Little Mark Tube - valve upgrade possibilities?

Bass Unique · #1 11-30-2011, 09:55 AM

I know for most valve amplifiers, there is some guru who can explain the why where and how an upgrade can be a good thing for a valve.

Does anyone know if the preamp tube can be upgraded for a "better" one and if so, what is it likely to do to the sound?

just interested!

leroy diamond · #2 11-30-2011, 10:18 AM

Cannot answer your question regarding an upgrade here, but be aware that the tube in the 800 is soldered to the motherboard so is not user replacable

Bass Unique · #3 11-30-2011, 10:22 AM

I should open up the amp - I only have the 500W version. Is this soldered as well?

KJung · #4 11-30-2011, 10:28 AM

The LMTube has a small, permanent tube. It should never cause you any trouble, but is not 'swappable'.

Leave it alone and enjoy that nice amp

.

JimmyM · #5 11-30-2011, 10:32 AM

It's swappable if you know how to solder on PC boards or don't mind cutting wires and splicing them together.

T. Alan Smith · #6 11-30-2011, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

Leave it alone and enjoy that nice amp

.

THIS is a good idea.

KJung · #7 11-30-2011, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T. Alan Smith

THIS is a good idea.

+1 Regardless of size or type of tube, the tube execution in the LMTube and LMT800 has a pretty subtle impact (kind of more like the Eden and SWR heads.... a kind of 'hint of tube', versus more tubey hybrid executions like the Streamliner or the DB750 or the Mesa stuff.

So, swapping (even if you could do it easily) would most likely have a trivial impact.

Bass Unique · #8 11-30-2011, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

+1 Regardless of size or type of tube, the tube execution in the LMTube and LMT800 has a pretty subtle impact (kind of more like the Eden and SWR heads.... a kind of 'hint of tube', versus more tubey hybrid executions like the Streamliner or the DB750 or the Mesa stuff.

So, swapping (even if you could do it easily) would most likely have a trivial impact.

Is the subtle effect due to other influences or because this tube has little effect on the sound? I can hear a difference but it is subtle.

Don't get me wrong, I love the amp, I just wondered if it could be bettered.

KJung · #9 11-30-2011, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass Unique

Is the subtle effect due to other influences or because this tube has little effect on the sound? I can hear a difference but it is subtle.

Don't get me wrong, I love the amp, I just wondered if it could be bettered.

Not sure, but my guess is it has more to do with the design of the whole circuit. The Eden tube is a full 12ax7, but had very little impact on the tone due to the way it was wired into that preamp. Not good nor bad, just 'it is what it is'.

However, if you are a tube roller, there are other micro's where the tubes have more of an impact, like the Genz stuff, etc.

JimmyM · #10 11-30-2011, 03:45 PM

I didn't think the tube effect was that subtle in the LMT 800. I could tell the difference. Didn't make it suddenly sound like an SVT but it improved the tone IMHO. Still, I could think of other tubes I'd rather see in a preamp than a micro tube that needs to be soldered into place.