Review on Linear Tube Audio Aero DAC

Hey mitch2,

Of all the 6SN7s I have in my collection the TungSol black glass/round plates have always been my favorites for three reasons: 1) The air and spatiality they create is really very remarkable. 2) The beauty of timbres/colors is very pristine and very close to what I hear in live music. 3) There is an ease/effortlessness that it produces which I experience as the music is just oozing and flowing into my listening space. 

With all that, when I used the TungSols in the Aero it did not produce a qualitative shift (what I believe you would call significant) but a subtle addition of the traits I described above. The DAC sounds absolutely terrific with the GE NOS 12SN7s that it shipped with. Using the NOS TungSol black glass/oval plates 6SN7's is like "the icing on cake". So, if you go through with your purchase of the Aero and love it,, which I think you will, you could treat yourself later with a pair of 6SN7s. 

Finally, you are correct they have become scarcer and more expensive, but you can still score them for relatively reasonable prices. If you get a good pair they tend to be very long lived. The way the LTA Aero uses its tubes they should last a very long time, indeed.

Teajay 

Good to hear, on all accounts.  Thanks Teajay.

@mitch2 If you do decide to buy NOS 6sn7 tubes this is a must read.  There are reasonably priced tubes (Sylvania, Rca, Raytheon) that sound fantastic but requires some searching and leaps of faith. Interested in your feedback on the LTA Aero once you get some time with it.  
 

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/shootout-of-nos-6sn7-tubes

@tksteingraber - Thanks for linking the tube thread.  Based on my web search, if I decide to keep the DAC, it seems I should be able to find a tested and matched pair of suitable NOS tubes, like SYLVANIA VT231s, for under $300, which seems an acceptable price assuming they improve the sound.  I wish LTA had those DACs in stock and ready to ship as I am looking forward to hearing it.

@teajay I landed on the PS Audio MKii by way of trading my pre and a DAC for a Lumin P1, I thought I could potentially achieve a jump up in my system by eliminating having a pre, streamer, DAC.  The dealer I made the trade with was in Canada, also rep’d PS Audio, when I didn’t love the change, he honored a commitment that he’d let me send the Lumin Back for a Lumin U2 mini and a PS MKii.  I then went back on the hunt for a Pre, was between a Coda 07x and PS BHK Pre.  I found a BHK local at a great deal so I ended up with a U2 mini, PS BHK Pre and the Mii with a Krell 300 XD for an amp.  What sounded the best in my system was a CSiB Coda Integrated I used as a Pre only that was fed by a MHDT Pagoda Balanced DAC.  I have been thinking about swapping the BHK and MKii for the Coda 07x and a tube based DAC.  The LTA, based on your review seems to hit my sonic sweet spot.  Do you think the Coda would pair well with LTA DAC?  I have also thought about an LTA pre or Aric Pre.  
 

Thanks for all great reviews and recommendations.