If you have the Tubes – yes, then why not play about with them… From my perspective, if I was to roll tubes, sure as night flows day the BHKs would breakdown and cease to function. Because in over 4 decades of specialist high-end audio the BHK amplifiers are the most unreliable amplifiers I’ve ever owned……Period!
I could write a book on them so many the problems I’ve endured in four hellish years owning them. Musically they are wonderful, that’s when I manage to have a fully working set - but unfortunately, that never lasts any length of time.
To keep my sanity I don’t use them anymore! They are decommissioned - and in my garage! Not dissing BHK amplifiers - just speaking the truth about “MY” trouble filled time with the BHK amplifiers! I just wish I had the same level of trouble free operation others enjoy with their BHK amplifiers… But such is life!!
6SN7’s are some of the best tubes out there, and there are tons of varieties of them as well. This is what I’m currently running in my Schiit Freya+ preamp and love the sound. Sounds like Joe Pass is right here in the room with me.
And to me, the only way to do proper tube rolling is with vintage NOS tubes, not overpriced new Chinese or Russian tubes.
Left bank - NOS Baldwin/Raytheon 6SN7GTB
Right bank - NOS RCA 6C8G
I’ve not had any problems with any of my PSA equipment except with the NuWave phono. I sent it back and it came back repaired and no other problems with it. My main system has all PSA equipment, but the only thing I bought new was the Stellar Phono amp and the BHK Pre ( at a good discount) all the other where purchased used. The 300 mono blocks were such a good deal I couldn’t pass them up, also the DSMP and DSD where all less than 50% retail.
I can have the preamp back to stock within 30 seconds, after power down cycle. I prefer the sound of the 6sn7 family of tubes and have them in my possession, so I use them. If you have a pair of great sounding tubes for me to try, send them my way and I’ll roll them in.
I guess if you happen to have them and like the way they sound. I would never be able to get past the way they look sticking out of the top of the preamp. You did a neat job integrating them though. Whatever works for you is perfect.
Thanks, I do like the look of tubes and in my other system it contains a tube pre and tube mono block power amps, which I have built. My tube pre runs the same 181-z tubes as in the BHK, the mono blocks have 12bh7s in the gain stage and 12au7s in the phase splitter and 4 kt120s is each mono for the power tubes. They power a single driver 15 in cone speaker, a very simple way of hearing music.
It’s interesting how the auto and stereo enthusiasts are very similar. You can start from an idea and a pile of parts in both hobbies and end up with something unique and very satisfying along with performing well.
I don’t know enough about how preamps, amps, dacs, and various other processors work but obviously have a high interest in the same.
I have built hot rod cars my whole life until 2015 or so when I got too worn out to do the work anymore and this hobby rose up from my earlier life and came back to the front of the line.
I am also interested in how this hot rod stereo came together.
When I wanted to build a tube amp I searched the internet for schematics and such for the build, so after searching I found a website from which you can build from a kit. I know it was lazy of me but much quicker because you didn’t have to source everything. Tubes4hifi .com is where I ordered my kits, the M125 mono blocks. Everything was included for the build and very good instructions, having been in electronics most my working life it was an easy build for me. WIth all four KT120s in place there are 125 watts of output power, with my speakers I only use 2 output tubes per channel for 60 watts. My speakers are 96 db efficient, more on them in a second. I only have one photo when I was building the kit and it is of the transformers I painted with black Harley-Davidson wrinkle engine paint.
For the price an performance these amps are hard to beat, but they are plain looking with just a stainless metal chassis. This is a stock photo of a VTA-M125
The cabinets for the speakers wasn’t built by me but by someone I contacted, he did a great job building the cabinets, in piano black, and by spec from the speaker driver company I had bought the drivers from. The cabinets are rather large, 5.6 cubic ft to hold the 15 in drivers. The drivers are full range, 30 to 13k freq response, I can’t hear much over 13k anymore so they are fine for me. Single 15 in driver, no tweeter or cross overs, just as a straight shot from amp to speaker coil.
Ah thank you for the info that’s great, and they look fab too I think kits are they way to go unless you are a BHK anyway with valves, too many variables and too high voltages to mess about, I’m too old for HV jolts now
Had a horribly busy day so will read more and absorb in the small hours after a sleep
Really digging these Amperex 7308 low noise tubes from RAM. So smooth and involving, with a rich, liquid midrange. Current flavor of the month, if you will.
Finally took the time to change the jumpers to 6v and 5ma bias on my BHK preamp. I ordered a matched and balanced pair of 7DJ8 Toshiba just for fun.(Around $20 each tube) I wasn’t expecting such a great change for the good from a really accessible tube in terms of the price.
Looking forward to try many more 6v and 7v tubes!
Is there a huge difference in sound between 6v vs 7v tubes on either preamp or amp?
How is the tube rush with the 7 or 6 volt tubes for you. It has been my experience that they are significantly noisier and more so when operated at 5ma bias level.
I think kits are they way to go unless you are a BHK anyway with valves, too many variables and too high voltages to mess about, I’m too old for HV jolts now 
