Well, the quest for the perfect output tube for my Prima Luna DiaLogue One and Sonus Faber Toy Towers combo, as futile as it may seem, continues. You can read more about my experiences with different tube types and brands in the previous posts in this thread.
I am now burning in a new matched quad of Electro Harmonix 6CA7s, the consensus about this particular tube being that it is basically an EL-34 on steroids. Almost all of the midrange magic of a traditional EL-34, but with more bass. That was certainly the case when I first installed them, and while I listened for the first few hours. In fact, I was astounded at the amount of bass energy. Tight, deep, extended, sometimes more so than with my Gold Lions KT-88s! I was in heaven for an hour or two and thought these were keepers. I thought I had found the perfect tube type for my amp and tastes.
BUT, after about 20 hours or so, the bass is weak, not as extended, nor tight, etc. Just like with the Shuguang EL-34s. And the midrange not as sweet, so it's kind of a "worst of both worlds" scenario. I now remember going through a similar experience with the factory-installed Prima Luna EL-34's. They seem to sound INCREDIBLE at first, but loose their grip and "slam" factor shortly after. Don't ask me why. I am puzzled. Could it be a voltage issue? I live in a condo, so I'm sure the quality of our electricity here is not optimal, yet every power conditioner I have tried made things worse. Highs can be harsh and piercing sometimes as well.
Could it be the Prima Luna auto-bias circuit acting up? Or the tubes going through some sort of phase as they break in? Or could it be me? Those days where the stars align and the system sounds JUST RIGHT seem less and less frequent now.
Any ideas about why a quad of power tubes (brand new) would offer plenty of bass extension and midrange sweetness when first installed, and loose some of that tightness, grip and beautiful tone shortly thereafter?
I am now burning in a new matched quad of Electro Harmonix 6CA7s, the consensus about this particular tube being that it is basically an EL-34 on steroids. Almost all of the midrange magic of a traditional EL-34, but with more bass. That was certainly the case when I first installed them, and while I listened for the first few hours. In fact, I was astounded at the amount of bass energy. Tight, deep, extended, sometimes more so than with my Gold Lions KT-88s! I was in heaven for an hour or two and thought these were keepers. I thought I had found the perfect tube type for my amp and tastes.
BUT, after about 20 hours or so, the bass is weak, not as extended, nor tight, etc. Just like with the Shuguang EL-34s. And the midrange not as sweet, so it's kind of a "worst of both worlds" scenario. I now remember going through a similar experience with the factory-installed Prima Luna EL-34's. They seem to sound INCREDIBLE at first, but loose their grip and "slam" factor shortly after. Don't ask me why. I am puzzled. Could it be a voltage issue? I live in a condo, so I'm sure the quality of our electricity here is not optimal, yet every power conditioner I have tried made things worse. Highs can be harsh and piercing sometimes as well.
Could it be the Prima Luna auto-bias circuit acting up? Or the tubes going through some sort of phase as they break in? Or could it be me? Those days where the stars align and the system sounds JUST RIGHT seem less and less frequent now.
Any ideas about why a quad of power tubes (brand new) would offer plenty of bass extension and midrange sweetness when first installed, and loose some of that tightness, grip and beautiful tone shortly thereafter?