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Happy finally... tubes make a difference

John Hollar

John Hollar

New Member
I’ve been at this a while and I think I’m happy with my set up. Went integrated tube with Rogue Cronus Magnum II. Upgraded to Telefunken 12AX7 tubes from the stock JJs. I’m very happy. Although my ears are old I was amazed at the improvement over my Rogue Metis preamp paired with an Adcom GFA 5500. The Telefunken tubes were a real difference maker IMHO. One more upgrade step is the NOS Telefunken 12AU7 tubes arriving this week. The rest of my equipment is a Music Hall MMF 5 TT with a Blue Point 2 cartridge, Montior Audio Silver Rx 6 Towers which are 2.5 way, Cal Audio Labs 20 bit HDCD player, and a Music Streamer HD DAC. Decent speaker and interconnect cabling. I think I’m happy. Listening is just different, musical, enjoyable , engaging .... while I’m happy any ideas / thoughts / input always is welcome . Many thanks.
 
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Sounds like a great system. I took the leap to get better sound about 5 years ago by obtaining a Luxman solid state. Still I wasn't entirely happy. Tubed gear was the ticket.
 
Send your adcom to Musical Concepts for their total upgrade modifocation. After John gets through with it it's a whole new animal. I still use my modified Adcom to drive my Odyssey Lorelei speakers with Legato crossover up grade and I had them make the adcom dual mono.
 
qdrone said:
Send your adcom to Musical Concepts for their total upgrade modifocation. After John gets through with it it's a whole new animal. I still use my modified Adcom to drive my Odyssey Lorelei speakers with Legato crossover up grade and I had them make the adcom dual mono.
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Thanks qdrone, The Adcom was recapped and modified once but may look into Musical Concepts. It’s a great amp.
 
Tube rolling is just so darn expensive though! I tried it on my amp and all the combinations I tried gave a poorer sound than the stock Chinese tubes! So about £150 down I kinda gave up! But then googling my amp I came across a review from a guy who said his local audio store had told him to try a combination of 12AT7 ECC81 RTC La Radiotechnique and 12AU7 Raytheon Baldwin tubes. I decided to roll the dice one more time and to my relief it was well worth the risk! My amp sounds better than ever!! :)
 
Bigmoonface said:
Tube rolling is just so darn expensive though! I tried it on my amp and all the combinations I tried gave a poorer sound than the stock Chinese tubes! So about £150 down I kinda gave up! But then googling my amp I came across a review from a guy who said his local audio store had told him to try a combination of 12AT7 ECC81 RTC La Radiotechnique and 12AU7 Raytheon Baldwin tubes. I decided to roll the dice one more time and to my relief it was well worth the risk! My amp sounds better than ever!! :)
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I know exactly how you feel Bigmoonface. I’ll report back after i install the remaining Telefunken tube. I am hoping that I finally have reached the pinnacle. I may want to upgrade interconnects but we shall see.
 
John Hollar said:
I know exactly how you feel Bigmoonface. I’ll report back after i install the remaining Telefunken tube. I am hoping that I finally have reached the pinnacle. I may want to upgrade interconnects but we shall see.
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Decent interconnects really do make a difference IMO. That said, you don't have to spend a fortune on them! IMO ;)
 
Bigmoonface said:
Tube rolling is just so darn expensive though! I tried it on my amp and all the combinations I tried gave a poorer sound than the stock Chinese tubes! So about £150 down I kinda gave up! But then googling my amp I came across a review from a guy who said his local audio store had told him to try a combination of 12AT7 ECC81 RTC La Radiotechnique and 12AU7 Raytheon Baldwin tubes. I decided to roll the dice one more time and to my relief it was well worth the risk! My amp sounds better than ever!! :)
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I find that generally happens if you don't upgrade the coupling caps with tube gear. Once you do it lets all that tube goodness through and you can clearly hear the difference between different tubes.

Highly recommend Miflex KPCU-1 or Dueland JAM caps. ;)
 
mjw21a said:
I find that generally happens if you don't upgrade the coupling caps with tube gear. Once you do it lets all that tube goodness through and you can clearly hear the difference between different tubes.

Highly recommend Miflex KPCU-1 or Dueland JAM caps. ;)
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Thanks for the info I will look into it! :)
 
Bigmoonface said:
Thanks for the info I will look into it! :)
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I left out one critical word there. This is particularly specific to Chinese tube gear. I've assumed since it has Chinese tubes the amp is also Chinese.

If upgrading caps, keep in mind that the Miflex in particular are a physically large cap. Make sure the required values will physically fit before purchasing. If there's not enough room I default to the Dueland Jam caps, and if not enough room for those either, KZK Orange Line from Russia ;)
 
Tube rolling can be a gamble, but when it pays off, it really pays. A few years back I rebuilt and modified a Zenith 5G29 console pull. The original Amperex Holland EL84s tested like new but the 12AU7 preamp tube was bad. A friend gave me a early 60s Sylvania which was pretty good sounding tube. Then I bought a 1957 Phillips JAN spec tube, the difference was night and day, The Phillips has a much quieter background and a huge 3D soundstage. It also defines the different instruments better. This cheap little amp gives me goosebumps on a regular basis.
 
No the Rogues are not Chinese. Are made in Pennsylvania. I believe many new tube amps are furnished with easily sourced new tubes. I believe most current production tubes are made in China, Russia and Eastern European countries like Slovakia. So take your pick.

To the OP, John. Rogue told me, I could try a NOS 12au7 in the center position, for most effect. My Cronus l came with a NOS Mullard CV4003 in center position, from previous owner. I have not tried any further rolling in the Cronus. I've tried NOS Mullard CV4003s on my Rogue Sphinx hybrid. And liked soft tone. Currently trying pair RCA Cleartop 12au7s in my Sphinx. I also like, at a lower cost. RCA JAN 5814 blacktops on order.

There's an extensive thread on AK , on Cronus Magnum ll tube rolling. Many member rolling experiences and recommendations, there. You could search for that thread.
BTW John, welcome to AK.
 
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Dude, speaker cable, inter connects, power Chords are a rabbit hole that can get very costly. If you like what your hearing and enjoying the music stay with it. As I asked before what do you use now?
 
Old Guy8 said:
No the Rogues are not Chinese. Are made in Pennsylvania. I believe many new tube amps are furnished with easily sourced new tubes. I believe most current production tubes are made in China, Russia and Eastern European countries like Slovakia. So take your pick.

To the OP, John. Rogue told me, I could try a NOS 12au7 in the center position, for most effect. My Cronus l came with a NOS Mullard CV4003 in center position, from previous owner. I have not tried any further rolling in the Cronus. I've tried NOS Mullard CV4003s on my Rogue Sphinx hybrid. And liked soft tone. Currently trying pair RCA Cleartop 12au7s in my Sphinx. I also like, at a lower cost. RCA JAN 5814 blacktops on order.

There's an extensive thread on AK , on Cronus Magnum ll tube rolling. Many member rolling experiences and recommendations, there. You could search for that thread.
BTW John, welcome to AK.
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Thanks Old Guy8. I will look into that other thread on AK.
 
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