Odyssey Posted August 6, 2015 Posted August 6, 2015 Very soon I'll have added the Darkvoice 336se to my Desktop setup. I have both the aune t1 with stock tube and the jds lab 02+odac limited edition. Any thoughts on which one I should use as a dac > Darkvoice 336se > hd650 / dt880 pro ? Super excited can't wait to hear it.
Odyssey Posted August 6, 2015 Author Posted August 6, 2015 Got it home. Some photos first before I sit down for a listening session. I had a quick listen, can't wait and wow. Guess I'll have to try it out myself. Got it hook up Aune T1 > Darkvoice 336se > hd650. Tubes on Darkvoice are Motorola 6SN7GTB and RCA JAN 6AS7G. No burn in required. Already burn in. So yeah let me listen for a few hours and I'll give my impressions. Amazing the unit is perfect. No scratches, no dents and no hum ! Thanks Din! 3
Odyssey Posted August 6, 2015 Author Posted August 6, 2015 Do you have any to sell? I'm checking eBay for Tung Sol, Sylvania or RCA 6SN7GTB.
Odyssey Posted August 6, 2015 Author Posted August 6, 2015 Just bought a pair of Sylvanias 6SN7 GTB Angle Plate Chrome Top for US$32. Now back to listening on my Motorola 6SN7 GTB.
Odyssey Posted August 6, 2015 Author Posted August 6, 2015 After a night of listening to Randy Crawford, Lee Ritenour, Dave Crusin and Steely Dan I find this a killer combo. iMac > Aune T1 > Darkvoice 336se > Senn HD650. Warm and full bodied just like good red wine. Sit back and just enjoy the music. Randy Crawford has never sounded so smooth. I'm amazed at this price point music can sound so good. 1
Equaliser Posted August 6, 2015 Posted August 6, 2015 I`ll check what tubes I have. You need an RCA coin base tall bottle 6sn7 for the clarity, detail and speed. And a hp ge make 1958 to 1968 6as7 for the low end. This sounded sublime with my HD600`s. Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk
Odyssey Posted August 7, 2015 Author Posted August 7, 2015 (edited) Great DefQon I should have ask you about tubes as one who has walked this path before. Incidentally all the tubes given by Din are working without hum even the RCA 6AS7G that had hum written on the glass. I have tried all of them except the chinese stock tubes. Pink Floyd sounds off the wall !!! Edited August 7, 2015 by Odyssey
Odyssey Posted August 7, 2015 Author Posted August 7, 2015 Now using Driver tube RCA 6SN7 and Power tube RCA 6AS7G.
Equaliser Posted August 7, 2015 Posted August 7, 2015 (edited) Just had a look on ebay at the tubes I was talking about. Holy smokes the prices have gone up for the RCA 6SN7GTB coin base tubes. This is what they look like and not so expensive but our AUD sucks: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Four-6SN7GTB-RCA-coin-base-vacuum-tubes-TestedTV-7-match-codes-DR-tests-/252048091979?hash=item3aaf3cab4b And the HP GE make 6AS7 http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2-HP-BY-GE-BLACK-PLATE-O-GETTER-6AS7GA-6AS7-OUTPUT-TUBES-TEST-STRONG-/191650982839?hash=item2c9f49ebb7 There are plenty of good tubes out there you can try but gets very expensive. GEC's, Tung Sol 5998, Raytheon Brown base 6SN7GTA's etc. Some 6SN7 tubes can cause humming, you need a filter cap installed. Here is a picture of mine: Edited August 7, 2015 by DefQon 1
Odyssey Posted August 7, 2015 Author Posted August 7, 2015 Should I bid for the RCA 6SN7GTB or buy this Rare Matched Pair RCA 6SN7GTB Coin Base NOS NIB - black plates - FREE SHIPPING! I've place a bid for the HP HE 6AS7
Equaliser Posted August 7, 2015 Posted August 7, 2015 (edited) Do the bidding one. The RCA one should not be a problem with the HD650 but the HP GE is a hit and miss but great with my HD600's. Many people use the Russian 6H8C (6SN7) and 6H13C (6AS7) as a baseline to compare to Eastern and Western equivalents and for the cheap price they are, the 6H8C is brilliant. Crisp, detailed and good sound stage. Edited August 7, 2015 by DefQon
Odyssey Posted August 7, 2015 Author Posted August 7, 2015 Wow your Darkvoice looks shiny and very new ! I see you have new volume knob and power switch and those tubes are very new. Have you been polishing them? My unit seems to have lost the white 'SE' wording next to the blue '336' but on the back it says 336se.
