Tube Rolling w/Crack

ohshitgorillas said:
D'oh! I thought the 12AU7 was an equivalent. Welp, I guess I'll have to sell it as I don't really have any other use for it.

I ended up going with a Genalex Gold Lion and an RCA Clear Top. Will probably end up buying a 5998, the only other cheaper power tube which seemed to get consistently good reviews is the Svetlana "Winged C" which I'm researching more.
Click to expand...

I personally hate my 5998 and prefer the stock 6080 or Western Electric 421A.  99% of the time I run the Winged C tube now.  I think it is an excellent bang for the buck and "good" enough. Don't underestimate the 6080.  I have two cracks built more or less identically and one of them seems to have a sweet spot for a particular JAN 6080 tube and that's what I run in that Crack.

Look for the Mullard Box Plate CV4003 for your 12AU7, personally my favorite.
 
I loved my 5998.  Unfortunately, it died on me the other day.  I was switching out the 12AU7, and I didn't let it cool down long enough.  Turned it back on, and I get very little output.  Now I'm running a Bendix 6080WB graphite plate.  It's not as pretty as the 5998, but it does sound great.
 
Rocketman248 said:
I loved my 5998.  Unfortunately, it died on me the other day.  I was switching out the 12AU7, and I didn't let it cool down long enough.  Turned it back on, and I get very little output.  Now I'm running a Bendix 6080WB graphite plate.  It's not as pretty as the 5998, but it does sound great.
Click to expand...

Are there any consensus great 6080 variants besides the Bendix 6080wb graphite plate, the 5998, Brown base 6as7g and 421a?

While those are all great tubes finding something comprable without as high of a price would be very nice for the long term (I can stock up on them).
 
ZacharyP said:
Are there any consensus great 6080 variants besides the Bendix 6080wb graphite plate, the 5998, Brown base 6as7g and 421a?

While those are all great tubes finding something comprable without as high of a price would be very nice for the long term (I can stock up on them).
Click to expand...

Try GEC or Mullard 6080  ;)
 
ZacharyP said:
Are there any consensus great 6080 variants besides the Bendix 6080wb graphite plate, the 5998, Brown base 6as7g and 421a?

While those are all great tubes finding something comprable without as high of a price would be very nice for the long term (I can stock up on them).
Click to expand...

Sylvania Gold Brand GB6080 is in my regular rotation, along with the 5998 and graphite plate 6080.
 
serpent68 said:
Jamie, is the GEC 6080 and Mullard 6080 the same tube?
Click to expand...

No the GEC 6080 was only made as far as I am aware at the Marconi/GEC Brook Green Works, Hammersmith the same factory as the GEC 6as7g brown base and it looks like they both have the same plate structure but the 6AS7G version has the cup getters at the bottom while 6080 has halo getters at the top.

While the Mullard 6080 was manufactured at perhaps four or five location both in the UK and Europe.
 
Rocketman248 said:
I loved my 5998.  Unfortunately, it died on me the other day.  I was switching out the 12AU7, and I didn't let it cool down long enough.  Turned it back on, and I get very little output.  Now I'm running a Bendix 6080WB graphite plate.  It's not as pretty as the 5998, but it does sound great.
Click to expand...

Could you elaborate more on what it is you did that ruined your tube? How long should one let the amp cool down before pulling a tube?
 
Also, I recently got my hands on a 5998 in good condition as well as a clear top RCA and a Gold Lion.

Some quick notes (using HD600):

The 5998 is more linear than the stock tube and with significantly better separation, although I think I still prefer the stock tube for some music for its fuller bass and low mids.
The Genalex Gold Lion is my favorite thing so far. Bass is tight and clean and hits hard, mids are rich and full, vocals are smooth and real, and soundstage is very good.
The RCA clear top has really pretty treble, but I felt that the combo of the RCA and 5998 was a little bass light. I have yet to experiment with the stock tube and the clear top but I suspect it'll be quite good.
 
Hi guys,

I've done a few upgrades to my Crack+Speedball.

I added the big Dayton caps and they seem to be excellent.

Tubes I've settled on for now are an ordinary Chatham 6AS7G and an RCA VT-231 6SN7G smokey. This adapter has worked great, the noise floor has been more than acceptable.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320659633166&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_1080wt_793

Strictly listening to vinyl with a custom Technics SL-1210 and Beyer T90, T1, and Senn HD800. Results are spectacular for my needs.

The Technics is perfectly setup (Jelco SA-750D and Denon DL-301MK2) and the Crack noise floor is far below the groove noise from the vinyl which is minimal. I couldn't be happier with the result. Incredibly immersive.
 
The 6N1P is a variant of the 6DJ8 that requires more heater current, not a lot more.  So it can't just drop in. The plate and cathode will need modifying.

But it is a fine sounding tube.
 
I wish i have that tube so i can try it out but what i found in my shoe box are 8 Pcs of 6N6Pi anyway i will give it a try.
Hopefully no magic smoke.

Thanks!
 
The 6N6Pi works but not a plug n play,When i first plug it in this tube did not light up luckily i have a Desktop PS with a regulator set it to 6.3V and Voila it works surprisingly it's DEAD SILENT and sound nice too at least to my ears.

Thanks for all the reply.
 
The 6N1P has about twice the amplification factor of the 12AU7, which makes it pretty unsuitable for the Crack.  It also has a different pinout, so you'd have to move some wires around to get it to even glow.  Without the Speedball and some fiddling, getting the plate voltage under 100V is going to come with a fair number of compromises. 

 
Hi !

I'm got my Crack recently, and I'm using it with a HD800.
Coming from a Violectric V100, this Crack is incredible ! Big thanks to Bottlehead for this wonderful product btw.
I'm totally new to tube rolling, and looking for tubes would show me how much sound change you can get out of it. I'm opened to any kind of sound signature, as I listen to Classical music, Progressive rock and Electro, and I find different requirements for different album mixes. A tube I really need right now though is one that would give more bottom end, and roll of some treble for quite agressive mixes and bass focused music.
Any suggestions ?
Also how come TS&C5998 goes for like 150$ on eBay and only 85$ on vacuumtubes.net ? (are they also used ?)
At last what is the difference between the RCA 5814 grey plate and black plate ?

Thanks a lot.
 
What are you guys thoughts about these 12AU7 new production tubes  from JJ and EH?

Thanks!

JJ ECC802-S / 12AU7 Gold
JJ-ECC802S-Gold-Audio-Vacuum-Tube.jpg


Electro-Harmonix 12AU7A / ECC82EH Gold
Electro-Harmonix-12AU7-ECC82-Gold-Tube.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Spargle Spike
Periodic Static in right ear [resolved]
Replies
3
Views
1K
Spargle Spike
Spargle Spike
D
Unbearably Loud Static Noise from one failing 6080WB tube?
Replies
3
Views
2K
Tom-s
T
A
13D5 Brimar tube
Replies
6
Views
23K
atul.mehta6
A
W
6CG7 tubes with Crack & Speedball
Replies
1
Views
5K
Mucker
Mucker
W
Crack + Mods - finally complete
Replies
1
Views
5K
Karl5150
Karl5150
Back
Top