 
Well against my "wallet" I bid on an Amperex Bugle Boy 12AU7:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Amperex-Bugle-Boy-12AU7-ECC82-Grey-Plate-Holland-Tube-TV7-Tested-/201400059569?

date code GF8 â–²6J2

Know I need to find out how to read these date codes!!

Alex
 
I was at a friend's house today and Listened to  Audeze EL-8's and HD800's. Admittedly the amplification was quite different than my Crack.  Listened to hi def digital through a Chord Hugo dac/headphone amp. However, gotta say, the HD800's were supremely comfortable and sounded great (I have HD 600's)

Anyone using HD800's? If so wondering what's your tube compliment.

Thanks
 
I've got HD800 and for output I use either a Bendix/Chatham graphite plate 6080 or Sylvania Gold Brand 6080GB with a Sylvania 5687 input tube. The 5687 is a different pin out (I installed a switch to let me use different tubes) and I personally like it better than the 12BH7, ECC80, and other 12AU7 variants. I recently got an Amperex and Mullard 12AU7 which I'll try with my 5998 at some point.
 
Got the Sylvania 5863's NOS for $14 a matched pair...and they work and sound lovely with a RCA 6AS7G Coke Bottle...absolutely a great sound without spending mega-bucks on WE's and 5998's!

Alex
 
adydula said:
I just got a Thompson - CSF 6080WA made in france  from, parts connexion in Canada...

$11 with shipping to my door!! A great deal...

Is very solid and stable no bad tendenacies at all.

Not microphonic, no buzzing or wierd noises in the background...

It sounds like the other tubes to me.....no real difference.

Alex

I ordered this tube and they wanted 10 for shipping.  On a $10 tube, I thought was ridiculous, so I canceled the order.
 
Just got an Amperex Bugle Boy 12AU7..ebay auction for $32....the most I have spent to date on tubes...

Its playing now and its really sounding very good with my favorite 6AS7G coke bottle.

I can swear that this is the best sound I have ever heard from my T90's to date....very 3 dimensional ....wow what
a nice soundstage!!

I would buy this tube again!

Alex
 
Nathan said:
Anyone using HD800's? If so wondering what's your tube compliment.

I always come back to a combo of RCA clear top 12AU7 and a Winged C 6H13C(6N13S).
The Winged C is slightly darker sounding than the 6080s I have tried, I like the synergy with the HD800.

I have a Siemens silver plate ECC82 which sounds very nice and detailed(maybe a tad much top end for a HD800 pairing), but unfortunately it's a bit noisy so I can't stand it in the long run.
Have a Mazda ECC82 on order, will be fun to see what it can do. 
 
Alex. Glad to hear your report on the bugleboy.  I just ordered a 50s NOS bugleboy for my crack and am looking forward to trying it out.
 
Back
Top