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Recommendations for rolling tubes on Luxman SQ-N10?

I've owned a Luxman SQ-N10 for a little over a year now, and if thought it's only 10W, with the way it's hooked up to high efficiency speakers, I'm very impressed with the amp. I'd like to play around with it a little and see if there might be any benefit in rolling some of the tubes that are on it.

From everything I've read online, most people only switched out the main 12AX7, and I've done so, replacing the stock with a psvane/shuguang. The sound is neutral and detailed for a tube integrated, but in comparing to a quality higher watt amp, it is just not getting the oomph in the way that I hoped. It's there for sure, but I just want a little more.

Have you rolled the tubes to get a chemistry that you like with this amp? If so, what are you using?
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nordicnorm
313 posts
 
Can’t remember now. It’s been awhile since I’ve had an amp with ECC82 tubes. When I upgraded my speakers to Martin Logan Spires, their 40 W weren’t enough, so I upgraded to SS monoblocks (900 W @ 4 Ohms).

I only run tubes in my linestage preamp (6SN7) and phono stage (12AX7) currently.

In the preamp I have 2 x Shuguang Black Treasure CV181z and 2 x Sylvania 6SN7 GTB Chrome Domes, while in my phono stage I have 2 x Shuguang Custom 12AX7 LS. I keep swapping them out with Mazda tubes. On some recordings, the Shuguang have the edge while on others, the Mazda has a slight edge?

This tube rolling business can lead to madness... ;^)
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blisshifi OP
1,204 posts
 
Tell me about it! In the last three years that I've had tube equipment, I must have 15 spare tubes lying around. 

Have you ever tried the regular Shuguang 12AX7's in comparison to the Custom 12AX7 LS? I'm curious as to what you get for the $50 difference for the customs. I'm a big fan of their tubes as I use one in my Luxman SQ-N10 and two of them in my Fosgate Signature Phono preamp.
nordicnorm
313 posts
 
Until the Shuguang Customs came along, my regular go-to 12AX7 tubes were either the Psvane 12AX7-TII or Mazda ECC83.

I tried to find Telefunken ECC803S' but I kept receiving counterfeits (or really bad tubes) so I gave up. Reputable dealers (like TubeWorld) are now asking US$1,000 for one tube, which is too spendy for me.
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blisshifi OP
1,204 posts
 
Nordicnorm - Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
nordicnorm
313 posts
 
@thiefofflight

I just realized that I didn't answer your second question.

I find with the Shuguang's that there is more pronounced separation of the instruments and notes. Things like piano notes and a brush on a cymbal have more decay. I can hear finer (subtler) details in the music.

Initially I though the Shuguang's were bright sounding, but what I mistook for brightness was simply the notes having more.... clarity?

I always struggle to describe in words what I hear as the experience of listening to music transcends my limited vocabulary.
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