TubeDAC-09 Roll and Mod Results

[iGrant]

As per an AK Subscriber's request, here is a sticky thread for roll and mod results by end users. Please note that I use about 5 of them in our showroom in stock form and feel no need to change anything on the TubeDAC-09, it already competes fine with DAC's and CDP costing multitudes more. My early experiments with tube rolling showed no across the board improvement (some have now reported finding a tube that is, but lo behold they have vanished from the market). We have been offered 3 modded versions with better parts, one by an end user hear in calgary, two from the factory as new versions and none of them sound as magical as the TubeDAC-09 in stock form. If you are going to mod the TubeDAC-09 I do suggest you have access to a 2nd one to compare the changes, a luxury I have.

If you can post your roll mod results and give the a score of 1 to 10 for sound and 1 to 10 for cost/value, that would be cool for us frugalphiles

The current tube rolling thread:

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=290747

Thanks and cheers,
Ian

 

[eclein]

I enjoy swapping tubes but no mods yet, here are my favorites in order:
1) GE Red 5 Star (it dethroned the WE which was the best until it showed up) -10/10
2) WE396A -9/9
3) GE 5670 -8/9
4) Sylvania 5670 - 7/9
5) Raytheon 5670 - 6/8
6) Stock tube and others - 6/10
A rough list and rough estimates but pretty close to actual...the top two are the best that I've fooled with and the others are all fairly close together.

 

[eclein]

Ian if posting this link is a bad idea please delete the post but I found the GE Red 5 Star tubes put on ebay again..this is the same seller I used.

The seller also has a listing for some bulk Bendix Red Bank tubes which are supposedly very good also although a bit pricey, I have no connection to this seller other than the fact that I purchased some tubes from them and received them and they sound excellent to me.....Enjoy!!!!

 

[Dave of the]

I haven't rolled the WE into the mix yet as I'd like to give the GE a chance to warm up to my system and their potential. I'd love to be able to A/B the tubes with the flick of a switch. I can't say my old ears hear a difference that's better by any meaning of the word. I DID order the PC-1.5 for a different spin on a mod. My next serious overall system upgrade will be a Son of Q 1R balanced power supply from Equi=Tech. Our city power is less than stable with frequent brown outs and power outages and this appears to be an interesting piece of technology. Any concerns about using it with a tubed DAC Grant?

 

[iGrant]

Hi Dave,

Not knowing the rest of your system I'd say it is overkill, these are typically found in recording studios where grounding is an issue due to lots of equipment being hooked up in any variable order. Do you have any ground loop issues as in hum or LF buzz that a balanced power supply would help with? I would assume it has been designed to be able to plug in any piece of A/V gear Not saying it won't have sonic benefits for you, but our RPF-120 is similar in design concept and we use it on every system we have including our $50K+ systems. The RPF-120 with it's custom power cable and our PC-1.5 cable is our Power System, for home, studio and live use. The RPF-120 with it's isolating coil takes care of what is behind your wall, protects your gear and the PC-1.5 takes care of whats is your room. All with lots of money left over for tunes

Cheers,
Ian

 

[mhardyman]

What he said

Ian if posting this link is a bad idea please delete the post but I found the GE Red 5 Star tubes put on ebay again..this is the same seller I used.

The seller also has a listing for some bulk Bendix Red Bank tubes which are supposedly very good also although a bit pricey, I have no connection to this seller other than the fact that I purchased some tubes from them and received them and they sound excellent to me.....Enjoy!!!!

Purchased several pair of the GE Red 5 Star since I have two DAC 0.9 units. Did an A-B with one GE and one stock. Big Difference! Well worth it. Good from the beginning and getting better with time.

 

[eclein]

Thats the best news I have had in awhile, the fact that I turned somebody on to better sound. I'm fighting a bit of a battle right now healthwise and sometimes its hard to keep going and not just bail out and be miserable....you made me smile today mhardyman..Thank you!!!
Told ya Ian these Red 5 Star tubes are "THE" tube for us poor folks...LOL!!!!! Someday, I'll have a tube amp and combined with the DAC-09 I'll light these JBL's up!!!!

 

[iGrant]

Thats the best news I have had in awhile, the fact that I turned somebody on to better sound. I'm fighting a bit of a battle right now healthwise and sometimes its hard to keep going and not just bail out and be miserable....you made me smile today mhardyman..Thank you!!!
Told ya Ian these Red 5 Star tubes are "THE" tube for us poor folks...LOL!!!!! Someday, I'll have a tube amp and combined with the DAC-09 I'll light these JBL's up!!!!

I'm sure everyone appreciates your input on tube rolling the TubeDAC-09, I've heard from many others (you know, the ones who snagged the red 5 stars after your post to the point of good luck finding them who have been very pleased with the results.

Take two tubes and call me in the morning, hope you feel better soon.

