6H30 Tube — Need help and recommendations

[synthz]

Hello guys,

 

I was wondering if anybody would be able to identify the 6H30 tube brand in my photo?

 

Is this Sovtek? I'm using this in ARC Ref 75.

 

Can anybody recommend an upgrade into Electro Harmonix brand, or even the DR Reflector ones? (Reflector price is so crazily expensive i wonder what is the fuss with that one).

 

Would tube rolling 6H30 matters in sound quality? 

 

Should i consider tube rolling KT120 or KT150 for my amp? I did a quick research and I can't find other brand apart from Tung Sol.

 

Are 6922 tubes the same as 6H30?

 

Thanks guys! — synthz

 

 

Edited November 5, 2018 by synthz
typo

[Ihearmusic]

6H30PI Gold pin by Electro Harmonics.

[synthz]

Thank you ihearmusic!

 

This is another shot from a different 6H30, i don't know which brand is this one...

 

 

[Quark]

In the applications I've tried them the DR Reflector 6H30s didn't change the sound to my ears. Plus one out of three had an early failure at a few hundred hours.

 

6922s generally won't be interchangeable with 6H30s.

 

If you're currently using KT88s, you may be able to try KT120s or KT150s - check with the manufacturer of you amp as at the very least they'll draw more heater current and may also need a difference bias. My own experience with moving from KT88s to KT120s in a compatible amp was that I picked up extra bass, but the mids/treble weren't as sweet as some of the better KT88s I'd tried.

Edited November 5, 2018 by Quark

[Ihearmusic]

16 minutes ago, synthz said:

Thank you ihearmusic!

 

This is another shot from a different 6H30, i don't know which brand is this one...

 

 

It looks like 6H30 DR.

[synthz]

44 minutes ago, Quark said:

In the applications I've tried them the DR Reflector 6H30s didn't change the sound to my ears. Plus one out of three had an early failure at a few hundred hours.

 

6922s generally won't be interchangeable with 6H30s.

 

If you're currently using KT88s, you may be able to try KT120s or KT150s - check with the manufacturer of you amp as at the very least they'll draw more heater current and may also need a difference bias. My own experience with moving from KT88s to KT120s in a compatible amp was that I picked up extra bass, but the mids/treble weren't as sweet as some of the better KT88s I'd tried.

Quark & Ihearmusic - thank you for your feedback.

 

I apologies for the misunderstanding. I'm currently using both KT120 and KT150 in 2 different amp. I was just wondering if it's worthed to tube rolling within the same type, but different brand i.e. from Sovtek KT120 to Electro Harmonix KT120 (if there's such a thing). Kind of like with the 6H30 tubes.

 

Ihearmusic just pointed out a very nice info about the 2nd pic, i will do more investigation to confirm whether it's DR Reflector tube. If it is, it kind of prove this theory that i've been hearing in my head, but i won't say it yet until i get more data. 

[Quark]

It's been a while since I've been in the valve game. Last time I looked Tung-sol were the only manufacturers of KT120s and KT150s. I understand there's a few other brands in the market nowadays but I'm not aware of whether they're just rebranded Tung-sols at a higher price or if there's some real manufacturing differences.

[synthz]

Quark - Yes i agree, looks like the other ones are only Primaluna which are just a rebranded TungSol.

 

Ihearmusic — I uploaded some more pictures of the second tube if you or anyone else can confirm that they are indeed DR Reflector?

 

 

[Ittaku]

6922 definitely cannot be put in place of 6H30pi. The only differences you can hope for between 6H30s, and for that matter KT120/150s is to have a well tested set. ARC have a rigorous testing process which ensures their tubes sold with the factory hardware these days test well and have very low microphonics; they also last much longer as a result - the valves in my ARC gear over the last 25 years have lasted double the manufacturer's recommended period and still sound fine, I just feel obliged to change them eventually. You'd be hard pressed to randomly pick a set that match these conditions.

 

To that end, upscale audio are the only ones who can meet the criteria that ARC use for their own valves. You will pay accordingly to get that quality, but it's the only way to guarantee you won't be disappointed in my opinion.

ARC select 6H30Pis are $45USD each here:

https://www.upscaleaudio.com/collections/preamp-tubes/products/russian-6h30pi?variant=21829851653

Do not get the cryo treatment though, as that's witchcraft IMO.

 

 

Edited November 5, 2018 by Ittaku

[davewantsmoore]

13 hours ago, synthz said:

Would tube rolling 6H30 matters in sound quality? 

It depends on the circuit.

 

I use the 6H30PI as the power tube in an amplifier which doesn't seem to be very sensitive to the tube specs.   I've used electro harmonix, and an unknown USSR military stamped DR version tube ... and both worked well.

