Tube Rolling - Golden Audio SEP-1

[RuSsMaN]

Well, what the title implies.

I decided it was time to pop the hood on the SEP-1 line stage, and try some different tubes out. The tube that WAS in it, was a Westinghouse.

I just popped in an NOS Amperex Bugle Boy 6DJ8 (thanks to my AK Secret Santa), and WOW. I thought it sounded good before, it's like the soundstage grew even wider and deeper - and there seems to be a little more 'airiness' to the music. The mids aren't rolled off, but they seem to sound a little more natural, not as sharp as they were prior.

Honestly, I wasn't expecting it to sound so much better, just different (good or bad). God I love tubes, it amazes me how a simple, fast swap can change the tonal signature of your entire rig. With sand preamps, I might try a cable swap, but more often than not, if I didn't like it - it meant selling it and getting something else to try.

I have a couple more 6DJ8's from Thatcher to try too. (thank you kind sir!)

Cheers,
Russ

[spkrman57]

I have also found myself trying so many different tubes that I get confused what kind of sound I am getting. With a certain tube change the sound will get brighter, but with others I get a relaxed soundstage where I start thinking of what kind of music I want to play, then pick the tube with the best characteristics to match.
So I sometimes daydream at work what music I want to play and think about what tubes I will use for that evening.
Ron

[Thatch_Ear]

More than glad to corrupt you Russ. Try out that GE and se how it holds up against the Bugle Boy. That is what I am very curious about. I don't know if you listened to Fred's Ella when we rolled a pair into it, but if you didn't I am not going to try and influence what you hear.
You did get the tube that tested the best and most balanced, don't be surprised if it seems louder because the gain stages tested at over 95%.
Oh, and even though both these tubes are marked 6DJ8s since they have the plate dividing and separating the 2 sections they fall into the mil spec 6922 catagory. Some animals are more equal than others.
:D

[MikE]

I thought you might like them! MikE

[RuSsMaN]

Mike, I can't TELL you how happy I am. You took the time, and found a VERY personal gift - I'm effin THRILLED to say the least.

What's also cool, is the SEP-1 technically isn't even built like a preamp - it's actually a small SET amp - it just doesn't have enough power to drive a pair of speakers. So I guess I have an amp, driving my amp?

Hell, one thing I do know is I am hooked on this stuff now. I almost don't want to try other tubes, and get into an endless loop of what sounds better, what sounds different, this one has good mids but high noise, this one has laid back mids but low noise...

The MADNESS OF AT ALL!!!

Cheers,
Russ

[RuSsMaN]

Oh, and Mr. Thatcher - I'll definately check out the other tubes and report back.

Hell, if you have the time in the not-so-distant future - we can check it out together. I don't know why - maybe because I don't know what a certain brand/make of tube *should* do - but I feel totally un-biased in my listening tests. I'm just looking (listening) for differences - beit to my taste or not.

Cheers,
Russ

[Thatch_Ear]

Turn your toys on some morning, let them warm up and use something that you know very well to listen to. Change the tube and do it again.
Alone is best, because you can't ask anyone if they heard something. Worst case is that the 1st tube sounds better than the one I gave you. I listened and that was good for sitting on top of a Carver power amp. You like the Bugle Boy better. Now you have a 3rd.
One of the things we did Saturday at Luther's was to crank his SS system up and listen to some 30 year old rock. You know that tubes could not play that on those speakers.
You also know what it sounds like mid level in yours. Some things need extremly efficient speakers if you want to do it with tubes, but you know the SS and the big guns will always work.
What you got a taste of was both. Some stuff does just sound more alive using tubes and high efficiency, usually in a simple set up. SS can give life to BIG dynamics using low efficiency but extremly sensative speakers. I have never heard Heart of the Sunrise better than over the Yammy, Carver, ML and BassMaxx system. What a treat.
In the other room those little TL with 2 4" drivers were kicking ass with music that was not quite as demanding but still very dynamic. I think 3 systems pushed those speakers. All were great. All needed more time and much more quiet than we had to evaluate them.
The thing that was really outstanding about the whole meet was that the worst thing played was head and shoulders above what Average Joe ever even gets a chance to listen to. Some of it was so above Avarage Joe that he wouldn't believe you if you told him. We just had to drive to hear it.
Fred, sorry, I just had to hear it!!