Tube Question...

[beardog03]

I got off work early today (12hrs) to come home and play with my minty fresh Parasound HCA-3500 (NIB), and my new Dodd tube pre amp...

I am new to the tubes , and must be doing something wrong,
So I was hoping for some direction from you guys that know
what time it is...

I hooked it all up when I first got it, I must have shut it down too quickly or something, because the next time I went to play the system, the tube on the right was white on top instead of black.

I figured that I burned up the tube so I started The quest for some replacements.

I found some on d`gon and They arrived today so I came home fast as I could to check em out.

This is what I got...

Siemens (in Raytheon label) EC88CC / 6922 Gold Pin...60`s
It says on the tube ...made in Germany
On the box Raytheon CK6922
On the top of the tubes ...100/102 105/107

The other set..

Amprex 6DJ8/EC88...1962
on the Box....date packed 8/62
on the tube...made in Hollond
on the top of tubes...108/109 108/108

Are these good tubes ?
Which ones should I try first ?
How long should I warm them up for ?
How long after I turn the amp off should I wait to turn the tubes off?

I`m new to the tube thing, and I`m kinda cookin in the dark...
Any advise ?

Thanks in advance...

Beardog

[dorokusai]

When not in use, the pre-amp "Operate/Mute" switch should always be in "Mute".

Power Up

Mute
Power on pre-amp
Power on amplifier
Power on source, you should hear the two relays click inside the amp as your hand is moving up here
Go have a snack....let everything warm up for about 30 minutes
When you get back, flip to "Operate" and rock out

Power Down

Mute
Power off pre-amp
Power off amplifier
Power off source

You don't have to wait a certain amount of time before you turn these things off....just make sure the pre-amp is the first one in each step. Don't be in a hurry, but don't be F1Nut either.

1. Good tubes.
2. Doesn't matter.
3. 30 min. minimum IMO
4. That's what you did wrong. I'm suprised you didn't get a couple loud pops in your speakers.

Also remember that this pre-amp has alot of gain, 18db, so you need to be conscious of your volume knob and it's level before you go scaring the crap out of yourself.

[beardog03]

Your the man Doro..!!:cool:

I put in the Gold Pins...
Pre on...
Amp...click/click...yeah man..!!
Cdp..on..

Pouring drink....
18 yr scotch...(special occasion ya know)

Longest 30 min of my life...started..:D

Guess I can finish e-mail to the rack guy..!!

[RuSsMaN]

ALWAYS (with a tube line stage).....

Amp on last (I like to give a tube pre at least 30secs to get the plate voltage stabalized before amp power-up).

Amp off first.

The made in Germany Siemens are Telefunken, good tubes. The Amperex are great tubes also, but the early ones tend to be microphonic. A light thump on the tube with your finger nail will prove it (while in use).

If you want some 1980's NOS Jan's to try, let me know. I find them the best overall tube for my Melos Line Amps, which is what your Dodd is based on.

Cheers,
Russ

[RuSsMaN]

Re-read Mark's post.

The Dodd line amps do have the 'mute' function, which esstentially disconnects all the inputs and outputs - so you could turn on the line amp in 'mute' and go ahead and power up the amp also.

I would however leave it in mute for 30 secs - 3 minutes for plate voltage to stabalize.

Cheers,
Rooster

[beardog03]

Thanks for the tips...

Russman...I tried what you said with the slight nail tap after the first cd was over..

I could hear it in the left one but not so much in the right...
I have the gold pins in right now..

I would really like to check out the tubes that you suggested.
Send me the info , and I will get ya paid..!!

I love this set up !!:D

I never knew what I was missing...
My pops tried to clue me in years ago...
I get it now...just wish he was around to hear what I put together
so far...

I might have to sell my s/s gear to get a better CDP !!

I also can hear a slight buzz when the music stops and the volume is all the way down, and I put my ear close to the speaker....kind of a slight hissing -buzz.
Is that my power (electricity) comming through ?

[dorokusai]

That's normal, it's tubes dude, not solid state ;)

You have gone balls to the wall Bear, I'm stoked for you. You have made some choices that you won't be changing anytime soon.

What's your first impressions sonically? I mean tell us about the difference in what you were used to previously.

What CDP are you using now?

You need to get in touch with Paul, he's gonna hook you up, so don't let me down :)

[beardog03]

Thanks Doro..!!

I agree...won`t be changing anything for quite a while..:D

I e-mailed Paul while I was waiting for the tubes to warm up.

First thing I noticed was the sound filled the air more with tubes as compaired to s/s.
The horns sound like real horns..! (imagine that!)
The cymbals sound like rain...
I hear things that I haven`t heard before on the cd`s I`ve played several times before.

I started with a Yamaha RX-V795 receiver and my RT2000i`s.
I thought I had a great sounding system....

Then I went to seperates...Rotel RB980BX ...Carver CT-3 pre amp, (swapped out for the parasound P/PH850)and the same Yamaha CDC-765 Player that I`m using now..
I also have a Yamaha CD/DVD-S796 that I use.