Equaliser Posted August 7, 2015 Posted August 7, 2015 (edited) I don't polish them but I do wipe my stuff down from time to time with a micro-fibre screen clothe. There are a few nicks (that I've covered lightly with gloss black nail polish) from the previous owner on the amp sides towards the back and a light knock on the top transformer case. Yes when I re-capped and replaced the insides with better and higher rated components I got rid of the stock 250kohm log pot, this meant a new volume pot as well. Space is limited so I could only fit in the ALP's Blue Velvet RK20 pot, otherwise I would've gone for the ALP's Black Beauty or Noble pot. The switch latch snapped off during shipping from NSW years back so I had to get a better DPDT replacement in. I'll post a pic of the underside soon. I take very good care with my stuff. Edited August 7, 2015 by DefQon
Odyssey Posted August 7, 2015 Author Posted August 7, 2015 Wow I wish I had your skill in modding. Taking care of your audio equipment is very good. You're very neat and your pictures are very well taken. I bet photography is your other hobby. I use a Nikon 5100 with a few lenses including a macro. Ok back to audio Tell me more about the tubes characteristics when used in the Darkvoice with your hd800. Did you try it with a hd650 or dt880?
Equaliser Posted August 7, 2015 Posted August 7, 2015 HD580, 600 as I own/owned them. Briefly tried it with the HD650 but wasn't long enough to make an assessment. Nah photography isn't my thing. Those shots are actually from LG G3 phone. Has a good camera.
Odyssey Posted August 7, 2015 Author Posted August 7, 2015 Revisiting the Wall by Pink Floyd tonight. 2011 remastered. I listened with the hd650 and Darkvoice 336se using Motorola 6SN7GTB and RCA JAN 6AS7G. I haven't heard this album for a while and it's so refreshing hearing it from this combo. The helicopter sounded so real in the 4th track 'The happiest days of our lives'. Imaging was really good and soundstage was deep and impressive. When the drums kicks in there's impact. This is how I like my music. This is why I get a tube amp and spend time trying to understand the tube terminology.
Odyssey Posted August 8, 2015 Author Posted August 8, 2015 I tried the HE560 with the Darkvoice. And my expression Sing it Mike Jagger... Angie baby.
Tony B Posted August 8, 2015 Posted August 8, 2015 Hi Guys Where's the best (cheapest ) place to buy a Darkvoice 336se? I've had the Senn hd 650 for ten years but never use them. Might just see if a dedicated head phone amp can change that. Any advise welcomed. Cheers tony.
Equaliser Posted August 8, 2015 Posted August 8, 2015 Ebay. That's the only place you can buy them from.
Odyssey Posted August 8, 2015 Author Posted August 8, 2015 Ebay or wait for someone to sell theirs. Amazon sells too and their supplies are from ShenZhenAudio. I believe they are the makers of Darkvoice. On Amazon site it's listed for US$299.99 & free shipping.
mkaramazov Posted August 12, 2015 Posted August 12, 2015 Pleased you are enjoying the Darkvoice. As I said, it was a hard decision to sell. On one hand, I heard clarity I had never heard before. On the other hand, i just don't listen to headphones enough to justify having the rig. Pleased it went to a good home. On tubes. I have tried the Tung Sol 5998 in the Darkvoice- its arguably more detailed but also brighter. This didn't seem to work as well with my electret cans (seemed a bit thin?), but might work with yours. The other tube that I have spent time with and like is the GE 5998a (which is sort of a hybrid between the 5998 and the 6AS7). I mentioned that my stereo amp runs 6AS7 type tubes. Here is my SNA review: http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/topic/76340-mcchanson-6as7-time-set-integrated-amplifier-one-year-on/?hl=6as7 Have fun!
Odyssey Posted August 12, 2015 Author Posted August 12, 2015 Thanks Din. Can't believe that it's been only 6 days since I had the Darkvoice. It seems like I've been enjoying countless hours listening to music with it and my hd650, dt880. I've swap out the Aune T1 for the 02+odac for dac duty and certainly like it better. It's a great entry into tube amp and will put a smile on your face. Massdrop has it again now for anyone interested.
DMax Posted August 19, 2015 Posted August 19, 2015 What are the different type of tubes I can roll for the back and front? What's the best combo? Thanks
DMax Posted August 19, 2015 Posted August 19, 2015 On 07/08/2015 at 4:48 AM, DefQon said: Just had a look on ebay at the tubes I was talking about. Holy smokes the prices have gone up for the RCA 6SN7GTB coin base tubes. This is what they look like and not so expensive but our AUD sucks: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Four-6SN7GTB-RCA-coin-base-vacuum-tubes-TestedTV-7-match-codes-DR-tests-/252048091979?hash=item3aaf3cab4b And the HP GE make 6AS7 http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2-HP-BY-GE-BLACK-PLATE-O-GETTER-6AS7GA-6AS7-OUTPUT-TUBES-TEST-STRONG-/191650982839?hash=item2c9f49ebb7 There are plenty of good tubes out there you can try but gets very expensive. GEC's, Tung Sol 5998, Raytheon Brown base 6SN7GTA's etc. Some 6SN7 tubes can cause humming, you need a filter cap installed. Here is a picture of mine: Where can I get the filter caps for the 6AS7? Thanks
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