MC2301 amplifiers - Tube rolling 12AT7's

[Timobi]

Enjoying the discussion & observations on the tube rolling.

I think I may order some tubes soon.

[Timobi]

Originally Posted by crwilli

Hmmm, Never mind. Testing tubes tests my patience more than having to listen to my wife talk for an hour with her girlfriend.

Here are some thoughts and a WTF on my time spent listening to Genelux GL 12AT7, OEM (Sovtek?) 12AT7 and Siemens ECC801S in my McIntosh MC2301 amplifiers.

A little description of each tube.

Goldlions - used well over 2500 hours

They are very balanced with strong low end and a nice upper end. No sizzle - just right sounding cymbals.

OEM Tubes (Sovteks?) Unknown hours

They bring a bit more bloom to the sound stage but miss that extra ‘ting’ in the cymbals and overall ‘air’ around the music the GLs and Siemens have.

Siemens EC801S - 1982 Vintage NOS

Pins are blued... didn’t clean them up.

When cold I could hear the ‘sizzle’ that Dan mentioned early on in this thread. After 10-15 minutes, they lose the bad part of that and become quite pleasing with lots of detail in the sound.

As compared to the GLs, they definitely bring Linda Ronstadt a little closer to me (used to think that would be a great thing)

I have put the GLs back in and will order new ones. They really have a balance to them. They plumb the depths of bass with clarity and bring an upper register that is open without any sizzle or sparkle. Having decided that, I could live with the Siemens EC801s as well. It really comes down to preference of having Linda’s voice behind the line of the speakers (and dream about her being closer).

Now time to install my new GL KT-88s and replace the mix of OEM and GL KT88s currently installed.

Addendum: So what did I hear a couple of weeks ago that made me feel fatigued with the GLs that along with this thread caused me to test the OEM tubes? Who knows? I blame it on Covid-19 as I can’t explain it. I can hear the difference the OEM tubes bring versus the GLs so perhaps it was simply the music I was listening to at the time. Although I did go through a few songs off my Demo 1 playlist and heard the OEM tubes better the GLs at the time.

Haven’t reproduced that. Funny, subjective hobby.

Craig

Thanks for the great summary Craig.

Any of you guys familiar with Brimar tubes? Tubemonger pretty high on those.

[crwilli]

Hey Tim, I have no experience with or knowledge of the Brimar tubes.

[rob725]

I'm about to pull the trigger and see a variety of opinions from various vendors. Any tube vendors especially liked or better to avoid?

[Timobi]

Well I ordered some of the ones you guys did. Siemens

https://www.tubemonger.com/ProductDe...e=236&CartID=1


And these too . Brimar
https://www.tubemonger.com/ProductDe...%2DSL&CartID=2

Looking forward to trying these out.

Is there a video on how to roll tubes for dummies & newbies?

[W9TR]

Originally Posted by Timobi

Well I ordered some of the ones you guys did. Siemens



https://www.tubemonger.com/ProductDe...e=236&CartID=1





And these too . Brimar

https://www.tubemonger.com/ProductDe...%2DSL&CartID=2



Looking forward to trying these out.



Is there a video on how to roll tubes for dummies & newbies?

You don’t need no stinking video . The only thing I do is wear gloves and pull straight up on the tubes while wiggling just a little.

This pics were great, thanks.

[crwilli]

Originally Posted by W9TR

You don’t need no stinking video . The only thing I do is wear gloves and pull straight up on the tubes while wiggling just a little.

This pics were great, thanks.

What HE said!

[Timobi]

Did I miss the pics?

I’m sure it’s easy

[Timobi]

My new tubes arrived today. Yes that was FAST! I’ll start the rolling later this week.

BTW last night my system sounded the best it has in a long time! I upgraded the power cables on my Martin Logan CLX speakers & really was a nice uptick. More presence & quicker transients.

I bet I jammed for about 10 hours yesterday I kept finding favorites on Roon.

[Timobi]

Ok I think I did it nothing broken or burned up.

I was thinking there might be some sort of tactile click once inserted but there’s not.

No longer a tube rolling virgin.

Not sure what the sweet spot in terms of hours on these Is but I know it’s not the first night.

I just rolled the 12AT7 driver tubes .

https://www.tubemonger.com/Siemens_1...eswe_p/236.htm

I’ll play with these for awhile. Then later after break in put the OEM tubes back in to compare.

Then try the Brimar.

So how do you guys store the OEM tubes? Place in the box of new tubes?