Tube Rolling w/Crack

Adelz said:
I recently finished my Crack and want to try out some other tubes. What are the most reliable places to buy tubes online? Also, would something like a 5814A and 5998A be a good start? Having no experience with tube amps other than the Crack, I feel a little in the dark regarding how much of a difference I can expect from different tubes and what a reasonable amount to spend on a tube is (there appears to be a huge price range for seemingly similar tubes).
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Hi Adelz,

Yes those are actually some great tubes. Try the Tung Sol 5998's from vacuumtubes.net for $85 (Cheapest price online) and the CBS "JHY" Hytron 5814a. You will be wowed by the combination.

I actually have a question to you CBS Hytron 5814a owners. Is there a difference between the newer JHY version and the vintage one?

Here are two links to the new one and the old one.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PAIR-CBS-HYTRON-JHY-5814a-BEST-12AU7-Made-Blk-Plt-D-Getter-Vacuum-Tubes-8-V54-/231451459914?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35e395014a

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-CBS-Hytron-JHY-5814-12au7-ECC82-BLACK-plates-tube-Test-NOS-/171631998987?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item27f610780b

I'm curious to know if they will provide a different sound as they look very similar with flat black plates and "D" getter.

Thanks!
 
russell_janab said:
Just got my russian winged C 6H13C and Gold Lion ECC82 ...man what can I say. The sound stage feels much wider, the base tighter and it is extremely neutral with an added clarity.
I added a dedicated DAC (Schiit Modi) instead of the Fiio E10 I was using and I have to say it feels cleaner. Only problem is prying myself away from the music :)

Thinking about ordering the 5998 from vacuumtubes.net

I highly recommend thetubestore.com, they are Canadian. Tubes arrived 2 days after I ordered them.
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Those are two tubes I've never heard about. How can you compare them with the more mainstream ones like the Mullard, Bugle Boys 12au7's or the CBS/Hytron's 5814a's?

I know that feeling. The Crack made my cans sound so good I am rooted to them for good :D

 
Hey Jimbo,
The combination is great. I highly recommend the Gold Lion ECC82, it is a bit pricey ($43) but the base seems very clean and tight, the stage much wider,  the sound feels more immersing with more neutrality and detail. I listen to Jazz, blues and progressive trance. I am excited to try it with 5998
 
So, I'm not going to lie.  I honestly thought that tube rolling was going to be a whole lot of smoke, mirrors, and snake oil.  I didn't think that there would be an appreciable difference in sound, especially to my untrained, non-audiophile ears.  I'm happy to report that I was wrong.  First thing I did when I got back from buying those tubes was listen to the stock tubes for about an hour, listening to a variety of genres.  Then I let it cool down and popped in the RCA 5814A.  There was an immediate boost in the bass, and a nice boost in the overall body of the sound.  I spent another hour listening to the same genres, and I was loving what I was hearing.  Then I put the GE 6AS7GA in and it tamed some of the boominess, and tightened everything up.  All of this was initial improvements.  Now I'll have to see if the whole burn-in thing exists.  :)
 
Hey, thanks for all of the advice. I think I'm going to go with the Tung Sol 5998 available on vacuumtubes.net and either the CBS Hytron 5814A or Mullard CV4003. How do those two input tubes compare?
 
Alright, so my Crack isn't even fully built yet, but I'm curious about cheap options for tube rolling. I have HD600s with Cardas cable. My kit came with RCA 6080 and a 12AU7 I can't identify (it has a sticker with 97/97 on it). I can't spend much, but would like to know what's out there in the budget price range that would complement my HD600s. I listen to all genres.
 
I would go with a 5998 tube for $85.....or if that is too much an RCA 6AS7G but the 5998 is much better.

A lot of people go with an RCA Clear Top 12AU7 that have the HD 600 AND hd650 to lift the veil.

try a bunch and see what you think.

...Dave
 
Has anyone ever bought from vacuumtubes.net? I filled in an order form for a 5998 but it just leads to a confirmation page but nothing else, they didn't take payment details or send an email to confirm, should I be waiting for something?
 
I bought my 5998 from them but I ordered by phone. They shipped quickly and the tube is great. So, I'd give them a call.
 
InXcesS said:
Has anyone ever bought from vacuumtubes.net? I filled in an order form for a 5998 but it just leads to a confirmation page but nothing else, they didn't take payment details or send an email to confirm, should I be waiting for something?
Click to expand...

I ordered the 5998 Tung Sol's using their form. They're very legit and I got the Tube less than a week later. You will receive the confirmation e-mail either the same day or the next. They're not quite up to date on the instant confirmation e-mail receipt yet. They are 100% legit though and probably one of the best sellers for tubes online.
 
I 2nd  jimbo's post.  Vacuumtubes.net are great.  In Canada I recevied my tubes 6 or 7 business days later.

Take care...Dave
 
vaccumtubes.net are great! I spoke with them on the phone. Once you get a confirmation page, it does take them 48 hours to send you a bill or charge you. Reason being is that they verify they have the tube on hand and extensively test it so there are no issues once you receive it. Their prices are also among the best on the net.

Simply a pleasure to deal with
 
denti alligator said:
Alright, seems the 5998s are universally liked.

One vote for the RCA Clear Top 12AU7 for HD600s. Any others?
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I have a Chatham 5998 and I for the life of me don't like it anymore. Although I do concur with you that for some reason the relatively low end RCA Clear Top is a perfect fit in the Crack circuit.  That and the Mullard CV4003. 

I put my 5998 in yesterday and tried to listen and I couldn't stand it.  My Winged C Svetlana sounds better to my ears.  My 5998 tests strong as well on my TV-7 tester.
 
John EH said:
I have a Chatham 5998 and I for the life of me don't like it anymore. Although I do concur with you that for some reason the relatively low end RCA Clear Top is a perfect fit in the Crack circuit.  That and the Mullard CV4003. 

I put my 5998 in yesterday and tried to listen and I couldn't stand it.  My Winged C Svetlana sounds better to my ears.  My 5998 tests strong as well on my TV-7 tester.
Click to expand...

What do you have in the input with the 5998's? The Winged C Svetlana sounds interesting. How can you compare them to the 5998's?

Jim
 
Jimb0 said:
What do you have in the input with the 5998's? The Winged C Svetlana sounds interesting. How can you compare them to the 5998's?

Jim
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Mullard CV4003.  I got two Winged C's on eBay for $20 recently.  I really don't like the sound of the 5998, however I LOVE the sound of my Western Electric 421A.
 
John EH said:
Mullard CV4003.  I got two Winged C's on eBay for $20 recently.  I really don't like the sound of the 5998, however I LOVE the sound of my Western Electric 421A.
Click to expand...

Never heard the CV4003's before. Have you tried pairing them with a different input tube? The 5998 sound wonderful with CBS Hytron 5814a's.

What sound qualities did you dislike about the 5998 that the Winged C provides?

I hope you LOVE the WE 421A! If I were to spend that much on a tube I hope to fall head over heels on them  ;D

Jim
 
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