Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
Yep you can definitely tell when one of them goes! Equally just over 3 years gone and I’ve only had to change them once very recently.
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Totally Tubular: The Tube Thread
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Yep you can definitely tell when one of them goes! Equally just over 3 years gone and I’ve only had to change them once very recently.
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
Surprised at more bass to be honest, I hadn’t found that with them, you are running double the amount of them though. That tube gets raved about for its mids.
PS. Did you switch the amp to low bias if you’re running all 8 EL34? They run on a lower setting that the KT tubes.
bdm105
Well-Known Member
Yeah I'm surprised too to be honest. I did flip the switch to EL34. Also entirety possible I'm full of it and just noticing it more.
my ears are good but not particularly incredible
mindhead1
Active Member
Nice!
A few questions:
- What preamp are you using with your 300 Power amp?
- Why did you choose the 300 over the other options?
- Have you tube rolled or are the stock tubes good enough?
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
I’m using a PS Audio Gain Cell. I went for that because it had a fully class a preamp but also the DAC for my streaming and cd transport. I had that before the PrimaLuna because I previously ran a pair of quad qii forty mono blocks.
I picked the 300 because it had all the upgraded transformers and the xlr balanced input the same as the 400 but only needed 4 power tubes. I didn’t need the extra power and 8 power tubes begins to get spendy. For my money the 300 is the sweet spot of their line.
I’ve never used the stock power tubes, I’m not a EL34 fan. I’ve always used KT88. First I used Gold Lion and then EH but given Ukraine I don’t want to buy Russian and they’ve gone super expensive. Currently swapping in ruby tubes ones when one goes, they’re built to order in the JJ factory. The Gold Lion are my favs.
Down the line id like to try KT170 if Ukraine prevails.
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mindhead1
Active Member
That Gain Cell looks nice. Looks like they can be had for around $900 on the used market. Have you compared the DAC in the Gain Cell to other DACs? If so, how does is compare?
I'm in the market for a preamp and was leaning towards something with tubes like the Schiit Freya+, but may need to reconsider and take a look at PS Audio. Maybe I'll wait until there PS Stellar Gold Preamps go on sale or start showing up on the used market $4k new is a little steep for me for a preamp.
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
The DAC in it is really nice but the USB input is errrrr, eccentric at best, fucked at worst. Doesn’t bother me so much because I’m using I2S and Coax but it’s definitely an issue. I have no comparators though, it’s the only DAC I’ve had. I do like how the preamp section sounds too.
That schiit was something I was looking at when I was considering changing it a while back, itchy feet then, but I got past that and will probably stick with the GCD for the next while now.
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mindhead1
Active Member
TL/DR: if you have a Willsenton R8 contact valvesnmore.com and save yourself some time and money and get the tubes they recommend.
My tube rolling journey with the Willsenton R8 has come to an end. I recently picked up a preamp/driver tube set for the R8 from valvesnmore.com and Wow! I think I have reached peak R8.
I am using Psvane KT88-T MKII for power tubes and was using Psvane CV181-T MKII in the 3 6SN7 slots. For the 2 6SL7 slots I was going back and forth between Tung-Sols and the stock tubes. The Tung-Sols sounded good and brought a lot of dynamic range and soundstage to the sound but the treble would get too hot for me and got fatiguing over long listening sessions. The stock tube controlled the highs better, but didn't bring the soundstage I was craving.
Enter valvesnmore. I'd seen their Tube Lab videos on YouTube and emailed them with some questions and they were very responsive and recommended the Sylvania Re-Based Gold Preamp/Driver package. I popped them in this past weekend and the difference was very noticeable from the first listen. Holographic soundstage, depth clarity, imaging and all the other audiophile jargon.
I wasn't certain that the NOS tubes really made a difference, but I think I am now a convert. The other tubes I have aren't bad and sound fine, but they don't have the magic that I'm now hearing from the R8. I'm sure I could keep experimenting with tubes and find the right combo, but I don't have the time or money for that. The people at valvesnmore have solved these problems. They also have tube sets for other amps as well.
I am in no way affiliated with valvesnmore.com. I'm just a happy customer.
My tube rolling journey with the Willsenton R8 has come to an end. I recently picked up a preamp/driver tube set for the R8 from valvesnmore.com and Wow! I think I have reached peak R8.
I am using Psvane KT88-T MKII for power tubes and was using Psvane CV181-T MKII in the 3 6SN7 slots. For the 2 6SL7 slots I was going back and forth between Tung-Sols and the stock tubes. The Tung-Sols sounded good and brought a lot of dynamic range and soundstage to the sound but the treble would get too hot for me and got fatiguing over long listening sessions. The stock tube controlled the highs better, but didn't bring the soundstage I was craving.
Enter valvesnmore. I'd seen their Tube Lab videos on YouTube and emailed them with some questions and they were very responsive and recommended the Sylvania Re-Based Gold Preamp/Driver package. I popped them in this past weekend and the difference was very noticeable from the first listen. Holographic soundstage, depth clarity, imaging and all the other audiophile jargon.
I wasn't certain that the NOS tubes really made a difference, but I think I am now a convert. The other tubes I have aren't bad and sound fine, but they don't have the magic that I'm now hearing from the R8. I'm sure I could keep experimenting with tubes and find the right combo, but I don't have the time or money for that. The people at valvesnmore have solved these problems. They also have tube sets for other amps as well.
I am in no way affiliated with valvesnmore.com. I'm just a happy customer.
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kvetcha
Chet Hanks' Filmography Buff
If anyone has been looking to get into tubes, I am thinking of selling my KingKo KA-101 Pro. It's a wonderfully musical-sounding 12-watt EL84 amp that punches way above its price. The only reason I am even considering selling is because the Fosi V3 Monos I've been using the past couple months are better suited to the frequent on-off cycles that I end up subjecting the system to over the course of the day.
I do love the thing, though; if there's no interest on here, I may just pack it away for a rainy day.
I do love the thing, though; if there's no interest on here, I may just pack it away for a rainy day.
OMC
Well-Known Member
EL84 tube amps are some of the very sweetest sounding amps made. Don't know anything about the KingKo offerings but as a group EL84 amps, if powerful enough for your needs, are superb sounding.
Jbraswell
Well-Known Member
Did you try the tube amp with fosi to bi-amp?
Man I am sold on the SS + tube combo sound.
kvetcha
Chet Hanks' Filmography Buff
I thought about it but I'm not sure how I'd swing it without an active crossover to manage the levels.
This whole thing would also be easier if I weren't sharing the speakers with my home theater.
Jbraswell
Well-Known Member
Yeah the preamp with two outs and one volume control is the key to simplicity.
I'm not sure if my amps are gain matched but the JBL Xo seems to sort it all out fine.
HayesWeighsIn
Well-Known Member
The KingKo is no longer in production as well, correct?
kvetcha
Chet Hanks' Filmography Buff
Yep. And it’s not a known brand, so it’s not like it’s going to sell for a ton. Genuinely a great little thing, though.