My Motherlode XL was also delivered with NOS Tung Sol tubes though in my case 6SN7s. I consider the Tung Sol's to be a fairly "neutral" tube and from my understanding that is what Aric is looking for in the supplied tube set. As I already owned multiple sets of the Tung Sol's from earlier preamps I was more than familiar with their sound. So after playing them for several days to test them for any noise issues I swapped them out for my preferred 6SN7 which are 40's-early 50's RCA black plates which are a warmer tube. As good 12AX7's and 5751's are expensive you really should give the supplied tubes a fair listen before going down the rabbit hole.
tube suggestions/ brand new to tubes
I tried to look for an Aric audio forum, couldn't locate one. As I just received my Aric Audio, Jackpot. (almost 6 mts wait) As I am new to tubes, Both my systems all SS to date. This system, (rock and Roll only) Pass X250.8, Aric audio Jackpot pre, Meitner DAC, Bricasti streamer, Sonus faber Guarneri G5 speakers. SVS Sb3000 single sub, smaller room. Streaming Audirvana through Qobuz.
Listened First time yesterday, couple of hrs. Made some necessary adjustments to Sub, balancing etc. Sounded very nice, warmer than my previous Benchmark LA-4 pre. Unknown how many hrs on tubes for break in purposes. Currently in place in the input stage a Tung- sol 5751, looks NOS. As its just breaking in,(for me) 2nd listening session later today. What my final objective is, transparency, micro detail, high frequency air, if that makes sense? Aric supplied the 5751 tube for the input stage. He mentioned in his owners manual 3 other tubes for rolling. 12AU7, 12AT7, 12AX7. With the mentioned earlier objective, sound wise, Can anyone make some suggestions of Brand (one better than the other) NOS or current. What companies are the GO TO for tubes,etc. I know I have to do a fair amount of listening and tweaking, just curious as to the above questions. Thanks so much. Robert TN
- ...
- 44 posts total
andys vintage tube services is the only top tier NOS retailer in the US and canada left. jim mcshane is in the process of winding down, and brent jesee (audiotubes.com) is under new ownership and quality of service has yet to be est |
I believe preamp tubes can be used to tune a system. Your system, once you removed the Benchmark, leans very warm. https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/additional-preamp-tubes |
There is quite a difference in sound between brands and models of 12AX7/ECC83 and 12AU7/5751 and 12AT7, etc. tubes. As a very general observation, Mullards tend toward the warmer/richer side and Telefunkens are leaner/more detailed/dynamic sounding. Somewhere in the middle are Amperex tubes and I recommend Amperex Bugle Boys as a tube that will please most listeners (safe choice). In my own phono stage, I run genuine Telefunken ECC803 (12AX7 equivalent) which are very dynamic sounding). I get away with running a leaner tube because the entire rest of my electronic chain is very warm (Western Electric 310a, 310b, 348, 349). |
op i agree with those saying don’t tube roll until you have at least 50-100 hrs time to burn in your new piece and the tubes 5751 are lower gain 12ax7 -- you can also step down to 12au7 (even lower gain)... how it affects the sound of your aric can only be learned by trying, no shortcuts available... leaving aside a different volume control setting which would likely result fyi - I have many many of these small signal tubes pairs that have been accumulated over the years, happy to assist if/when you are ready to roll some (it is a lot fun, but as some have mentioned, it is its own rabbit hole of sorts) among best of breed old stock 12v signal tubes, in my experience, you should look to at sylvania/amperexes among the usa made tubes, and telefunken/siemens/philips/tungsram among euro made ones |
- 44 posts total