 

Other circuits might change sound more dramatically depending on the tolerance to tube specs.

[synthz]

6 hours ago, Ittaku said:

6922 definitely cannot be put in place of 6H30pi. The only differences you can hope for between 6H30s, and for that matter KT120/150s is to have a well tested set. ARC have a rigorous testing process which ensures their tubes sold with the factory hardware these days test well and have very low microphonics; they also last much longer as a result - the valves in my ARC gear over the last 25 years have lasted double the manufacturer's recommended period and still sound fine, I just feel obliged to change them eventually. You'd be hard pressed to randomly pick a set that match these conditions.

 

To that end, upscale audio are the only ones who can meet the criteria that ARC use for their own valves. You will pay accordingly to get that quality, but it's the only way to guarantee you won't be disappointed in my opinion.

ARC select 6H30Pis are $45USD each here:

https://www.upscaleaudio.com/collections/preamp-tubes/products/russian-6h30pi?variant=21829851653

Do not get the cryo treatment though, as that's witchcraft IMO.

 

 

Thanks for your insights Ittaku. 25 years with ARC is quite a long journey,  I'm impressed!

 

Had a thorough look in the upscale audio site that you linked. Sounds like a great place to get well matched tubes for ARC gears.

 

Have you tried the DR Reflector tubes? If the tube with the ring in my photo is indeed the Reflector ones then i must be lucky because they're so pricey. I'm still analyIng whether it's bringing some kind of mojo to my amp.

[synthz]

4 hours ago, davewantsmoore said:

It depends on the circuit.

 

I use the 6H30PI as the power tube in an amplifier which doesn't seem to be very sensitive to the tube specs.   I've used electro harmonix, and an unknown USSR military stamped DR version tube ... and both worked well.

 

Other circuits might change sound more dramatically depending on the tolerance to tube specs.

I'm still analysing the difference.  I'm lucky to have 2 identical amplifiers so i can do apples to apples comparison.. although outputted to different speakers.

 

Thr comparison would be:

1. KT120 with DR Reflector 6H30

2. KT150 with Electro Harmonix 6H30

 

I still need more time though to get more solid answers.

[Ittaku]

2 hours ago, synthz said:

Have you tried the DR Reflector tubes? If the tube with the ring in my photo is indeed the Reflector ones then I must be lucky because they're so pricey. I'm still analysing whether it's bringing some kind of mojo to my amp.

No, I've not, sorry. By the way, I wouldn't compare a KT120 amp to a KT150 amp as a way of comparing the input valves. The KT150 is substantially better sounding IMO.

[synthz]

27 minutes ago, Ittaku said:

No, I've not, sorry. By the way, I wouldn't compare a KT120 amp to a KT150 amp as a way of comparing the input valves. The KT150 is substantially better sounding IMO.

Ah I see, yep i understand now. It's not apples to apples anymore. 

 

I will follow your advise Ittaku.

[Guest Muon N']

If looking to ID 6H30's make sure the getter is visible, it will help.

 

http://www.aca.gr/index/hiend/hiendArticles?row=1988

Edited November 7, 2018 by Muon N'

[Darren69]

I replaced the standard Sovtek 6H30 in my Stratos dac with Reflectors from  The Tube Store in the states and found they significantly improved the sound to my ears but remember by now, we are discussing personal taste. Not what’s better than something else.

 

Thats probably all you can try with 6H30, Sovtek and EH are the same thing I believe.

Edited October 26, 2019 by Darren69

[Guest Muon N']

3 minutes ago, Darren69 said:

I replaced the standard Sovtek 6H30 in my Stratos dac with Reflectors from  The Tube Store in the states and found they significantly improved the sound to my ears but remember by now, we are discussing personal taste. Not what’s better than something else.

 

Thats probably all you can try with 6H30, Sovtek and EH are the same thing I believe.

May be likely for the most part with modern variants of the Sovtek, as both are now produced by New Sensor, formerly only a distribution entity pre 2000-2001 before purchasing a number of well known names.

[Guest Muon N']

Those damper rings hide a view of the getter, the easiest way to distinguish between DR and non DR. DR have large O getters, noticeably lager diameter than the standard Sovtek and EH tubes.

[davewantsmoore]

On 05/11/2018 at 9:19 PM, synthz said:

Would tube rolling 6H30 matters in sound quality? 

Depends on in what type of circuit.... ie. what is the 6H30 used for in the circuit.

On 05/11/2018 at 9:19 PM, synthz said:

Should i consider tube rolling KT120 or KT150 for my amp? I did a quick research and I can't find other brand apart from Tung Sol.

There are many.   

On 05/11/2018 at 9:19 PM, synthz said:

Are 6922 tubes the same as 6H30?

No