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[Dave S.]

Hi -

I'm pretty new to tube audio, and recently purchased a Decware SE84C.
I'd like to keep a backup set of tubes around, just in case...what
would good replacement tubes be? Stock, it comes with two Svetlana
SV83's, a Sovtek 61NP and Sovtek 5Y3GT rectifier. Could I improve the
performance of the amp by switching out some of these tubes for better
quality ones? I've heard good things about JJ Electronics/Tesla
tubes...would these be an improvement over the Svetlana's/Sovteks?
Thanks for putting up with my newbie-ness.

[Choky]

look for RH84 design
you can find one fresh thread now on Diyaudio.com (in tube forum )


--
--
..........................................................................
Choky
Prodanovic Aleksandar
YU

"don't use force, "don't use force,
use a larger hammer" use a larger tube
- Choky and IST"
- ZM
.............................................................................
"Dave S." <micropower_fm@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1104456285.973155.281230@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
| Hi -
|
| I'm pretty new to tube audio, and recently purchased a Decware SE84C.
| I'd like to keep a backup set of tubes around, just in case...what
| would good replacement tubes be? Stock, it comes with two Svetlana
| SV83's, a Sovtek 61NP and Sovtek 5Y3GT rectifier. Could I improve the
| performance of the amp by switching out some of these tubes for better
| quality ones? I've heard good things about JJ Electronics/Tesla
| tubes...would these be an improvement over the Svetlana's/Sovteks?
| Thanks for putting up with my newbie-ness.
|

[cowboy]

be sure you are getting the REAL Svetlana (now called S.E.D. or "winged C")

you see, this jerkoff named Mike Matthews (electro-harmonix), has scammed
away the rights to the names of many famous brands of tubes, and is selling
crappy-sounding cheap Sovtek (Reflektor) tubes under the legendary names of
Svetlana, Mullard, Tung-Sol, Genalex, etc. (pure greed, probably legal, but
certainly not ethical)

Decware supplies Sovtek tubes to keep the initial amp cost down and get you
hooked on tube audio, but you can do MUCH better with a little online
shopping.

so look for the symbol of the letter "C" with a circle around it and 3 tiny
lines coming off each side of the circle, for the real "made in St.
Petersburg" legendary Svetlana (the are often referred to as "winged C" or
SED) --- that is the best SV83 ever made.

----------------------------------------------------

for the 5Y3GT, get vintage NOS RCA or Tung-Sol off ebay from a reliable
seller, avoid any tube with the letters ECG in the name, i.e. Sylvania ECG
or Philips ECG, they suck. (ironicly, old Sylania tubes, and Philips
Miniwatt are some of the best sounding tubes! - go figure) - also avoid
tubes calling themselves JAN-Philips

I believe the best rectifier of all for your amp is the slow heating 6087
(5Y3WGTB) made by GE 5star, also on ebay, but will take a bit of hunting -
this 15 second warmup indirectly heated tube will baby the plates of your
other tubes and cause everything in the amp to last longer - these are only
about $15 and will last practically forever.
www.mif.pg.gda.pl/homepages/frank/sheets/083/6/6087.pdf

-----------------------------------------------------

for the russian 6N1P - I like to use the 6922 instead, a better, high end
industrial grade tube
NOS RCA 6922 is a good value, again, off ebay -- also, any european ECC88 is
also very good here

if you are rich or something, use an NOS german CCa or E88CC in this
position (example brands would be Telefunken, Siemens, Valvo)


JJ Tesla are nearly as good sounding as real Svetlana's to my ears, and
probably the 2nd best new production tube, but with ample superior-sounding
1950's tubes on ebay, available for 2 out of the 3 tubes your amp uses, why
bother?


cheers!

cowboy




"Dave S." <micropower_fm@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1104456285.973155.281230@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...

[Fabio Berutti]

A tube is as good as any other tube as long as it fulfills the specs, don't
expect real advantages but in terms of useful service life among any decent
ones.
Be careful: the SV83 IS NOT an EL84, its basing is different and its rating
is lower!! Unless You check and modify as required the amp's wiring You
cannot just plug in an EL84 and go!
AFAIK the SV83 is the Russian tube model 6P15P (EL84=6P14P), which was also
made by Reflektor. I suppose that You can go on happily with the Svetlanas
You have.
Some space for improvement could be found in the driver tube, but once again
the 6N1P IS NOT AN ECC88. It has the same pinout and same curves (within
limits), but it stands 300V anode (instead of 120) and it sucks 0.6A to heat
up (instead of 0.3). Think of it as an ECC88 on hormones. If You find a
cheap (<15$) US or European NOS 6922 (uprated ECC88) You can try the swap.
As per the rectifier, the Sovtek 5Y3GT (which is a Russian 5Z4M) is an
indirect-heating tube which provides soft start-up and it will sound as good
as any other 'cos DC is DC.

Briefly: if You want to collect fancy NOS tubes and You're happy playing
with them, swapping'em in and out Your amp, welcome in our club, but don't
expect to hear any vast improvement.

Ciao

Fabio
"Dave S." <micropower_fm@hotmail.com> ha scritto nel messaggio
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