PrimaLuna EVO and Tube Rolling

[CohibaJoe]

Tonight's KT170's Eye Candy!!!!!

 

[Mr Boochie]

Tonight's KT170's Eye Candy!!!!!

.

Those KT-170 tubes remind me of early 50s Buick taillights.

 

[mcgjohn]

A test fit using a high quality TUBEMONGER NOVIB OCTAL NOS GE-USA OMRON-JAPAN Socket Saver© with Vibration Reduction Base. I will power the Amp on later as I am Upgrading the Mundorf MCap EVO Silver Gold Oil (two front Gain Tubes) with either Mundorf MCap Supreme Silver Oil or V-Cap ODAM. Will test the Mundorf MCap Supreme Silver Oil with 200+hrs burn in.

View attachment 3154252View attachment 3154251

cool that is something.

 

[Bannon]

KT150s will work and will likely last for over 10-12 years since they will be so under biased and under spec'd. To really hear what the 150 sounds like a person should give them a bit more bias than a KT88. If you are using an EVO 300 to driver L100s you really don't need more power, go for the sound that you really like. There are tons and tons of 12AU7s, 5814s and 6189s on ebay from some good sellers all will work in those input slots. If you want more sparkle on top try the RCA Clear tops, or Telefunken smooth plates. If you want a warmer sound try a pair of Mullards, or RCA black plates in the those first two slots.

My 300i arrives today and as many have suggested, I'll start with the tubes at the front end if I decide to dip my toe into tube rolling. I may do it even if the amp sounds great (as I fully expect it will) just to see what this tube rolling thing is all about and I suspect rolling a set of 12AU7s will be a heck of a lot less expensive with rolling the power tubes.

Thanks for the suggestion. Do you have any eBay sellers you'd recommend?

 

[Bannon]

Those KT-170 tubes remind me of early 50s Buick taillights.

One word ... WOW!

 

[CohibaJoe]

My 300i arrives today and as many have suggested, I'll start with the tubes at the front end if I decide to dip my toe into tube rolling. I may do it even if the amp sounds great (as I fully expect it will) just to see what this tube rolling thing is all about and I suspect rolling a set of 12AU7s will be a heck of a lot less expensive with rolling the power tubes.

Thanks for the suggestion. Do you have any eBay sellers you'd recommend?

I would be looking at these places 1st before eBay. Upscale Audio, Tubemonger, Tubedepot, Viva Tubes. I have purchased Tubes on eBay from BULLzTUBEz, but anyone on eBay, you NEED to purchase a Tube Tester to verify the tubes. Plus, a TT should be in one's life with Tube gear.

 

[mcgjohn]

My 300i arrives today and as many have suggested, I'll start with the tubes at the front end if I decide to dip my toe into tube rolling. I may do it even if the amp sounds great (as I fully expect it will) just to see what this tube rolling thing is all about and I suspect rolling a set of 12AU7s will be a heck of a lot less expensive with rolling the power tubes.

Thanks for the suggestion. Do you have any eBay sellers you'd recommend?

the 12AU7s (and their industrial variants) were used in just about everything from organs to broadcast gear and military hardware.

I have had good luck with several sellers on ebay. A few of these would be:

one nation audio

| eBay

another would be radios and stuff

| eBay

but there are quite a few others. When searching see if the seller is using a mutual conductance tester or not. If just using an emissions type tester then the risk is higher.

And don't just focus on the 12AU7s, look for the industrial variants which can be quite excellent sounding.

I look for the industrial, broadcast and military versions of the 12AU7. Some of these variants were either screened or built for rough and extended use such as a triple mica 5814A and several others.

The US versions are usually easier to find. Their British, German and French counterparts are much tougher to find in good condition.

In your PL amp you may want to try a pair of GE 5814A triple micas in those middle sockets or an RCA or Raytheon blackplate 5814a in those first sockets.

 

[mcgjohn]

I would be looking at these places 1st before eBay. Upscale Audio, Tubemonger, Tubedepot, Viva Tubes. I have purchased Tubes on eBay from BULLzTUBEz, but anyone on eBay, you NEED to purchase a Tube Tester to verify the tubes. Plus, a TT should be in one's life with Tube gear.

yes, all are good sources.