I want to second the previous post. I too went through the WE 396 tubes with my Pagoda DAC and while the 396 tubes made the pagoda DAC sound better than my previous three DACS it really wasnt a huge change in sound presentation. In fact I started believing that good DACs are pretty similar.... just a matter of taste. (wrong) SO not having any mind of my own, I started experimenting with a 396 tube converter and sticking in all the old 6922/7308/E188CC tubes that I had collected during the last 10 years.
I tried a Valvo tube, it was ok...not much better than the 396 tubes BUT still better. I rumaged around in my "tube box" and spied a very cool 6n23p russian tube and said WTF lets throw that tube into the Pagoda and hear what happens? WHOOO that was a very significant improvement....I really liked that tube's sound for a few days, actually still do... it was very transparent!!!! Then I thought hell this is COVID I cant go anywhere, I might as well have some fun take some money from my daughters college fund (shes not going to classes now) and do some MORE BIG TIME tube rolling. And then having nothing to do I went on Audio Gon and spied the previous post. Having no impulse restraint, I Immediately called Brent Jesse and said, hey send me your best yube for the MHDT Pagoda. Brent said ok ....its pricey... BUT its on the way....yesterday I received it and put the 7308 MAZDA tube in my DAC. I am really excited right now that a realative inexpensive "high fi" purchase could bring me so much music listening fun! Sorry I know this is ong winded (too many cocktails while writing this missive).
I tried a Valvo tube, it was ok...not much better than the 396 tubes BUT still better. I rumaged around in my "tube box" and spied a very cool 6n23p russian tube and said WTF lets throw that tube into the Pagoda and hear what happens? WHOOO that was a very significant improvement....I really liked that tube's sound for a few days, actually still do... it was very transparent!!!! Then I thought hell this is COVID I cant go anywhere, I might as well have some fun take some money from my daughters college fund (shes not going to classes now) and do some MORE BIG TIME tube rolling. And then having nothing to do I went on Audio Gon and spied the previous post. Having no impulse restraint, I Immediately called Brent Jesse and said, hey send me your best yube for the MHDT Pagoda. Brent said ok ....its pricey... BUT its on the way....yesterday I received it and put the 7308 MAZDA tube in my DAC. I am really excited right now that a realative inexpensive "high fi" purchase could bring me so much music listening fun! Sorry I know this is ong winded (too many cocktails while writing this missive).