Lab12 Melto 2 - tube rolling


Just acquired a well cared for Melto 2. Wanted to give a tube phono stage a try in my system. 
The unit comes with stock 2 Electro Harmonics 6922 and 2 OTK1 Russian military 6n23p EB tubes. 
I’d like to hear from the Melto 2 owners, or owners of phono stages that utilize 6922 tubes, about your experience with replacing EH 6922 with better tubes.

Sound characteristics - what changed, what was the improvement?

Considering current production Gold Lions as I remember liking them in the Rogue line stage…but those were 12AU7 and not 6922. 

Table/cart - VPI Prime X/Hana Umami Blue

Cables - kimber carbon phono from table to Melto2, kimber carbon XLR from phono stage to integrated

Any thoughts? 

audphile1

@audphile1 

Hannk’s Soul Station and Dexter’s Swingin’ Affair are among my favorite Blue Note Records. Some of my other favorites from BN Label, 

Stanley Turrentine; The Three Sounds - Blue Hour

Paul Chambers Quartet - Bass On Top

Ike Quebec - Blue & Sentimental

Kenny Burrell - Midnight Blue

Shirley Horn - You Won’t Forget Me (Qobuz) - Fabulous content and recording.

@lalitk ”If You Go” from that Shirley Horn album is one of the reference tracks I use to evaluate my setup. I’ll check the other albums you recommended thanks!

The Qobuz is probably taken from her LP on Steeplechase.  The most silent backgrounds of any LPs I own are on Steeplechase, along with certain ECM LPs. (I think you may mean "If you go away", the English translation of a French title, rather than "If You Go", by the way.)

@lewm no I didn’t mess up the Shirley Horn song name. I think you may be thinking of a different song. 

@audphile1 

“If You Go” and “Beautiful Love” are indeed reference tracks. They’re the kind of recordings that quietly reveal everything….tone, texture, timing, and emotional intent. When a system is dialed in, “If You Go” exposes midrange purity and vocal intimacy, while “Beautiful Love” becomes a masterclass in harmonic richness, spatial layering, and decay.