Rec. for 12AT7 tubes

[heiney9]

Just received a Dared Sl2000A (http://daredtubeaudio.bravehost.com/SL-2000A.htm) tubed preamp.

It takes (2) 12AT7's and a 5Z4P (can use 4-pin 5Y3 or GZ30 too) rectifier tube. Currently the unit came with (2) 60's RCA 6201WA and a JJ GZ34 rectifier tube. Worlds better than the crap Chinese tubes.

I only have about a total of 2 hours listening time on the main rig and one thing I notice it the lack of front to back sound stage compared to my SS pre.

Can someone make some suggestions for tubes that will give me more of the sound stage cues, etc. I'm not looking to break the bank here and I've been told by Ricardo (who owned one and the former owner of the unit I just bought) Mullards are over rated and don;t sound all that great in this unit.

Thanks

H9

[NJPOLKER]

I don't know much about tubes but I do know thats a sexy little pre-amp

[Face]

As per Jesse's recommendation, Mullard CV4024's made a huge difference in my Stingray.

[heiney9]

As per Jesse's recommendation, Mullard CV4024's made a huge difference in my Stingray.

I'd like to try them before I buy them..............only because 3 different people have commented on Mullards not sounding "like" Mullards in this particular pre.

I suppose I could always flip them if I didn;t like them. I just don;t want to get too crazy as this pre is most likely going in the office rig mated to a gainclone I'm building.

"If" it out performs my SS pre then there is a possibility of it staying put in the main rig, but I'm just not going to spend $150-200 on tubes for this thing at this point. $75-90 max for experimentation at this point.

H9

[mhardy6647]

Radio Corporation of America should do just fine :-)

EDIT: in my book, 90 smackoleums for a tube would be a pretty 'spensive 'speriment. I'm just sayin'...

[AudioGenics]

impressive preamp

[heiney9]

Radio Corporation of America should do just fine :-)

EDIT: in my book, 90 smackoleums for a tube would be a pretty 'spensive 'speriment. I'm just sayin'...

Nah, I'm talking $75-90 for a NOS premium brand matched pair like I see at those 'spensive on-line tube retailer's like Tube Depot, etc.

I've had really good luck buying on e-bay for about 60% less, however. Although I have a pair of Tele's coming from Germany and it's been almost a month and they are still not here.

[Face]

I purchased mine from either http://thetubestore.com/mul12atcv.html or http://www.kcanostubes.com/products/70/NOS-Mullard-CV4024-ECC81-12AT7.htm

[Ricardo]

The Mullards I bought (also from The Tube Store) a few years ago for that Dared sounded completely lifeless; of course it could have been the tubes were bad.

That pre sounded its best with a pair of Siemens 12AT7's.

Some at $25 each here:
http://www.vacuumtubes.com/12at7.html

I also tried some other cheaper tubes that sounded a lot better than the Mullards but not as good as the Siemens, but don't recall exactly what they were; probably RCA or GE's.

[heiney9]

The Mullards I bought (also from The Tube Store) a few years ago for that Dared sounded completely lifeless; of course it could have been the tubes were bad.

That pre sounded its best with a pair of Siemens 12AT7's.

Some at $25 each here:
http://www.vacuumtubes.com/12at7.html

I also tried some other cheaper tubes that sounded a lot better than the Mullards but not as good as the Siemens, but don't recall exactly what they were; probably RCA or GE's.

Thanks Ricardo, I only have about 2 hours worth of listening time at this point. I have RCA's installed and a different rectifier tube than stock. I've been listening to most of my demo music which I am very familiar with. I have noticed voices and instruments are all clustered towards the front of the stage compared to my SS pre where I hear definite layers front to back.

The pre has really nice tone and perhaps the bass is lacking slightly in some area's. Obviously these are just very early impressions and the tubes I'm using may not even be broken in yet.

H9

[heiney9]

Ricardo, did you try any different PS cables when you had your Dared? The seller swears that the unit does react postively to nicer PS cables.

[Ricardo]

At that time I didn't know anything about the importance of IC's and speaker cables, much less AC cables.

I was happy back then.

[Face]

At that time I didn't know anything about the importance of IC's and speaker cables, much less AC cables.

I was happy back then.

That's signature material!

[rubin]

Mullard CV 4024's are the best so far in my pre.But I like a laid-back,(dark sound),that's what these tubes do for me.

[marvda1]

i have used the ge 6201's and they are great sounding and at more money, but have not heard them, the sylvania gold brand 6201 (gold pin).