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MHDT Orchid TUBE ROLLING

Interested in hearing about tube rolling experiences with the Orchid and other MHDT dacs, namely, the specific comparative sonic characteristics of the various 396a, 5670 and other compatible tubes used in the output buffer. My only experience is with the WE396a that Linear Tube Audio installed in my new Orchid.
pmboyd
danager's avatar
danager
945 posts
 

+1 @zm108

Just (I mean I'm two albums in) installed the 5670 to 6922 adapter.  Great sound and I'm using a lot less expensive tube than the WE D getter.

What do people do with their old 5670 collection?

nsxrush
2 posts
 

here is my tube rolling experience w/ MHDT Orchid. (before & after mods by Grannyring)

Before mod:-

I had some OS 6SN7s laying around & NOS Tung Sol & Sylvania 2C51

Sylvania 2C51 sounded better...but not something I wanted to live with.

I got adapter from Garage1217....

Of all the 6sn7s..Sylvania Jan CHS 6sn7WGT was the best ...a bit flat, but something I can live with and enjoy the music.

But wanted to see if I can get better sound out of Orchid.   After talking with 2 people, who offer mods for Orchid, I decided to use Grannyring.   He was willing to tweak his mod to suite my music listening preference (cannot have bright sound at all)

After receiving the mod:-

1) The order of preference for 6Sn7s changed.

Tung-Sol UCn-CTL-6sn7wgta sounded better (more relaxed) than SYlvania.

2) Also the Sylvania 2C51 sounded much better.

almost seemed like the mod was specific to make 2C51 sound better.

So I tired the following 2C51/5670 family tubes

CBS 2C51 (not 5670...2C51 etched in glass)  THE BEST SOUND FOR ME
 
RCA COMMAND
GE 5670 5 star (white letters)
GE JG-5670
Raytheon 5670WA  (3D w/o emotion)
Raytheon JAn-5670  (3D w/o emotion)
GE JG-5670WA
GE 5670 5 star (red letters)
Tung-Sol JTL-5670WA
Tung-Sol 2C51
Sylvania 2C51
Motorola 5670 (same internals as CBS 2C51.....someone mentioned, made by CBS for motorola)...NOT 3D for sure
 
So reading that 6DJ8/6922 family is best....I got adapter again & tried following tubes
Amperex Bugle Boy (Holland 6dj8)
Amperex Orange Globe (Holland 6dj8)
Toashiba
Hewlett Packard (Holland 6dj8)
GE (6922 Britain)
RCA (holland 6dj8)...comes closest to CBS...however sound stage is a bit smaller & mid range is a bit thin (BUT can surely live with it)
 
I would love to try WE396a or equivalent & Siemens CCA 6922 or equivalent...Any one in los angeles area that has these we can try together..
nsxrush
2 posts
 
the reason I like CBS 2C51
3D soundstage, Real representation of recording with nothing over-emphasized.
e.g Prominant attributes were emphasized (voice, piano in Behtoven's 5th piano version)
The other parts of the music were in background....but the details were still there.....u didnt miss much if any.
Instrument separation & clarity of instruments in busy music made it easy to listen & enjoy.
AND Not Bright at all
The emotion in the vocals were present, because even if small amount of decay/breath or Ahh (they were there in just that small amount)
FOr other tubes...which I call not emotional....these were missing.
 
My system
Custom PC -  MHDT Orchid - Luxman R117 - KEF 107/2
pindac's avatar
pindac
2,864 posts
 

I have had experiences of using Vintage E88CC and have been demonstrated some of the Valves mentioned above in devices that I own.

As a result I have acquired a selection of early 60's E88CC's from different producers

One Tube not mentioned and very worthy of being trialed is the early 60's Mullard CV 2493, these are rare to find, even thought not too long ago there was a Matched Pair for sale in the USA, for very fair money, if compared to present UK prices.

I also recently heard on two separate occasions an early 60's German produced E88CC in a CDP and the impact it had made on the device and within the HiFi system was extremely impressive .

The second listening was with a Group of attendees who had at an earlier date, been demonstrated the CDP with the stock valves. The response from the additional attendees were no different to my own, they were in awe of the presentation on offer, and very clear about the valuable impression being made in their appraisals. 

harnserb
4 posts
 

I just want to say thanks to jjss49 for helping me find the right mix of tubes for my Istanbul and Blue Circle pre. His assessment of the REFLECTOR 6H23P-EB / 6922 (PREMIUM) was spot on and switching back to Amperex made all the difference. Great to have some solid advice from someone who's listened to a number of the different options. Saved me a ton of angst and painful discovery. 

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