What tubes and power cord on the Audiologic 24MXL?

From what I understand, this DAC is pretty transparent, as an old reviewer friend of mine has/had the latest version.

I sent him 3 sets of high quality 6dj8/6922/7308 type tubes to try a while back:

Mid 60's Tungsram(red print), 60's 6922 Siemens(S&H), and a set of Amperex 7308 white label PQ's from 1969.

The Siemens were transparent, clean, and extended, with excellent soundstaging and a quick midrange.

The Amperex had awesome bass and dynamics, with a textured midrange and decent highs.

The Tungsrams had a killer midrange, excellent bass, and a sweet/ever so slightly rolled top end, just a tad mind you.

He kept the Tungsram tubes, which were the cheapest of the bunch, and sent me back the others.

From what I can gather, tubes do make an audible difference with this DAC, as it is very transparent. This of course also depends on your systems transparency, and your own ears.................

I think you answered your own question, George, in that the type of tubes you use in this DAC is highly subjective, according to your sonic tastes and your system synergy.

I have found over the years that many tubes types(Siemens, Amperex, Phillips, Valvo) have identifying sonic characteristics, providing they are made at the same plant, around the same time, and of the same quality(noise, matching, etc.)

I would wait until you have the DAC, let it break in if needed, keep it in your system with the stock tubes, and become acclimated with its sound, in your system.

Then, decide where you would like to go from there. If you are up on tubes[6dj8/6922/7308 types] you
should know where to go from there, in matching the right tubes for your tastes and sonic priorities.

If you are not up on tubes, you can always do some research.

Rolling tubes can be alot of fun, for sure!

I cannot remember the type of power cord that he was using, but man, one could go on and on about PC's!!!

Best, Bill M.

I had the same dac and tried the Siemens and the Amperex and, in my system, the Amperex 7308 PQ's were the best choice. Bill give a perfect description of those 3 tubes , and I think those are probably the 3 best tubes for that dac. The nice thing about the Audio Logic is you can adjust the sound by tube rolling it. By the way, we both used Silent Source Signature power cords with the Audio Logic.

I have the 34 DAC so it is a little different using four tubes. I am using Amperex 7316 PQs and Amperex 6922 PQ Goldpins. I have used Bugle Boys, D-Getters and Orange Labels but the 6922s really added more bass, cleaner/clearer detailed sound, different mid-range not as dark sounding and more dynamic then the D-getters and Orange labels. Each tube changed the sound slightly but the 6922s were more of a change.

Hope this is helpful.