It must be a system specific thing as I tried the Gold Lions and thought they were just ok. The top end is a little bit hot and they do not produce the wide deep soundstage of the Conn Sylvania’s
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I can weigh in on this one as I have tried both the Gold Lions and early Conn/Baldwin/Sylvania’s in the BHK pre.
I ended up keeping the GL’s as I thought they were most neutral throughout the range but the mids were pretty luscious with the Sylvania’s. I have a pair of Telefunken 60’s era coming and I hope they give both better detail and body. Also breaking in new speakers now. I will get back to you all soon.
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I think I picked those up, too. Thanks for the warning!
It’s always back and forth. I’m using GL 6922s, but you folks have me wondering about a quieter tube hiss sound with the 12s. I’ve been pretty stoked with the 6922s.
I’ll be curious to see if you have the same issue with increasing the volume.
Use with Directstream Dac and Meridian poweramp.
Pretty revealing speakers.
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I just bought the last pair (he had me on the last pair) of 12AU7 /ECC82 Telefunken ribbed plate, diamond mark NOS from Brent Jessee. I have no idea how this tube will sound in the BHK Pre. but some members recommended Telefunken NOS a while ago (I think).
I hope I will not regret another impulsive decision I made. But I plan to beef up my tube supply from potential supply shortage.
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You can’t go wrong with any of the Telefunken tubes. Their sound profile seems quite consistent no matter the version.
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I have a used set of 60’s Telefunken AU7s on the way.
Hate the wait.
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The NOS Telefunken 12AU7 sounded better than PSAVE, Goden Lion, and Rediotech tubes now I have had after a couple hundred hours on them. Darn, now I need a pair for my M1200 too and they are certainly hard to find and pricy.
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I just got the Telefunken’s and they are different than the GoldLions but not necessarily better, especially in the bass. I need to listen more but will be out of town for awhile. I will update you later.
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Give the Telefunken another 100 hours and the bass should improve, and let me know if you like them better after your trip. You are right that I should not describe them as “sounded better”, I should have said I prefer their sound over others in my system. Tubes are very system dependent as I learned.
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I’m using the Tungsram PCC88 tubes and want to try the bias at 5mA. Is this the correct jumper setting?
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yes it is
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Thanks! My system should be back in action in a few days.
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There is a strap for each channel individually.
Completely agree, the 12au7 Gold Lion tubes significantly upgraded the performance of the BHK preamp. The more I listen the more I’m impressed. Considering their cost they really should be the stock tubes that come with the preamp.
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I recently added a pair of Telefunken “Mazda” 12au7 into my M1200, and strangely the BHK sounded better with the GL tubes instead of another pair of Telefunken NOS. The warmer sounding GL in the pre paired with the neutral sounding Telefunken made the combination work better in my system.
YMMV, the tubes are very system depending in my experience.
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I recently purchased some. Still in the box. Maybe I should “test” them.
I had the same positive experience with the Gold Lions that Gary had. You will not be disappointed.
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