ECC88 vs 6SN7

[kacernator]

Hi,

I have built all ECC88 Aikido preamp. Ithought aobut changing first tube to 6SN7. Is it worthy? What differences in sound should I expect? I am lacking a bit of hard bass, but it is not the main reason I want to try 6SN7, Iam just curious, becauseI have heard octal tubes sound bigger than any other novals.

Thank you.

[Miles Prower]

Originally posted by kacernator
I have built all ECC88 Aikido preamp. Ithought aobut changing first tube to 6SN7. Is it worthy? What differences in sound should I expect?

That won't work. The characteristics of these types are very different, especially in that the ECC88 likes Vpk's that are a good deal lower than what you normally see with the whole 6SN7/6FQ7/6CG7 family.

So you can expect that it'll sound really bad unless you completely redesign, in which case, you'd get better results by making another one based on 6SN7s from the get-go.

I am lacking a bit of hard bass, but it is not the main reason I want to try 6SN7, Iam just curious, becauseI have heard octal tubes sound bigger than any other novals.

Well, of course octal tubes sound bigger. They are bigger! Makes for better echos for that booming bass!

But seriously, that sounds more like audiophoolery than anything else. A lot of the noval types are based on earlier octal implementations. 6SN7 --> 6FQ7/6CG7 (Main difference: 6CG7 has a shield between triodes that the 6FQ7 and 6SN7 don't include) 6V6 --> 6AQ5 and so on.

[kacernator]

Thanks for your replay.

From these tubes, what would you recommend as a best combination in Aikido preamp? 12AU7, 12AT7, ECC88, ECC99, 12BH7

Thank you.

[Stixx]

There are many choices...

Did you build your aikido p-t-p or did you use Broskie's boards?
With an ECC88 you could try the 6H30 or 6N6P (available very inexpensive at some sellers from ukrainia) which should contribute to a "fatter" sound.

Also, your tubes may just need a bit of breaking in.

[kacernator]

It has been done PTP. I cant get tubes you mentioned. I can only get what I have written in the earlier post.

[Karsten Sømand]

kacernator

You can easily get tubes from around the world, but maybe you are not with happy internet shopping?

A few weeks ago I sent you a PM stating where to buy good tubes at really fair prices in Germany. I bought my 6H30 tubes there. Kind people, fair prices and fast shipping.

Karsten

[Stixx]

@Karsten:
always curious where to get tubes at good prices, especially in my home country...
can I have that PM also?

thank you!

The 6H30 that I bought a few months ago took ages since they were out of stock...not exactly chap either...

[kacernator]

I found the 6N6P in my counrty, so I can get them. But there is no table in Aikido which would show me the Rk and R16 value. Or are the specs of 6N6P same as 6H30? 6H30 is listed in Aikido's table.

[Karsten Sømand]

@ Stixx

You´ve got mail

Karsten

[Karsten Sømand]

@ kacernator

As far as I am informed, the 6N6P is directly replacable with 6H30 without any modifications. At least, that was the reason I bought them.

I am building the Aikido with the 6H30 (output) and would like to hear the 6N6P as well without too much struggle with the Aikido circuits (I bought the mono-boards from Broskie).

Karsten