Dennis Had Inspire Amps

[Tyson]

Pic with the new (and NOS) tubes installed:

[Bombadil]

Originally Posted by Comzee

Also a quick list of my personal favorites. I don't have one, because I'm a tube swapping machine.

Is there something equivalent to AA where one can go to get help with this tube swapping addiction?

Over the past 10 days I've had 4 different power tubes, two rectifiers and 3 6SN7 tubes in mine.

[Masterlu]

Paging Bob aka Vintage Tube.

[Bombadil]

Originally Posted by Tyson

Can I play too? I'm super stoked to have picked up a pair of MB 12 Inspire Monoblocks, circa 2014:


I actually took the KT150s out before I turned it on and replaced them with some Gold Lion KT77s

Are you going to swap them to compare? So far I'm thinking I like the KT150s a bit better in my amp but the KT77s do have their strengths. And as they are being driven differently in your amp and played in a different system and different room, I really wouldn't know which sounds better there.

[FloridaBoy]

Originally Posted by Bombadil

Is there something equivalent to AA where one can go to get help with this tube swapping addiction?

Over the past 10 days I've had 4 different power tubes, two rectifiers and 3 6SN7 tubes in mine.

Face it Bomber, you are a Tube-swap-O-holic. I am also afflicted. There is no cure. Just enjoy.

[Tyson]

Originally Posted by Bombadil

Are you going to swap them to compare? So far I'm thinking I like the KT150s a bit better in my amp but the KT77s do have their strengths. And as they are being driven differently in your amp and played in a different system and different room, I really wouldn't know which sounds better there.

I am. I have a bunch of tubes that are in my stash that I plan on swapping in. I like to run one whole set together for a while, then swap to a whole new set and run them in for a while. That's because I have a ton of tubes that have never been used before, so I like to run a new input tube, a new output tube, and a new rectifier tube in all at the same time. More efficient that way. Also, it always takes me at least a couple weeks listening to really get a good handle on any changes.

For Rectifiers I have:

Sovtek 5AR4 (2)
Genelex GZ34 (2)
CBS Hytron 5Y3GT (2)
Raytheon Type 80 (2)
Tung Sol 5U4GB (2)
Tube Store Preferred 276B


Input tubes I have:

Sylvania VT99 (2)
Tung Sol VT99 (1)
Tung Sol 7N7 (2)
Westinghouse 7N7 (1)
Russian 6H8C (2)
Tung Sol 6SN7 GTB new production (5)
Hitachi 6SN7 GTB (2)
Sylvania 6SN7 WGTA (3)
Sylvania 6SN7 GTA black plates (2)
Sylvania 6SN7 GTB Full Chrome Dome (2)
Sylvania 6SN7 GTB Top D Getter (2)
Tung Sol 6SN7 GTB black plates (2) NOS
Raytheon 6SN7 GTB (2)
GE 6SN7 GTB side getter (2)


And Output tubes I have:

Tung Sol 6V6GT (2) Old Production
National Union 6V6GT (2)
CBS 6L6 Metal Clad (3)
Japanese 6L6GC (2)
RCA 6L6GA (2)
Phillips (Dupont) EL84 (2)
Gold Lion EL84 (2)
Tung Sol 6AR6WA (3)
National Union 807 (2)
Russian 6N3CE (6)
Electro Harmonix EL34 (6)
Mullard EL34 (2) New Production
Svetlana EL34 (2)
Gold Lion KT66 (6)
Gold Lion KT77 (2)
Black Treasure KT88 (6)
Gold Lion KT88 (5)
Sovtek KT88 (3)
Penta Labs KT88-SC (5)
Tung Sol KT150 (2)

[Tyson]

My plan is to start with:

5u4gb Tung Sol
KT77 Gold Lion
6sn7 GE

Next up will probably be:

274b Tube Store Preferred
KT150 Tung Sol new production
6SN7 Hitachi

After that, dunno, maybe:

GZ34 Gold Lion
KT88 Black Treasure
Tung Sol 7N7

Although at some point I also want to try some lower powered combos too, like:

5YG3 CBS Hytron
EL84 Phillips
6SN7 Tung Sol vintage

or

Type 80 Raytheon
6L6 CBS metal clad
VT99 Tung Sol

Any one tried these combos before?

[BearCityUSA]

Had fun at Shelby, NC Hamfest on Friday. IMG_7649.jpg

Fired up a pair on NOS Sylvania 6f6gt just now. Do need some break in but are filling out as I type.

[Bombadil]

I decided to not try any EL84 in my amp. I know my amp runs KT88s at max, so I don't think any rectifier will bring down the voltages to the 300V recommended max of an EL84. I know people run EL84s harder than that, up to 350V or more, but I just didn't see any reason to take the risk. Plus as I have an Inspire SE EL84 amp, I'll just use it.

[Bombadil]

Hamfests are dangerous places for me to be. I do love them.