Thanks,
Ian

 

[Cut-Throat]

Anyone know of a source for these Red Star Tubes?

Anyone know of a source for these Red Star Tubes? I can't find any on E-bay.

Is there someone here who would be willing to sell me one?:scratch2:

 

[Mazeppa]

Loving it

I got my TubeDAC 09 about a month ago and I really enjoy it. This is my second tube out DAC. The first was a Lampucera w/a 6N6P output stage that I think sounds very good. The 09 compares well with it sonically, and its versatility with the multiple inputs and ability to work as a buffer makes it hard to beat.

Some tubular observations. I think the stock 6N3 sounds pretty darn good, so don't let my 5 out of 10 rating throw you, that's my reference for comparing other tubes. So far I've tried two 5670's. In order of preference.......

1) GE 5670 White 5 Star - 7/10 - I can't fault it at all. Detailed yet smooth, lush and layered sound. Refined with good balance throughout the frequency spectrum. Addicting, brings intimacy and emotional involvement with the music. Adding the 09 with this tube in it to an otherwise mediocre system can make it hard to turn off. :tresbon:

2) Stock Chinese 6N3 - 5/10 - Was very surprised at the quality of sound this tube produces after all the knocks I'd read about Chinese tubes. Maybe a touch heavy in the lower registers, but overall quite nice. If I hadn't tried the GE above, I'd be quite happy with my 09 running this tube. :yes:

3) GE 5670 JAN - 3/10 - I expected this one to be better. Details and balance of the White 5 Star are there, but the sound seems 2 dimensional, quite ordinary.

I have some Russian 6N3P DR on the way for trial as well.

BTW, my research indicates that the GE 5670 Red 5 Star is the same tube as the White 5 Star, but were able to pass a more stringent testing regimen. The same logo was then printed in red ink to differentiate them. If I could get a Red for a decent price I'd like to try one, but I tell you guys, I'm so pleased with the White, I'm not looking very hard at all.

To cut-throat: If you'd like to try a GE White 5 Star and you can't find one on the internet, send me a PM, I have an extra.

 

[Cut-Throat]

To cut-throat: If you'd like to try a GE White 5 Star and you can't find one on the internet, send me a PM, I have an extra.

Thanks for the kind offer. Not needed, as that is exactly what I have in both of my DAC-09s now.:yes:

 

[Mazeppa]

I got my TubeDAC 09 about a month ago and I really enjoy it. This is my second tube out DAC. The first was a Lampucera w/a 6N6P output stage that I think sounds very good. The 09 compares well with it sonically, and its versatility with the multiple inputs and ability to work as a buffer makes it hard to beat.

Some tubular observations. I think the stock 6N3 sounds pretty darn good, so don't let my 5 out of 10 rating throw you, that's my reference for comparing other tubes. So far I've tried two 5670's. In order of preference.......

Updated 25May2011

1) GE 5670 White 5 Star - 7/10 - I can't fault it at all. Detailed yet smooth, lush and layered sound. Refined with good balance throughout the frequency spectrum. Addicting, brings intimacy and emotional involvement with the music. Adding the 09 with this tube in it to an otherwise mediocre system can make it hard to turn off. :tresbon:

1) Raytheon CK 5670 - 7/10 - Yep, dead heat with the GE 5 Star White. I can't tell any difference between them. Great tube in the 09. :tresbon:

2) Russian 6N3P-DR - 6/10 - Sonically very similar to the stock 6N3, a bit more refined in all aspects. Would be a good choice if you considered your system to be a little bright, and/or bass shy.

3) Stock Chinese 6N3 - 5/10 - Was very surprised at the quality of sound this tube produces after all the knocks I'd read about Chinese tubes. Maybe a touch heavy in the lower registers, but overall quite nice. If I hadn't tried the GE above, I'd be quite happy with my 09 running this tube. :yes:

4) Collins 5670 - 4/10 or 1) 8/10 - Cheapest by far of all the 5670's I've acquired. Supposedly made by Raytheon for Collins Radio. Plates and grid are quite small compared to others. It produced the best mid/high performance of all, but lagged in the bass department, that's the 4/10 rating. The 8/10 came when I discovered the excellent bass (easily besting all tubes tried so far) I could get from the "Normal" output of the 09 to the woofers in a bi-amped setup combined with the Collins tube out to the mid/high amp. WOW
:yes: :thmbsp:

5) GE JAN 5670 - 3/10 -I expected this one to be better. Details and balance of the White 5 Star are there, but the sound seems 2 dimensional, quite ordinary.

 

[Tristen]

i just popped a WE396A into my DAC, and it really opened up... very nice. Can't wait till my amp comes in the mail so i can pull the last bit of SS amp out of my chain.

I'll prolly look for some GE5670's to try out for when i get another DAC to lave at work