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CDP-Tube Suggestions

Its tube time again. I would like to try out a different tube in my Jolida JD-100 tube output CD player. It uses a pair of 12ax7s but 5751s will work as well.

I am looking to try a "warm" sounding tube this time around. I am currently using the stock tubes, which BTW, I dont really know what they are. Warm and full vocals with a little taming of the highs is what i am after.

I have tried EH 12ax7s, NOS RCA 5751 blackplates, EI 12ax7s, GE JAN 5751s and found none of them to be all that "warm" in my system. Not that they arent good, I just want something different on the plate so to speak.

The stock Jolida tubes are definately more rolled back in the upper octaves but still sound a little dry, or not robust, in the mids. Especially vocals.

I am thinking NOS Mullards, but I thought I would run this one buy you guys and see what you all thought. Thanks in advance.
distortion
distortion OP
571 posts
 
Thanks so much for your suggestions.

Tpsonic, I didnt even think of Brimar. Good suggestion, I like alot of Jazz, Classical, and female vocals all of which have a healthy dose of Piano.

Rcj1231, hard to find is an understatement. =) I have been looking for those for quite a while. Do you think the NOS RCA Blackplates perform similar to Sylvania's? Or, are they two different animals?
kudra
1 posts
 
If the tubes aren't warm enough for you, perhaps there could be another area to look into. What kind of interconnects are you using? Changing these cables might "warm" up the sound, a good pair of copper cables instead of silver. I've recently be fooling around with power cords and purchased and electraglide cord that has given my system a greater sense of depth and emotion.
good luck, there are so many variables to look at.

ivan :)
distortion OP
571 posts
 
Kudra, Thanks for you suggestions. However, "all" tubes arent "warm." As a matter of fact, the EI 12ax7's have more highs than my Theta DAC, and they(Theta DACs) arent known for being laid back in anyway.

I do have copper cables(SignalCable IIs) in the mix and silver-copper(DH Labs BL-1) as well. I can choose whichever I want buy changing the input selected.

My intent is to try some "warm" tubes since I have tried several that werent, at least in this system. So I have baseline of what warm tubes sound like.
tpsonic
1,092 posts
 
The DH Labs cable is bright and tinny,not to mention lacking in dimensionality.Just FYI.
distortion OP
571 posts
 
I dont want to get too far off my original tube question, but....

When I was using a Rotel Pre/Pro I had some upper midrange glare or harshness, when I upgraded to a Bryston processor it cleared up. Lately I have been content with my cables. Even though I havent tried a ton, I like the DH Labs better than anything else I have auditioned. Having said that, I may in the future be trying a few more moderately priced ICs. But first, I would like a selection of tubes to draw from.

In all honesty I have had some "warm" cables and didnt like them at all. Even though I cant explain it, the warm sounding stock Jolida tubes dont do to the sound, what the cables did, and frankly it intrigues me. And so it goes, I want to try some other "warm" tubes.
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