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Revisiting Tube Recommendations for Cayin TA-30

My appologies if this has already been beaten to death! :)

I hope you all are up for this post! I'll owe you all big time!

I have a Cayin TA-30 (purchased in '03) with mods from Paul that included the sub out. It has been connected to B&W Nautilus 803's and a B&W ASW800. I have a Sony XA9000ES as my cd/sacd player.

I replaced them all once from Paul with EL34's, 12AU7's, and 12AX7's tubes, from EH. Simply put, the TA-30 just doesn't come close to sounding as good as the stock tubes did. It, to me, sounds so flat and not open like it used to. I bias the tubes about every 90 days to keep them running at their best.

So now come the questions.

1st. The broad question I have is I need to replace the tubes again, and I want to replace them all, but there are soooo many options and choices and I'm really not interested in "tube rolling", though I know I really should be. Where does one start? I'm overwhelmed!

2nd. The TA-30, I see, can accommodate my types of tubes. Is a KT88 "brighter" or better, or should I stay with EL34's like it's called for? Should optional tubes be used on the front end? Is the TA-30 "pushed" to much using these other tubes?

3rd. Since I have the TA-30 connected to the sub, should I focus only on mids and highs for tubes?

4th. Is there a source out there where I can get this information without bothering you all? I googled some variations, but just haven't had luck. Is it just me, or are all the tube reviews done on guitar amps, not home audio amps?

Well, wasn't that a mess??? :)

Thanks in advance to you all! I hope this thread can become a resource for all us TA-30 users!

Regards,
Bob
bstromberg1
audiogabby's avatar
audiogabby
184 posts
 
I've had about a dozen or more amplifiers in the past that included Symphonic Line, BAT VK 200, Leak and Ayon Spirit II to name a few and this one stands out as one of the best I've owned. Mine too is modified by Paul.

I have a question, can you drive another amplifier using the Cayin subwoofer output? How's the sound?
johnbonn
41 posts
 
Mikirob educate me on the 6n3c-e tubes? Are they direct replacement? What bias do you run them? Can they be run in the older non bybee modded integrateds mine you have to pull the bottom plate off to bias, heard the modified ones have more adjustment for other tubes than EL34's? Anything else have to be done to run them? Can they be run in single ended mode? How many watts is it then? Thank you
koiman
51 posts
 
Bob,
In the past I talked to paul and he said the orinigal tubes were a valve art el34 which are very easy to find and they a inexpensive.
Lee
mikirob
955 posts
 
Johnbonn, for many amplifiers the 6n3ce is a direct replacement. I'm not sure about your amp. Please let me refer you to Jeff Days blog, jeffsplace.me/wordpress/ he writes for Positive Feedback and 6 Moons as well as others. I was originally turned on to this tube via his blog and found that his comments to be true in my Primaluna Dialogue 1 and Cary v12. Go to section where he talks about the 6n3ce in his Leben amps against various EL34, other 6L6 variants, KT 66, KT77, KT88, KT90s and so on. Another good source for information is Tube Guru Jim McShane who is authority on this tube and has them in stock, though supplies are dwindling fast. So, I'm cutting my own throat here with the recommend, but I believe I bought a lifetime supply. Best.
mikirob
955 posts
 
Johnbonn, I should have stated the 6n3ce is a direct replacement for almost all 6L6, EL34s, 5881s, etc.
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