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Audio Research CD7's 6H30 tube rolling

The CD7 uses 6H30 tubes - 3 for power supply and 4 for the output stage.

Presently there are only new 6H30 tubes from Sovtek and Electro-Harmonix and NOS 6H30-DR tubes from the Russian military from around 20 years ago.

Some people have commented that the NOS tubes are sweeter sounding and have more "air" extension with their CJ or ARCref3 preamp equipment and others have commented that the latest new tubes (around 2005+?) sound so good that there isn't any difference anymore in sound.

Has anyone done tube rolling for this CD machine with the NOS tubes? And with what results? Would it be better to change the 3 power tubes or the 4 output tubes? Or all 7 tubes perhaps?

Thanks in advance for any comments!
flkin

Showing 1 response by hansk46

hansk46's avatar
hansk46
122 posts
 
Hello Flkin , after 2 years of use , I decided to rollout the current 6H30P-EB tubes by the DR version , I swapped all the 7 tubes . Result is that the NOS tubes sound better
in every aspect the AR is famous for . But I also have changed the clock with its own powersupply ) Tentlabs , a Dutch brand ).This makes the CD7 even a more better player ,bigger soundstage and more air .I think that in my situation the clock is responsible for 60 % and the tubes for 40 % for the better sound.
Greetings from the Netherlands Hans
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