Tube Talk, Steve!

[Gary]

Hi again! Remember when you advised me (old board) on shopping for a tube preamp? You said "listen for the drum echo on CCR's Fortunate Son during the first 20 seconds". You should be able to tell what direction it's going in - not just thinking that there *might* be an echo there.

I came up with the McIntosh MX110. There is another model MX110, looks almost the same, but with two PANLOCK buttons. Should I have purchased the one with these buttons?

You said that after “we should talk tubes” – so here goes! Here are the tubes in the preamp:

3 X 12AX7

I’ve replaced the two Sylvania 12AX7A / ECC83 and one JAN 12AX7 with three Telefunken 12AX7 / ECC83’s. Are these the same? Was this a good thing? I remember that you said the Telefunkens had the "Breath of Life" built into them. I still have all the original tubes just in case!

There is also:

1 X 6U8 (Mullard) – in a 6U8 slot,
1 X 6U8A (EICO) – in a 6U8 slot,
2 X 6AB4 (Tung-Sol & Unknown: rubbed off)
2 X 12AT7 (Sylvania & Rogers – Made in Gt Britian),
3 X 6AU6 (Westinghouse & two unknown: rubbed off)
1 X 6CS6 (Rogers - Made in Canada).

And 1 X 12AU7 (Hitachi) plus 1 X 6U8 (Mullard 4B9 Foreign Made – yes that is printed on the tube) for the multiplex decoder.

There may also be a hidden tube: 1 X 6HU6. I’d have to get a screwdriver to investigate…. Another day perhaps....

I plugged it in for a few hours and WOW
:D Biiiiiig difference!!!! :D I can almost TOUCH that echo!

Now I am waiting for my "new" (to me) amp to arrive. McIntosh 240 (I purchased RCA Black Plate 6L6's in anticipation of its arrival)

More questions:
Should all the same type of tube sockets have the same brand of tubes in them? Like all Mullards?
The 240 also takes 12AX7’s. I though they were preamp tubes? Or is there a different type of 12AX7 for the amp?

Thanks for any professional advice, Steve! Although I this preamp blows away anything I have ever heard! And it’s “THANKS” to you that you mentioned this preamp in an earlier post!

Hope I’m not bugging you too much – if you’d rather work on upcoming DCC “goodies”, I’d certainly understand! And I'm sorry that this is soooo long……

Oh - and what the heck is the difference between smooth palte, ribbed plate, etc? Can I mix and match them?

[ October 21, 2001: Message edited fer spellin' by: Gary ]

[ October 21, 2001: Message edited by: Gary ]

[Steve Hoffman]

Gary, so you got a McIntosh MX110, eh? The Echo King. With or without Panloc. Same circuit! Pre Panloc is older. Could even be better that way

You are correct about the tubes: Crappy 12AX7's out, and 3 Telefunken 12AX7's in. Good. Midrange magic!

The two 6U8's give the line stage most of the sound. I've never seen a Mullard 6U8. Could be interesting...

The 12AT7 could be a rebranded Mullard. Also good.

Every other tube you describe is fine. You can use any good brand. They mainly control the sound of the FM.

Bet you can touch the echo now. I think you are set just the way you have it.

Enjoy it!

The McIntosh 240 uses 4 6L6GC's as output tubes, plus 7 (I think) input tubes, 12AX7's, 12AU7's, 12BH7's. The 12AX7's should also be Telefunkens if you can find some. Even used ones have zillions of hours left on them. The 12AU7's can be Amperex, RCA or Mullards depending on how "bright" you want the amp to sound. No GE 12AX7's though. Too congested.

The 12BH7's can be almost anything. I like RCA's or GE's. Cheap and good. Those 12AX7 must be Telefunkens, though. 'Kay?

Don't worry about smooth plate vs. ribbed plate (for her pleasure) Telefunkens. Usually the smooth go for more money, but I think they all sound the same. You can mix and match. As long as your Telefunkens have that diamond embossed on the bottom, you are in business.

Depending on how you like the sound of the 240, another trick to add extra midrange magic is to use cheap GE 6L6GC's in the circuit, and save your RCA's for extra special occasions. GE's have more mids, but the RCA's have more top and bottom.

You can tailor your Mac stuff to exactly the tone you want by mucking around with tube brands. I love Macs!

Amazing echo recovery on the MX-110.....Glad you like it! Wish I still had mine!
:(

[ October 22, 2001: Message edited by: Steve Hoffman ]

[Angel]

Why do Telefunken 12AX7's sound so good again? And why should we avoid Telefunkun 12AU7's?

Thanks!

[Gary]

Steve "let slip" one day that Telefunken 12AX7's were a tube that had a built in "breath of life". I picked up six of them... enough for the Pre and Amp. I've never heard anything about the Telefunken 12AU7's, good or bad.

Thank you, Steve! This kind advice has just given me a whole new CD / Vinyl collection as everything will sound just so, so much better!

[Steve Hoffman]

Gary, you're most welcome.

Angel, Tele 12AX7's have that wonderful liquid midrange that you can really see into. No other 12AX7 has it. I've tried 'em all. Some Mullards come close, but Teles still win out. Since most vintage gear has 12AX7's someplace in the circuit, we are in luck.

Heck, even in My VAC line stage, in the buffer position, it uses 12AX7's. Teles of course.

HOWEVER, other Telefunken tubes sound ok, but the Tele 12AU7 is slow and muddy, IMO. Best to be avoided....Unless you system is too bright and needs some padding.

This help?

[Sckott]

I've had great luck with this 12AU7. The RCA 6189w. See if you can find a few! http://people.ne.mediaone.net/seekr/6189w.jpg And yes, although I don't have any 12AX7's in anything I own, the differences between 12AU7s I've found to be night and day.

[Ian]

I'd heard that Sovtek's 12AX7WXT+ was supposed to be a Telefunken knock off. What was your take on it if you even had a chance to try it.