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Best preamp for testing tubes

#41
For what it's worth, one of the reasons I jumped for a deal on the STT-1 Origin was that it seemed to be a very good platform for tube experimentation. While the input on the Origin is always tube-buffered (unlike the TD-1), every other "stage" offers the option of choosing either tube or studio-quality SS, with the option to switch tranformer coupling in, out (or run purely from the transformer). This includes the preamp, EQ and compressor.

Based on some recent questions via PM I will be posting a review of this preamp in short order and amending it after it has a few live performances under it's belt.
 
#42
oddio said:
For what it's worth, one of the reasons I jumped for a deal on the STT-1 Origin was that it seemed to be a very good platform for tube experimentation. While the input on the Origin is always tube-buffered (unlike the TD-1), every other "stage" offers the option of choosing either tube or studio-quality SS, with the option to switch tranformer coupling in, out (or run purely from the transformer). This includes the preamp, EQ and compressor.

Based on some recent questions via PM I will be posting a review of this preamp in short order and amending it after it has a few live performances under it's belt.
Click to expand...

Please, don't tell me any more about the Origin! :hiding:
 
#43
tombowlus said:
At any rate, I really do hear where the Kern sounds like a slightly beefed up F-1X (I am paraphrasing here from other comments that I have read). But, the F-1X sounds like it has a tad more clarity, which I like. Does this sound accurate? Also, while I like the low end authority of the Kern, it seems a bit soft and pillowy down low. The DB 659 seems to have just as much, if not more, of that low end girth, but with more clarity and overall tightness. The Sad V groove clips really show this.

And while the Read Purity sounds really good, I haven't really found any clips where I prefer it to the DB 680 (currently my favorite tube preamp). I like the ease of changing tubes, but with any luck, that is going to be a one time experiment (or a several night series of events, more likely), and ultimately, it's how it sounds on the gig (and in the studio) that matters. Can any of you folks who've played both the Read and the DB 680 provide me with some more comparative notes? I must say, though, after talkng to Jack Read on the phone today, I would feel really, really good buying a preamp from that man. What a swell guy to talk to!

But as for the Kern, at least going by the basstasters clips, other than the ease of swapping tubes, I don't see where it offers much over the F-1X and/or DB 659. Am I missing something? If so, please set me straight.
Click to expand...

I don't think that this is a bad description of the Kern but I will add that the "Tonal Balance" on the Kern does influence the sound tremendously.

I used the Kern for a really long time and I always loved the sheer tube girth that came out of it. I eventually tried some of the other pre's that you've mentioned and realized that Kern's girth bordered on "bloated" - at least to my ears. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as I still believe the IP777 is a great pre, I just realized that there were other units that were both thick AND clear. I will not mention brand names (in accordance with the CUP) but you own most of those units already!
 
#44
oddio said:
For what it's worth, one of the reasons I jumped for a deal on the STT-1 Origin was that it seemed to be a very good platform for tube experimentation. While the input on the Origin is always tube-buffered (unlike the TD-1), every other "stage" offers the option of choosing either tube or studio-quality SS, with the option to switch tranformer coupling in, out (or run purely from the transformer). This includes the preamp, EQ and compressor.
Click to expand...
This is a good point about the STT-1. The ability to select tube or solidstate at the dynamic and EQ stages, as well as the Pre, does add some other interesting variables to the test. You may realize that you like solidstate a pre through a tube compressor.

Once caveat though is that the dynamic and EQ stages in the Origin are linked in a sense that you cannot choose tube EQ & SS compressor (or vice versa). You must run them in the same mode.

Another cool tube testing perk of STT-1 is that you can drop the other stages completely out of the signal path - which lets you hear simply the affect of the tube changes at the Pre-amp stage.
 
#48
oddio said:
If interested my initial review of the Millenia Media Origin STT-1 review has been posted in the gear reviews section here. Sorry Tom. The good news is that I haven't started swapping tubes yet, but soon...
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Great review! Very well done and completely accurate - sort of like the STT-1 itself! I even got my name in there! :hyper:
 
#49
Joelc73 said:
Great review! Very well done and completely accurate - sort of like the STT-1 itself! I even got my name in there! :hyper:
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I certainly had to credit your excellent (and very relevant) comments. Unfortunately, as a review goes it's only about half done. There are so many features to write about...

