Tubes Asylum Questions about tubes and gear that glows. FAQ

---

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] Thread: [ Display  All  Email ] [ Tubes Asylum ] [ Return to Search Results ]

---

[ Alert Moderator ]

---

Tubes for Audible Illusions Mod 3A

Posted by Bambi B (A) on October 13, 2009 at 09:54:08

In Reply to: 6n23p-ev Tubes for Audible Illusions Mod 3A posted by escape2cfc@yahoo.com on October 12, 2009 at 12:19:04:

escape2cfc@yahoo.com ,

This is more or less a copy of a recent reply to a thread concerning tubes for the Audible Illusions Modulus 3:

I've never owned an Audible Illusions Modulus 3, but over the years learned by reputation that it tends to push it's tubes along in ways similar to the Audio Research SP10 that I use. That is, choosing tubes for either requires similar attention to the ruggedness. Having tubes sound wonderful for only a few hours is very disappointing- and today very, very expensive with NOS. One of the best sounds I've ever heard from a preamp came from the SP10 when I tried some used Amperex, Heerlen white label ECC88, but these lasted only about 20 hours before going noisy. Fortunately, those were then only $10 tubes.

It seems the 6DJ8 family has a hierarchy of ruggedness:

6DJ8 ratings:

ECC88 = 6DJ8 130V/1,8W (2,500 hours)

E88CC= 6922 220V/1,8W (5,000 hours)

E188CC= 7308 250V/2W (also rated for low noise and low microphonics)

6H23P-EB Sovtek 6922 300V/1,8W

6H23P-EB EH 6922 300V/2W

-Notice the ratings for Volts and Watts. This is the reason the Russian EH6922 is a safe choice for the AI- as well as the SP10. the "-EB" suffix means a long life version and is given the equivalent to E88CC / 6922.

The sound of the Sovtek and EH is not so bad, but there are a lot of great choices with NOS will be better at getting the most out of the AI, steering it towards some quality you like.

Fortunately, AI posts on their website a guide to NOS tubes for the Modulus series- see link at bottom.

- The importance of the ruggedness seems a bit understated, but is really a priority- the tubes have to survive if the good sound is to be of any use.

With 6DJ8 family tubes, I think the Philips ECC88 sound the best of about any of the 6DJ8 family- the 6DJ8 seems to me to sound more "open" than the 6922 or 7308, with Siemens E88CC being the best 6922, and the Philips E188CC and Siemens E188CC both excellent. Siemens tend to lean towards higher energy- more dynamic and punchy.

I recently replaced 8 of the 12- 6DJ8 family tubes in the SP10, so that the 4- phono and 2- line stage gain tubes are very nice 1964 Philips SQ E188CC / 7308 and the 6- cathode followers and etc. are late 60's Tungsram red label (military) E88CC.

One of my motivations in choosing Tungsram E88CC- I eventually bought 28- is that they are patterned after the Siemens- as well as being very rugged,.. The Tungsram are still around too in quantity and not expensive, in fact not a lot more than a new EH, whereas a Siemens can cost 10X as much as the EH. The sound of the Tungsram is really good- never harsh, and I'd say a very high percentage of the qualities of the Siemens. If you get good ones at a good price- try Zeitmann Tubes, Budapest- the Tungsram I think could be first line gain tubes and with qualities that I prefer over the Sovtek / EH sound. Generally, I'd recommend trying NOS Siemens & Halske and Philips E188CC and E88CC for the gain tubes.

By reputation, AI owners seem to really like the Modulus series. It's been too many years since I heard one.'


Cheers,

Bambi B

• Audible Illusions : Recommendations for Modulus series tubes   (Open in New Window)

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Sonic Craft

---

[ Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]

---

[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]

---