Manley Snapper Owners - what tubes?

Tvad,
Sent an email. What tubes are you using now?

What tubes are you using now?
Tom_hankins (System | Threads | Answers | This Thread)

JJ EL34. Shuguang 12AT7 (Mullard CV4024 on the way), GE 7044.

I replaced the Ei 12AT7 with the Shuguang simply because the Shuguang was the only 12AT7 I had on hand, but it made a nice difference.

Dear: all

I own the gutsy snapper monoblock, right out of the box with the original tubes EH EL34, JAN7044, EH 12AT7 they sounded like a real rocker. I missed my sweet mid and upper top end from my previous GRAAF amp, then I substituted the 12AT7 to several NOS tubes and here are my opinions with them:
1. GE NOS 12AT7 - They bring back the sweetness in the mid and upper end but have shrunk the soundstage almost by half, so you feel like hearing a small performance with intimate details.
2. Mullard NEW issue 12AT7 - They suddenly change the whole spectrum, The Snapper sounds more like a real tube amp with bright upper octave, wide staging, and 3D like separations between instruments without sacrificing the muscle of snappers..
3. NOS12AT7 telefunken (This is my last choice), It opens up the veil between you and the music, the high is very clear, the bass remains punchy but a little leaner (but sounded just right), and the staging sound like there are no walls around the performance. It has a very big wall to wall soundstage.. The main thing is The characteristics of snapper is retained with improvements in the mid and higher octave...

Happy trying...

I'm going to let the Snapper stock tubes burn in and simply enjoy the selection that Manley determined to be optimal. Tube rolling eventually but not for the near term.