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Do new tubes undergo break-in like other devices?

I just put a new pair of Mullard Ecc34 (should be 6sn7s) tubes in the r/l inputs on my BAT VK60. These are the 2 most importants positions for BAT amps.

Part of it sounds wonderful...back of the soundstage, instrument separation, dynamics, articulation in the bass. Oh, and much queiter.

However, I don't think they have as much gain, I have to turn up the volume some on the preamp, and the bass is much lower vs the other parts. Kind of like a new power cord...needs time to open up. I can deal with the gain, not sure about the bass. This may just be a system matching thing, works great for some, not for me.

Is it break-in related?
128x128jfrech
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albertporter
4,927 posts
 
Jfrech, did you change from well used Russian tubes?

If so, consider two points. The Russian tube had poor highs when new and undoubtedly got worse as it aged. Second, the bass on Sovteks (if that's what it was) are "bumpy" in the bass.

Comments already posted about tube break-in are accurate in my experience. If you are still dissatisfied after your gear has settled in, post back here.
bday0000
266 posts
 
Man!!!! I asked the same question and got different answers!!!!

I recommend that you listen like crazy for the rest of your life. You lose your hearing by the day, anyway. Worry about there not being enough broken-in musicians.

Brad Day
Atlanta, GA
jfrech's avatar
jfrech OP
1,816 posts
 
I was using some early russian 6sn7's bought from upscale audio. The positively smoked the stock sovteks from the start. I do have about 1.5 years on the russians...

Sounds like a little patience is in order here. Thanks for the info!
gunbei
2,327 posts
 
I've found tubes need break-in but not to the extent of components such as amps, cables and speakers. Tubes go through the same sonic character changes during break-in as other components, but I've found they do so much faster.
dozer
15 posts
 
A new power cord needs time to open up?????!!

What does this mean? How does it open up? I didn't know powercords "opened up"...

I'm not going to a DBT zone or saying wires don't matter. I just want to know what to listen for if I buy a superpowercord...how long I should wait for it to open up before I decide that it didn't matter.

Do wall outlets need time to "open up" too?
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