Aikido Tubes

2KW · 4th July 2007, 01:40 AM

I've just received my Aikido PCB and now wonder as to the best Tubes ( so many options ) to use for HiFi. Looking for clarity, good sound stage. What have others used with this topology, and what sounds best. Opinoins please.

Thanks.

aerius · 4th July 2007, 02:38 AM

Well, I guess the first question is which version of the PCB you ordered. As I recall there's one for 9-pin tubes and another one for octals.

2KW · 4th July 2007, 02:39 AM

ok, sorry, it's the 9 pin version.

Original Burnedfingers · 4th July 2007, 11:35 AM

I have the octal version and haven't yet tried the 9 pin version yet. If I were to choose a tube combo I would use a 6FQ7 as the input tube and a 5687 as the output tube.

I used this combo in the Bas board I bought from the forum and it is to die for.

Andypairo · 4th July 2007, 12:15 PM

Hi,
the choice of the tubes depends mostly on your needs.

The overall gain is half the mu of the input tube, while the driving ability is mainly due to the output tube.

With modern sources (CD) I'd choose the lowest mu double triode available, in my system E88CC was too much when using the Aikido as normal preamp, so 6CG7/6FQ7, 6GU7, 12AU7 (but also 6N1p, E88CC and similar if you don't mind having more gain) are nice tubes.

For output tube ECC88 (bearing in ming its max plate dissipation), 5687, e182CC, 6N6p, 6N30p are possible (but not the only) choices.

Please note that not all share the same pinout and heater voltage.

Cheers

Andrea

pchw · 4th July 2007, 08:41 PM

All good suggestions. Pay attention to what Andrea said - not all share the same pinout and heater voltage I believe the newer revision allows mixing 6.3 and 12.6 heater supply but I am not sure it allows you to mix diff pinouts such as 5786 and 6CF7, for example, within the same board.

maynardg · 4th July 2007, 09:17 PM

6cg7 followed by 5687 is the best combo I've tired. Really nice.

lousymusician · 5th July 2007, 06:47 AM

The 5687 can't be used in the standard 9 pin board. Mr. Broskie sells a board designed for the 5687:

http://glass-ware.stores.yahoo.net/56steraikpcb.html

maynardg · 5th July 2007, 09:17 AM

True! I built mine P to P.

tinitus · 5th July 2007, 10:08 PM

I am really tempted by the new partial kits from Broskie, still miss a certain tubepre I once had

But I am really in doubt whether I should choose the "all 6cg7" ... I reckon I may need to change them once a year, so they must not be too expencive or hard to find

Does anyone have any experience with his bargain "stepped attenuator" - why should one use the 100kohm with 2db step and not the more attractive 20khz with 1db steps

Any ideas about which would be best with small solidstate poweramps

4th July 2007, 01:40 AM	#1
2KW diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2007	Aikido Tubes I've just received my Aikido PCB and now wonder as to the best Tubes ( so many options ) to use for HiFi. Looking for clarity, good sound stage. What have others used with this topology, and what sounds best. Opinoins please. Thanks.

4th July 2007, 12:15 PM	#5
Andypairo diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: near Milano , Italy	Hi, the choice of the tubes depends mostly on your needs. The overall gain is half the mu of the input tube, while the driving ability is mainly due to the output tube. With modern sources (CD) I'd choose the lowest mu double triode available, in my system E88CC was too much when using the Aikido as normal preamp, so 6CG7/6FQ7, 6GU7, 12AU7 (but also 6N1p, E88CC and similar if you don't mind having more gain) are nice tubes. For output tube ECC88 (bearing in ming its max plate dissipation), 5687, e182CC, 6N6p, 6N30p are possible (but not the only) choices. Please note that not all share the same pinout and heater voltage. Cheers Andrea __________________ I don't believe in audiophile components - except when I can get them at frugal-phile(tm) prices

4th July 2007, 08:41 PM	#6
pchw diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Fremont, California	All good suggestions. Pay attention to what Andrea said - not all share the same pinout and heater voltage I believe the newer revision allows mixing 6.3 and 12.6 heater supply but I am not sure it allows you to mix diff pinouts such as 5786 and 6CF7, for example, within the same board. __________________ - Fred -

4th July 2007, 09:17 PM	#7
maynardg diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: FL	6cg7 followed by 5687 is the best combo I've tired. Really nice. __________________ MG

5th July 2007, 06:47 AM	#8
lousymusician diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NorCal	The 5687 can't be used in the standard 9 pin board. Mr. Broskie sells a board designed for the 5687: http://glass-ware.stores.yahoo.net/56steraikpcb.html __________________ The difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference between theory and practice, but in practice there is.

4th July 2007, 02:38 AM	#2
aerius diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2006	Well, I guess the first question is which version of the PCB you ordered. As I recall there's one for 9-pin tubes and another one for octals.

4th July 2007, 02:39 AM	#3
2KW diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2007	ok, sorry, it's the 9 pin version.

4th July 2007, 11:35 AM	#4
Original Burnedfingers diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2002	I have the octal version and haven't yet tried the 9 pin version yet. If I were to choose a tube combo I would use a 6FQ7 as the input tube and a 5687 as the output tube. I used this combo in the Bas board I bought from the forum and it is to die for.

5th July 2007, 09:17 AM	#9
maynardg diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: FL	True! I built mine P to P. __________________ MG

5th July 2007, 10:08 PM	#10
tinitus diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005	I am really tempted by the new partial kits from Broskie, still miss a certain tubepre I once had But I am really in doubt whether I should choose the "all 6cg7" ... I reckon I may need to change them once a year, so they must not be too expencive or hard to find Does anyone have any experience with his bargain "stepped attenuator" - why should one use the 100kohm with 2db step and not the more attractive 20khz with 1db steps Any ideas about which would be best with small solidstate poweramps

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