I hooked up the Rotels bridged (one to each speaker) with my Parasound P/PH850 pre amp, and cranked her up.

The difference between ss and tubes was/is amazing..

SS get`s loud, hits hard ,and sounds 100% better than any receiver ever thought about !
Woke my RT55i`s right up !
And the 2000`s..!!

It was a loud, full and kinda"bright" .
An almost in your face kinda sound.
Sound was a lot more clear,.... cleaner than what I was used to.
I was diggin it......

The tubes are much more laid back, but will definately raise the hair on the back of your neck.

If you close your eyes you would swear Stevie Ray was standing in your living room playing.
You can hear people talking in the background on live stuff...

The Tube Pre with the new Parasound HCA-3500 blows it all away..!!!!
The sound fills the room, and goes through you..
The music feels alive...you can feel the electricity of the sound..
Gave me goose bumps..

Soundstage is wider.....sounds are more "real".
I`m hearing things I didn`t hear with the first upgrade.

I hate to say it, but I`m starting to think about more speakers..!!
It never stops does it..?!!


By the way...speaker cables make a big difference...
So do different I/C`s

[F1nut]

You might want to look into a tube cdp, something like this good deal.

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlplay&1111982562

[beardog03]

Thanks F1...

I`m at work right now and plan on checking into it later this evening...

Is it just the pic , or does the drawer look mis-aligned in the last photo ?

Is this mod he is talking about is the #1 mod of the 3 that are available?

Will this change the sound of my pre amp ..by having different tubes in the CDP ?

[dorokusai]

You have an extraordinary front end, worry about a tube CDP later, if ever.

You can get more bang for the buck with rolling tubes in your current piece.

[beardog03]

What CDP do you recommend, if any..?

[F1nut]

Bear,

It does look a little funny now that you mention it, though the seller has great feedback. I'd ask for a nice close up shot of the drawer area.

There are 3 different companies offering mods that I know of, Verastar, Sound Odyssey and Underwood HiFi. Of the three I believe only SO and UHiFi offer 3 stages of mods. I got one from SO with the Stage 1 mod plus a few extras. The reason I went with them is that they are the only one to offer the upgraded clock in the Stage 1 mod.

Unlike my friend, Doro, I highly recommend getting a tube cdp asap. IMO, the combo of tube pre and tube cdp are unbeatable. My next move is to get a tube pre to go with the Jolida in the shop rig.

[dorokusai]

This coming from someone who barely knew anything about tubes or the ability to roll tubes until a week ago. I digress, F1 knows he has some milspec tubes in his MF, but when we talk tubes, we don't talk soldered.

If I personally wanted a tube CDP, I'd buy one, but I'm not going to, and don't plan to. Save all the "don't know what your missing" comments for the newbies.

It's not a waste of money, but I feel that you money is best spent on some other things. If you want to ride the wave of tube CDP's, ride on.

[F1nut]

Hey, I grew up in a house with a tube amp and a TT that my dad built. :D

Tubes are tubes, soldered in place or not and I never said sh*t to you that you should buy a tube cdp.

[beardog03]

I changed the tubes to the Amprex for tonights session...

The gold pins seem a little more laid back..
Not as... , I don`t think harsh is the word, but....

The amprex are like a fender amp,
and the Raytheons (Siemens) are like a Marshall amp...

If ya know what I mean...

They are both still new sets so (from what I read in the forum)
they will sound a little different when they are used for a while...

This week-end is nothing but music time for me.

This is a gas ...
They both sound better than these tired old ears have heard before...!!

I wonder what a difference the ones Russman has will make..?

Still need to change my speaker cables out though...
I have AQ type 4`s on there right now.
I also have some anti cables that sound a lot more forward than the AQ`s.
I will donate both to the program if you would like.

Frank is on my hit list for tomorrow (SC power cables and speaker cable)...:D

I have AQ king Cobra`s on everything right now..
If your interested I will Donate a set to the cable swap Program also...
Let me know...

Still waiting for a reply from Paul...
My rack is a must .

Should I get a power conditioner ?
I read in one of these threads that it`s a night and day difference.

[dorokusai]

F1 - I know you didn't say anything to me, fuck I talk to you damn near every day, it was a general statement to keep the tubies away from me.....they scare me, and make me wittle on myself.

Bear - If you wish to donate, I'll take 'em, let's talk voice and work out how to get them in the program.

Worry about surge protection, not power conditioning, unless you hear Air Tokyo when you press play. I would stick with the act of unplugging the good stuff when you're not using it for awhile....relax.

[beardog03]

Doro,

I took your advise on the rack.
Thanks for your help and advise .....

Paul is a great guy....

He is very helpful, and willing to help the customer get exactly what they want.

Very easy to work with....

Russman...
Hook me up with some tubes..:D

Pink Floyd on tubes...:p

Yeah man...:cool: