2. amps-preamps
  3. 1141077063

can changing 6sn7 tubes affect the output voltage

I recently changed my input tubes, 6sn7, and eventualy, (about a 100 hours) fried a pair of eml 45 mesh plate tubes. I have a pair of eml non mesh coming and am a little nervous about cooking these as well. My preamp is a Supratek Cabernet, with a voltage selector switch that accepts the low voltage 45's as well as the 4 volt px and the 5 volt 300's. Should I go back to the stock russian tubes or am I "safe" with the rayethon 6sn7's I rolled out. Someone help! I gulping $400 a pair!! Until the went, the 45 mesh plates were fantastic. What am I missing? Supratek folks and tube lovers, please lend me you expertise.
larryrosen
larryi
4,169 posts
 
Your EML 45 failure was probably a coincidence. By the way, a friend of mine had two pairs of EML mesh 45s fail within ten hours (total for both pairs), so you got a lot more mileage. The replacement pair of solid plate 45s have been going strong for more than a year. If you are concerned about reliability, you could change the bias to run a lower current through the tube; that increases life dramatically (though at some sacrifice in sound quality).

I run EML meshplate 2a3s. I like the sound very much. So far, they have been holding up fine.
larryrosen OP
83 posts
 
Larryi, The Supratek I have is a Cabernet. It has a 3 position switch to change bias. 45, 300 or PX4. I was running at the 45 position which I assume is the lowest current. Is their another way that I am not aware of?
larryi
4,169 posts
 
I am not familiar with the Supratek gear. From your description, it does not sound like it is possible to tweak the bias. Amps that allow for such bias change would have a knob and either a meter or a place to plug in a meter to make the adjustment.

I think it's a pretty nice feature to have a switch that allows for use of different tubes. My guess is that more than just bias is changed for the different tubes. Probably, the plate voltage is changed as well. I doubt that any changes are made to the transformer winding ratios, but the requirements of these tubes are close enough that tubes could be interchanged by just changing bias and plate voltage.

Good luck with the replacement EML tubes.

By the way, I am a bit confused. Are you saying that a PREAMP runs 45's and 300B's for its output? If so, I bet they are run very conservatively; who needs that kind of output from a preamp.
larryrosen OP
83 posts
 
Yes, Larry, it is a preamp. I was given a heads up about the unreliabiltry of the 45 mesh plates, and I believe that is the culprit. Let everyone be warned, it is a pricey gamble. Thanks for taking the time to reply.
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