System update and a question

[rob.hughes]

After the saga with the Evo 2k, I was looking at an ET 250S (and a lot of non-CJ gear) but got a chance to pick up a Premier 350 for only about double the 250 I went with that after looking at a lot of comments from people that had heard both and I definitely don't regret it. Paired with my ET3 SE through my Polks it's an amazing combo. But my question is this; now the system boarders on the analytical. There's still a hint of tubey goodness from the ET3, but I'm thinking that it could be a bit better by swapping out the NOS JAN Philips 6922 that came from the original owner for something else. So if I was looking to add just a tinge more warmth to the mids and sweetness to the highs without losing the amazing level of detail and extension I've got now, what tubes have people had luck with?

[Big Dog RJ]

G'day mate,

Nice power amp, one of the best SS designs CJ ever made to date. At the time of ownership, I had the Prem350A partnered with the ACT2 preamp. That was like a turbo boost on super-charge, driving several types of speakers with difficult loads (Infinity's IRS 1B, Ren90, Epsilon and Maggies 3.5/r). Plenty of drive, control, and total grip on the impedence swings, absolutely no issues at all. The thing with the ACT2 is that it uses the 6N30Pi / 6H30P's, and the CT5 that replaced the ACT2 & S2, still uses that exact tube type. The 6N30Pi's are also used on most ARC gear and Lamm Audio. It is one of the very characteristics of midrange warmth and richness in the highs that you're referring to.

The 6922 variants don't have much of this character, simply because they're more towards the neutral side, far less colored, allowing more of the signal to flow in its natural form. This is also one of the very reasons that CJ's latest ET series preamps and the ART88 sound very very neutral, nearly to the point where there's no preamp at all. As if it's invisible, which is the point.

So, chasing those past type of tube characters may not get you there because it's not really found on the ET series preamps. However, you could try the Genalex Gold Lions 6922 with Gold Pins, they may add a bit more of what you're after. I cannot guarantee it though because I've also tried various 6922 variants and there were only subtle changes, nothing significant. EH, GGL, JJ, Phillips, and Telefunken, each of which had a slightly different flavor but very slightly. I've found that when tube rolling and trying to arrive at a "custom sound," the most significant changes in tube characters were when changing tubes in power amps and not so much in preamps. In your case, the power amp is SS! So there's really not much you can do in this custom type of sound you're trying to achieve. That's the SS end of the spectrum, you can't alter it by much.

Enjoy those fine tunes!
Cheers, RJ

[rob.hughes]

A touch of this and a touch of that is all I'm really looking for. I'm very happy with the system now and enjoy the little things I'm hearing like being able to tell the different mics used in recordings. So I'm not trying to make the system sound like a tube system. Just something to add a touch of sweetness and warmth. I've always tended towards neutrality in my setups, and even in headphones by using a high-ish end set of studio headphones because those let me hear the recording, not the headphones. Same with the system; I don't want to hear it, just the recording.

[Big Dog RJ]

In that case, sounds like it's fine just the way it is!
Best advice, sit back and enjoy those fine tunes!

Perhaps other members here will suggest some 6922 variants but it's very difficult to ascertain what you're looking for with others ears. It's all highly personal preferences, based on long term tube gear usage. Hopefully you'll find that special tooob.

Woof! RJ

[Joe Appierto]

I have limited experience with CJ's preamps other than having owned first their 17LS and then the 16LS2. And the PV10A before that but the 10A used tubes in the 12Ax family so that doesn't count. There has been some anecdotal evidence I've read that CJ's post Premier preamps may push their tubes kind of hard. I don't know if the ET3 SE falls into that group so to be safe I'd leave out the 6DJ8 type which is kind of a shame because there are a good number of brands especially in the Philips family such as Amperex, Mullard, etc. that could fit what you're looking for.

That having been said and not knowing what you'd be willing to spend, two possibilities come to my mind. Both are durable and long-lived (especially the Amperex).

On the lower end of the cost scale there is the Russian Reflector 6H23P-EB which is the equivalent of the 6922. The Tube Store has them for $59.95 which for a good quality tube nowadays is actually inexpensive in my opinion. The tube they have pictured (although it's only the picture) is from 1989. You can find it here.

https://www.thetubestore.com/6h23n-eb-6922

For considerably more money there's one of my favorites back when I did use tubes from this type. It's the American made Amperex 7308 which was produced in three flavors. The oldest and to my ears most refined/relaxed sounding were the white label. Then there's the orange label which I thought were the least tubey sounding. Finally, there was the green label which was kind of the Goldilocks version that fell between the other two in sound. If the vendor allows you to choose you might want to ask their opinion. Just as a point of information when Kevin Deal at Upscale Audio carried them he said that to him all three variants sounded the same.

Anyway, Tube Depot has them for $249.95 which ain't cheap but for nowadays that's pretty much the price you'd pay. You can find it here:

https://www.tubedepot.com/products/ampe ... a-gold-pin

[pfmmx]

Hi Joe,

Excellent suggestions. The Reflector 6h23n-eb is super durable and sounds very good. Pretty neutral top to bottom. Very reasonably priced.

I have never tried the Amperex 7308. I have heard they are really good. If my limited memory is any good, the 7308's are military spec tubes(Tighter tolerances & more durable) of the 6922 family. If Amperex last longer than the Reflector 6h23n-eb, they will probably outlive me-(Ha-ha -hope not)

[roberto]

Hola Chicos,
There are many different options with the brands...so, I ended with the Genalex Gold Lion 6922. It is not the best but it is offering to my ears great definition, steady stage with staggering harmonic texture, from top to bottom. The size of the instruments are incredible and I use them in my ET-7V2 with my power amp the Classic One Twenty SE too. I did a lot of tube rolling and really ended with these 6922s. The price is OK for the quality sound that they bring through my speakers.

Try them, you might like these Genalex Gold Lion as I do...I really love what I am listening and enjoying.
Happy listening!