Justin S

Is this a rebranded Shuguang? Have you tried any Psvane tubes for comparison?

It might be. It's that "The Tube Store" brand licensing line of tubes. I don't know who makes them and I don't think they'll name the manufacturer. It is really pleasing with the Svetlana Winged C in the back. I had a few Psvane 6SN7s that I used in the Lyr+ - I did not care much for them. I imagine the 6SL7 in an OTL amp will behave quite differently. I'll put it on my list.

Slow swapping between the winged c and the original shuguang with the rocket 6n2p in the front and they are very similar. Both are big sounding. Neither are slouches in the detail department. Very natural. Some other combinations seem to pique a bit more interest by memory, but I will need to verify this.

Yup. The JJ + Thompson 6080 is more. Enveloping.

Svetlanas are great in their own right, and great to mix & match with.

The JJ is kind of a sleeping giant - and very reasonably priced. I am really just getting a feel for the interaction between the front and back tubes on this thing. There are now two magic combinaitons: JJ w Thompson 6080, '58 Tung Sol w Sovetek. The Tung Sol might be unobtanium - a brown base 6SL7WGT with black plates, high d getter and side rods. I got it for a song, Happy to find the JJ combo!

@CEE TEE I am a sucker for a good melee.

I bought a WE 396A a bit ago. First time rolling had a big change for me. Compared to stock Vali 3 tube, much different. Me likey!

It is so insidious, and expensive, and delightful... and without end.

I feel like the Tung Sol with the Sovetek is where I am settling. I will be curious to see what the Svetlana Winged C is like in the back. They are inbound and should be here tomorrow.

The winged Cs arrived today from Ukraine. Well packed, in beautiful shape. They all work great. They sound really nice depending on the front tube/. They are a bigger sounding tube and don't interact with the tung sol in a pleasing way. They're better with something a bit lighter/brighter in the front: the Sylvania 6SL7GT or the OG 6n2p is about right.

This is the last of the 6SL7 rampage. Next is an Amperex Bugel Boy 12AX7 + adaptor. From there a winged C for the back and I will do my best to stop there :-) This Tung Sol with the Sovtek is quite the thing - though early days with it.

Yea, stopping is the hard part. There's always one more interesting tube...

I swore off tubes a number of years back but then I started rolling amps :-)

I think it is better than the metal-base version I have here. My seller sent this as a bonus with a couple 60's versions of the same tube. I will put one of those in tomorrow.

Maybe the TA66 should have been designed with the 6SL7. But that would have been more expensive.

I agree. There is so much more choice and they have all sounded quite different. I also have a 12xx7 adaptor coming with the proper 6ishV wiring for the heater. I can't wait to try it with a 12AT7 Amperex Bugle Boy, which was my favorite with a SET amp I had a while back (tip: the 12AT7s are cheap and often better than the 12AX7s if you have gain to spare). The TA66 definitely changes with the tubes.

Been thinking of making a Duelund IC but i'm kinda happy with my cheap 4k video coax lol

800S? I thought you ended up picking up an OG 800, no?

I tried for the 800 OGs but blinked and missed them. I ended up getting the 800Ss for a good price. Turns out I am 100% Sennheiser.

I forget the oyaide model, but you are right - I think they are just clean which reads as sharp next to the WE tinned cables. With the 800Ss it's a balancing act to between clarity and itchyness. The WE Tinned copper cables are decidedly 'mellow' - I would actually say muffled. I just put my Duelunds in and they are very promising.

The duelunds are remarkable. detailed, clear, and fluid. Where the WE wire was overly soft, these maintain all the detail and present with a bit more space and fluidity than the Oyaide. I made braided cables with DCA16GA and a KLEI copper harmony plugs.

I found the box to the Oyaides the other day. They are the "across 750" model

It's really significant with the Pi2AES>S/PDIF->Geshelli J2S 4499/Sparkos 2590->TA-66->HD800S. The oyaide is like naughty sharpening +25. I will get the Duelund in here. Tube preferences changing. Fussy-sauce is triggering quantum recoherence.

Duelunds are remarkable!

It has been a while, but I think that combo was a touch "aggressive" in some genres for me. Your idea on creating a table would be brilliant...a matrix of tube combos based on your mood for listening. What's great about the TA-66 is that you can easily swap out the tubes.

I felt that the rocket+6as7 was too agressive. The reflector is more well rounded, I think. The 6as7 is also a champion with the ken rad, but not so much with the melz.

Cannot go wrong with original Kenrad tubes!

They were my favorite 6SN7 with the Lyr+, too.

They're giving me that "relistening to faves wow and enjoying stuff I was tired of" vibe.

Sometimes it do be like that.

Thanks for leading the way

Ahah. Well I have the Ken Rad and a carbolite base Melz on the way. The carbolite base tubes a very reasonably priced. I want to compare with the metal-base. The rear Thompson 8080 ends up feeling a bit thin compared to the stock 6N5P - I ordered a few of those so I could keep a small stock here. The Sovteks 6AS7s are thunderous but a bit harsh.

The trick was making them my first listen for the session. If I go from the 800s to the 650s, they read less well. That Melz in the front really brings things up a notch.

Interesting, can you please link adapter?

google: 6n2p to 6sl7 adapter. It's the jemosa one.

Yes virgin, I do know a 42 year old super wizard who is into toys and lives with his parents. Good guy.

@YMO tell me about the origin of your pfp

First the burn, then the radio wave distortion. So analogue...