Thanks for your kind encouragement... I'll keep at it, when I'm not playing with the STT-1. ;)
 
#52
tombowlus said:
...

And while the Read Purity sounds really good, I haven't really found any clips where I prefer it to the DB 680 (currently my favorite tube preamp). I like the ease of changing tubes, but with any luck, that is going to be a one time experiment (or a several night series of events, more likely), and ultimately, it's how it sounds on the gig (and in the studio) that matters. Can any of you folks who've played both the Read and the DB 680 provide me with some more comparative notes? I must say, though, after talkng to Jack Read on the phone today, I would feel really, really good buying a preamp from that man. What a swell guy to talk to!

...
Click to expand...
You should talk to Biker4Him.

I suspect that the clips on basstasters of the Purity were done with the gain set low and the master wherever.
It sounds very much richer and more meaty with the gain up some and then of course, there's the EQ.
 
#53
well, I've got the answer to your search, but it not available forsale. It is actually the first proto-type of what is now the True-Voice preamp using a 12AX7. This was when I first started this idea and was working with Les Plopa (Kern) before we split and I switched over to the 6SN7 and 6SL7 and decided to never look back.

This is what your looking for and I hate to tease you with it........ :smug:

rack.jpg
 
#54
Brian Barrett said:
well, I've got the answer to your search, but it not available forsale. It is actually the first proto-type of what is now the True-Voice preamp using a 12AX7. This was when I first started this idea and was working with Les Plopa (Kern) before we split and I switched over to the 6SN7 and 6SL7 and decided to never look back.

This is what your looking for and I hate to tease you with it........ :smug:

rack.jpg
Click to expand...

You have to know that when you post something like that, I am going to come back with, "Okay, how much for you to make another one?" ;)

Feel free to PM me...

Tom.
 
#57
Well, after trying to swap tubes in my F-1X last night, I have decided that I definitely will not be using it for my main tester preamp. That board really flexes when you swap tubes! At this point, I'm thinking either 659 or the Demeter. I haven't popped the top on the Dem, but I do know that you can swap tubes with confidence in the 659, plus, it seems very responsive to tube changes.

Now, my next question is, which of the current 12AX7 offerings should I use as a baseline? I tend to prefer the JJ's, but EH and Sovtek seem to be more of the "standard." Any thoughts?

Finally, I am still looking for a photo of the back of a Read Purity. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks, Tom.
 
#58
tombowlus said:
Now, my next question is, which of the current 12AX7 offerings should I use as a baseline? I tend to prefer the JJ's, but EH and Sovtek seem to be more of the "standard." Any thoughts?

Finally, I am still looking for a photo of the back of a Read Purity. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks, Tom.
Click to expand...
I'd use the EH as your benchmark as they do tend to be fairly middle-of-the-road.

Still looking for that Purity, eh? Knowing what you already have I'd still say you should track down a Kern... Not to be the devil's advocate or anything...
 
#59
tombowlus said:
Well, after trying to swap tubes in my F-1X last night, I have decided that I definitely will not be using it for my main tester preamp. That board really flexes when you swap tubes! At this point, I'm thinking either 659 or the Demeter. I haven't popped the top on the Dem, but I do know that you can swap tubes with confidence in the 659, plus, it seems very responsive to tube changes.

Now, my next question is, which of the current 12AX7 offerings should I use as a baseline? I tend to prefer the JJ's, but EH and Sovtek seem to be more of the "standard." Any thoughts?

Finally, I am still looking for a photo of the back of a Read Purity. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks, Tom.
Click to expand...

If it's of any use to you, we tested a whole slew of tubes (6SN7, 12AX7, 300B, ECC99, etc) last winter and the EH ones consistently showed the lowest distortion and best gain matching of everything we tested, including JJ and a bunch of (very expensive) NOS ones.

We settled on EH 6SN7s for the amp.....
 
#60
Mark Reccord said:
If it's of any use to you, we tested a whole slew of tubes (6SN7, 12AX7, 300B, ECC99, etc) last winter and the EH ones consistently showed the lowest distortion and best gain matching of everything we tested, including JJ and a bunch of (very expensive) NOS ones.

We settled on EH 6SN7s for the amp.....
Click to expand...

That is helpful! Thanks! I've never really been disappointed with EH's, to tell the truth.

Tom.
 

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