Tubes...

Are this any good, thats what the Cayin has now...

6SL7GT NOS / Haltron, London
6SN7WGT / Electro-Harmonix, low noise matched

 

Not familiar with the 6SL7's, but the 6SN7's are no good. I posted links to a couple of sites dedicated to the best 6SN7's on the main thread about your cayin. You should look at them for ideas.

I replaced my chinese 6SN7's with 70's NOS CV1988 and they sound much, much better.

about £70 a pair.

Rgds,
DT

 

I am not familiar with the 6SL7GT NOS / Haltron or the Electro-H's.

Have a read of this

http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=119638

It's long, but halfway done you get into the tube reviews and these are a good guide as to what you can expect.
Electro-Harmonix are on it but not Haltron?!

I bought old stock off Ebay and all have been good and I'm still using the Tungsols / Kenrads and have numerous others in stock...
In my amp the 6SN7's are pretty un-stressed and should last 6000-8000 hrs.
Only 20WPC are extracted out of the KT88's so they are not that stressed either. A KT pair can be run to 25WPC, perhaps more.
I know Chinese amps are reported to run the tubes a little harder to get bigger watts.

Changing the tubes can make the sound change massively.
Really like treble and bass controls but without the drawbacks in extra circuitry. They can also affect the sound stage, realism and atmosphere in the music - you do have to spend some money and time though. That is all part of it though.

I have found that I like running two different types of tubes to get a more subtle set up / shape the sound even more.
Hence using Tungsols/Kenrads or Slyvania's/NU's etc etc.
I have 4 Kenrad's but all 4 in is just a bit too full blown and warm. Put a spicier tube upfront and, there, you have it.
The advantage is that tubes more often sell in pairs and not so often in quads.
You can also change tubes for a refreshing change every now and then.

You could ask to have the amp without tubes at a reduced price - I guess they will not play ball, but worth a try.
If not go for the E-H's and a good set of KT88's. Tesla's if they will.
Also ask if you can mix 6SN7 tubes (in pairs) - I can't see why not as they all conform to the same spec.
They might not like you doing this I guess, as it will give a better sounding amp than they can supply.

 

I have to wait and see if it sounds good with the new tubes...

I heard very good things about the EAT KT88, are they worth 800 euros for a quad...

 

I've not heard EAT KT88's.
I thought GEC NOS are supposed to be the bee's knees.
Must do some research into EAT...

 

I had EAT's

Sounded nice but one arrived with a cathode short and.....BANG.

Crap service trying to get a replacement - gave up and can't say I missed them. Spend the £500 on some music.

 

The EAT do improve Primalunas a lot, and they say they last longer than other tubes...

People that heard them also say they make the amps sound livelier, plus stronger bass...

I like the Tripath sound, I have BelCanto, and the TEAC, very good bass and midrange, extended highs, but not harsh , wich tubes will sound more like this...

 

the nearest valve to solid state is the 6550 in my opinion.

implementation obviously depending.

 

I got the Cayin back since friday, this is a different amplifier all toguether... :yikes:

No more HUMMM or THUMP... :guiness:

It sounds very powerfull, the louder I play the better it sounds, unlike the TEAC...

Great stage, on the last track of the Pink Floyd PULSE DVD, sound made a complete 360 turn, passing behind me, I even looked back when it started, so real...

Lots of clean reble, maybe Schallwand was right when they said I didnt need supertweeters with this speakers... :newbie:

 

Good valves make such a difference.....

 

Excellent!
I did some tube rolling last night.
For 6SN7's I settled on a matched quad of Tung Sol's as the input tubes.
They just seemed to suit my mood and the music.
The Tungs have a very good mid range and clear tight bass that is not quite as extended as the Ken Rad's.

Have fun...

 

I could quite get into regular tube rolling, if I had a bit more money or access to cheaper valves . I've settled upon a combination of RCA and Brimar for my input tubes; a significant improvement in sound quality over the Golden Dragons that my amp came with.

Glad to hear that the Cayin is not so much of a disappointment now!