Tube Lab #34 - Tube Synergy using the Willsenton R8

[@dougg1075]

My Willsenton R8 sounds awesome. Can’t wait to try the EL34’s

[@dopydude]

Small ensemble acoustic jazz is delicious sounding on tubes! SHARE YOUR PLAYLIST! :)

[@montebrodersen177]

Great video. I have NOS tung sol bg rp vt229, NOS sylvania 6sl7 gt from mid 1960s and NOS Melz 1579 from the early 50s. In the 6sn7 slot I have NOS sylvania 2 hole bad boys or NOS smoked glass RCA vt231. I prefer the kt88 over the el34 tubes but have a matched quartet of NOS mullards. All really great tubes. The tung sols have more controlled bass, but the sylvanias have better separation imho. I'll switch them out every few days and listen to music that shines with each tube. I haven't broken in the melz tubes yet so no official opinion on those yet. Great video, very informative. The sylvanias do indeed sound great and cost a good bit less than tung sol bg rp.

[@2HatHudders]

I have the sylvania 6sl7 in my R8! I did notice more bass output but I thought I may have imagined this! Will hunt the others in time. Very helpful video as always! Thank you.

[@tubelab194]

You have good ears! For some reason (materials/design/construction) Sylvania tubes from the 1950's are just a wee bit bass forward. Given that most tube amps are a wee bit weak in the bass, for many systems this is a good thing! Perhaps that's what Sylvania was up to!

[@2HatHudders]

@@tubelab194 Ahh you might be onto something there! Having moved away from SS amps (R8 being my first tube amp), I must confess I do miss the additional bass, so extra output is always welcome. I will admit the tone and texture of music a tube amp can provide is something else. String instruments actually sound like they should. I notice this every time I listen to a SS amps now.

[@tubelab194]

@@2HatHudders yes if you enjoy high quality acoustic recordings the difference is truly amazing. A FB friend posted a fun comment last year "If you are feeling like your tube system is getting boring, just put your solid state gear back in for a week and after a week switch back to tubes, it will be love all over again"!

[@dougg1075]

@@2HatHudders I have a Sunfire sub on my R8, no bass issues:) May get the Schiit Loki just to have control. Beautiful amp

[@2HatHudders]

@@dougg1075 hi Doug, Sunfire subwoofer? Thanks for the recommendation, I'll have a look. I was looking at the SVS subs however I do need to save up!

[@hushpuppykl]

Love your videos. It’s very informative. I find that the 1950’s Sylvania 6SN7GTA to be the best value for money. Great balance. Good air. Bass is just right. I do have the Red Base RCA 5692, they tend to be more neutral compared with the Sylvania but the present price is absurd. My fav is the Pope 6SN7GT. Absurd price but you get that slight edge over the Sylvania. Costs so much more for that slight edge. 🤣😂

[@brandonarbon5965]

Could you recommend some 6sl7 tubes that would give me more bass when paired with a pair of Raytheon 6sn7's and the standard willsenton kt88 tubes ?

[@tubelab194]

Hey Brandon! Nope, good bass in the R8 requires all 9 tubes to be matched, good quality and good sounding. The Raytheon 6sn7's and the stock power tubes are all mediocre at best. I specialize in sets for the R8 and have made up complete sets of matched tubes that sound great. In my experience the "Svetlana Gold" set is what you are looking for. That said, bass is mostly a product of the recording, speakers and room, the amp and tubes come last on the list. But keep in mind that in audio "everything matters".