Aikido choice of valves (or tubes, if you will)

Beelzebub · 26th August 2006, 02:03 PM

Hi Everyone,
I've been looking at John Broskie's Aikido cct for a while now, and I've finally taken the plunge and bought 2 of his mono 9-pin boards. Now the question I have before me is, what valve to use? My first thought was the Russian 6H30, as it can deliver low output resistance - but is this as much a benefit as I think (I doubt I'll be running cable-runs more than a couple of meters)?
The list of valves, along with component values on John's site is great, but it is a bit of a case of too much choice!

I have looked back at previous posts, and found a diversity of opinion (as you might expect), although no single thread appears to be dedicated to this question - so I thought I might start one.
Ladies and Gentleman, your opinions please

Giaime · 26th August 2006, 02:20 PM

Hi Beelzebub,

my choiche for tube 1 goes to 6SN7 (for the octal version) and 6CG7 (for the noval).

For tube 2, I didn't hear too much difference, anyway I choose the 5687.

Beelzebub · 26th August 2006, 02:35 PM

Hi Giaime,
I did think of going Octal with the 6SN7 or 6SL7, but I remember them sounding a bit dark in a previous cct I built many years ago (to be fair, this was probably down to poor component choice/arrangement on my part).
I will look at the 6CG7 and the 5687, see what they offer.
Thanks!
Jim

SY · 26th August 2006, 06:03 PM

I've built a 6SN7 and 6DJ8 version and thought both worked quite well.

Giaime · 26th August 2006, 06:06 PM

It's difficult to make it sound bad, in my opinion. Only *few* details changes from tube to tube.

Probably the only tube you wouldn't use in the first position is the 12AX7/ECC83 or the 5751, way too much gain, and noise.

Original Burnedfingers · 26th August 2006, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Probably the only tube you wouldn't use in the first position is the 12AX7/ECC83 or the 5751, way too much gain, and noise.

Or a 6SL7 as a first tube. Or any high gain tube in the first position for that matter.

Giaime · 26th August 2006, 08:47 PM

I guess that, with short lines and high impedance input on the power amp, the 12AX7 in the second position might be interesting. I never tried such a thing, but why not?

Beelzebub · 26th August 2006, 10:03 PM

This is great guys, just the feedback I was looking for, thanks!
For myself, I don't need much gain, as all my sources are fairly high level - hence one of the resons for looking at the 6H30 (low gain, high current). The comments on Octal valves will no doubt be appreciated by those going that route. Keep it coming!
Kind regards

Jim

Greg3333 · 27th August 2006, 03:13 PM

I'm making the same choice at the moment.

From reading different threads on the forum, it seems like 6N6P, 5687 and 6CG7/6FQ7 are the most popular choices.

Anybody got any comments on the relative merits of these tubes?

Greg

Edit: perhaps not the most popular choices, but the most fervently recommended!

Original Burnedfingers · 27th August 2006, 09:41 PM

The 6N1P, 6922, and 6FQ7 make a good choice in the first tube slot. The 5687 is good in the second slot. There are a number of us that feel the 6FQ7 is the best sounding of the input tubes. My choice for the nine pin tubes is the 6FQ7/5687 and for the octal tubes the 6sn7/6sn7. Granted it can also be replaced with the 5692 or a nice Russian tube that is similar to the 5692.

26th August 2006, 02:03 PM	#1
Beelzebub diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK	Aikido choice of valves (or tubes, if you will) Hi Everyone, I've been looking at John Broskie's Aikido cct for a while now, and I've finally taken the plunge and bought 2 of his mono 9-pin boards. Now the question I have before me is, what valve to use? My first thought was the Russian 6H30, as it can deliver low output resistance - but is this as much a benefit as I think (I doubt I'll be running cable-runs more than a couple of meters)? The list of valves, along with component values on John's site is great, but it is a bit of a case of too much choice! I have looked back at previous posts, and found a diversity of opinion (as you might expect), although no single thread appears to be dedicated to this question - so I thought I might start one. Ladies and Gentleman, your opinions please

26th August 2006, 06:03 PM	#4
SY diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Austin, TX Blog Entries: 1	I've built a 6SN7 and 6DJ8 version and thought both worked quite well. __________________ “Listening to records is like ****ing a picture of Brigitte Bardot.” - Sergiu Celibidache

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26th August 2006, 02:20 PM	#2
Giaime diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	Hi Beelzebub, my choiche for tube 1 goes to 6SN7 (for the octal version) and 6CG7 (for the noval). For tube 2, I didn't hear too much difference, anyway I choose the 5687.

26th August 2006, 02:35 PM	#3
Beelzebub diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK	Hi Giaime, I did think of going Octal with the 6SN7 or 6SL7, but I remember them sounding a bit dark in a previous cct I built many years ago (to be fair, this was probably down to poor component choice/arrangement on my part). I will look at the 6CG7 and the 5687, see what they offer. Thanks! Jim

26th August 2006, 06:06 PM	#5
Giaime diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	It's difficult to make it sound bad, in my opinion. Only few details changes from tube to tube. Probably the only tube you wouldn't use in the first position is the 12AX7/ECC83 or the 5751, way too much gain, and noise.

26th August 2006, 08:47 PM	#7
Giaime diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	I guess that, with short lines and high impedance input on the power amp, the 12AX7 in the second position might be interesting. I never tried such a thing, but why not?

26th August 2006, 10:03 PM	#8
Beelzebub diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK	This is great guys, just the feedback I was looking for, thanks! For myself, I don't need much gain, as all my sources are fairly high level - hence one of the resons for looking at the 6H30 (low gain, high current). The comments on Octal valves will no doubt be appreciated by those going that route. Keep it coming! Kind regards Jim

27th August 2006, 03:13 PM	#9
Greg3333 diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Yorkshire, England	I'm making the same choice at the moment. From reading different threads on the forum, it seems like 6N6P, 5687 and 6CG7/6FQ7 are the most popular choices. Anybody got any comments on the relative merits of these tubes? Greg Edit: perhaps not the most popular choices, but the most fervently recommended!

27th August 2006, 09:41 PM	#10
Original Burnedfingers diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2002	The 6N1P, 6922, and 6FQ7 make a good choice in the first tube slot. The 5687 is good in the second slot. There are a number of us that feel the 6FQ7 is the best sounding of the input tubes. My choice for the nine pin tubes is the 6FQ7/5687 and for the octal tubes the 6sn7/6sn7. Granted it can also be replaced with the 5692 or a nice Russian tube that is similar to the 5692.

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