Thanks for the comments! I will be waiting until my amp is broken in before doing any tube rolling, but I do have some 6SN7s here to play with and I'll probably have a go at some other 2A3s to compare to my Linlai E series at some point. My Motherlode II is being used in another system until the break in of the amp is complete. Right now I'm using an Audiopax Model 5 preamp so I have the opportunity to compare and contrast solid state and tubes. I'm curious what speakers people are listening to. I have a pair of Cain & Cain Super Abby (single driver, Voight design) with Abbey subwoofers. I'll be surprised if anyone chimes in and says they've heard these speakers. Terry Cain was a great cabinet maker and speaker builder who unfortunately passed away around 1992(?), but they've been good enough that I still listen to, and enjoy, them. This is the first time with a 2A3.
Aric Audio Super 2A3 owners - favorite tubes?
Hello all,
I've been enjoying my new set of Aric Audio amps (the Super 6SN7 linestage + Super 2A3 amp) and have been playing around with different tubes. I am curious what tubes anyone who owns either of these prefers.
I swapped from the stock 5U4GB to some NOS RCA 5U4Gs, but not sure if there's anything better out there that owners may prefer rectifier-wise. Asking Aric, he said GB or G works fine, but beyond that didn't offer any other alternatives as far as compatible tube options.
For my 2A3 tubes, I have a set of NOS Svetlana SV-2A3 (2C4C) and EML 2a3-S Meshplates and prefer the EMLs. The Svetlanas sound nice - they are a little more 'warm' sounding to me - but they lack the detail and wide holographic soundstage that the EMLs produce.
For the 6SN7 tubes on both the pre-amp and the amplifier (3 total), I've tried Sylvania JAN 6SN7GT VT-231 2 Hole Bad Boy, Black Plates an d NOS RCA JAN 5692 6SN7 (red base) tubes and prefer the Sylvania's by a mile. Swapping from the Sylvanias to the RCAs, bass thinned out quite a bit. Detail was great, and mid/highs were nice, but the Sylvanias are overall much nicer.
What have you tried and liked / tried and kept?
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@jake18aa I have my virtual system posted on my profile if you want to see what else I am running, but my speakers are Coherent Audio The 18s. Have fun tube rolling! It is fun, frustrating, and expensive all at once! |
@mmcgill829 Wow, a beautiful system you are running. I mentioned the Cain & Cain speakers I have and that I'm using with Aric's 2A3. That's my second system. My other system is running Tannoy Kingdom Royal speakers with AudioPax KT88 mono blocks and the Aric Audio Motherlode II preamp. These Tannoys retain the strengths of the rest of the line and improve on all the weaknesses. I think it will be fun for me to put together a virtual system so we can about all the goodies. I'd love to hear your system, for sure! |
@jake18aa Thanks! I used to have Tannoys - though not any of the really fancy ones or GR line. I considered upgrading down the line, but didn't feel like I heard what I was looking for until I got up to the Kensington and higher in the range, and they were too expensive and too huge. Enjoy your new amp!! |
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