smartin53
Well-Known Member
Having been messing with a tube headphone amp and my Dynaco ST-70 the choice of tubes definitely does have an impact. Of course the specific impact is all about opinion and preference (don't forget whatever impact worn out or newly replaced caps and resistors have). Of course tubes distort sound in different ways...that's kind of the point. I had originally been using JJ KT77s in my ST-70 but they kept roasting (a known issue with that specific JJ model) so I switched to Tung-Sol EL34s and the problem was solved. There is a difference in sound (the JJs were punchier and had a bit more low end) but I still like em...especially since I no longer walked into my living room to the sound or screeching and a cherry red tube from time to time.
I for one have a bunch of tubes lined up for my MC240 and MX110 when I get back from Afghanistan and get them rebuilt. Original McIntosh 6L6GCs (prolly worn out), SovTek KT66s, and some Re-Issue Gold Lion KT66s along with the original smaller tubes, some old NOS ones, and some new production ones. I kinda hope the MX110 has its original tube complement and was lightly used...we shall see. Scored the set on ebay back when I started this deployment and haven't even seen em yet. One more month
I for one have a bunch of tubes lined up for my MC240 and MX110 when I get back from Afghanistan and get them rebuilt. Original McIntosh 6L6GCs (prolly worn out), SovTek KT66s, and some Re-Issue Gold Lion KT66s along with the original smaller tubes, some old NOS ones, and some new production ones. I kinda hope the MX110 has its original tube complement and was lightly used...we shall see. Scored the set on ebay back when I started this deployment and haven't even seen em yet. One more month