Tube Rolling For ASL Hurricanes

I have another ASL integrated,(the MGSI 15DT)and swapped the Chinese KT88s for JJ/Tesla which are way better but I suspect there are better options like Electro-harmonix and Svetlana. Tubestore.com has the former at $50. and the latter at $70. the matched pair.

I am still testing (listening to mine)....however, I did change the 6SN7's from the original tubes (I believe Chinese) to NOS Sylvanya and it made a marked improvement. The sound became more mellow and smoother. It also felt that there was more control over the images. I have about 60 hours the amps and I hope to report to you all soon on my overall comments.

I have had both the older version (MIT caps) moded by Israel Blume and the latest version (new grey green PIO metal can caps). I prefer the newer version, they seem a little smoother in the mid-range.

A word of advice - you must replace the stock tubes to get any where near the capablities of these amps.

I have replaced the power tubes with the new Electo-Harmonix KT-88s. The new version come with the Value Arts which are good. The EHs are vastly superior. I encourge you visit this web site:

www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_9_2/power-tube-comparison-6-2002.html.

Jason gives a great discription of the various 6550 and KT-88s.

Next, I replaced the driver tubes (the orignals are Chinese copy of the metal based Slyvania 6SN7 Ws). Here I have tried just about every NOS 6SN7 there are (notable exception the NUs)and even a set of Mullard ECC32s. Here is a list: Slyvania 6SN7W (Metal base & black base both short and tall),WGA, WGT, Tall boys , VT-231, 52s, Kenrads VT-231, dark and clear glass, Tung-sols Vt-231 grey glass, RCA VT-231 grey glass.
Hear is the best combination I have herad yet RCA VT-231 Grey Glass in position 1, Sly metal base in position 2 ,and Tung-sol Grey glass in position 3.

The sound improvement is unbelieveable. Same tonal neutrality with major improvements in resolution, imaging depth and width of sound staging, three dementionality. More extended on top, and much more extended in the bottom.

Before you judge these amps you have to hear them with at least a decent set of NOS drivers.

The addition of top gun power chords and a set of richard greys also helped overall, but no where near the NOS and Power tube upgrades.

I have had no reliablity problems. These amps have to come a long ways, it is not surprising some people have had a defective pair or two.

For the $4400 these amps cost, they are a steal. They have beaten amps priced five times as much! I can see why some people who have $20,000 amps are a little testy about some of the positive reviews these amps have recieved.

Enjoy!!!