You can, if you choose to, do just one tube on each side, left and right. To try a different "flavor" of tube, you don't have to change all of them. A lot of people like it, but if your speakers don't have enough top end, it may not be a good idea.ĮVO 200, EVO 100, and discontinued ProLogue Premium, ProLogue Three, DiaLogue Three: All four of the smaller tubes will have the same effect on the sound. It has a slightly warmer presentation, if you need that. Very cool looking tube that lasts a long time. There is a vintage tube that is quite popular called a Philips 5R4GYS. Do NOT use 5V4/GZ32 as they may fail and cause damage not covered by warranty. We have found that the Mullard and Gold Lion Russian re-issues are not as dependable in PrimaLuna preamps, so it’s best to stay stock when it comes to current production 5AR4’s. It is as close as you are going to get to a classic Mullard. The 5AR4's used in our preamplifiers are considered to be fantastic. It's very neutral and has a wonderful midband. This tube does not exaggerate or soften the top end. So while they are very rare here, their quality and precision is incredible and they are worth seeking out. because much of their business was supplying the military in Europe. You may not have seen them as much in the U.S. Brimar was one of the absolute premier tube manufacturers in the world. As a result, it shares a lot of the sonic qualities of the Amperex Bugle Boy: A very holographic soundstage, airy highs that are extended but never bright, smooth mids though not quite as warm as a Mullard, fabulous bass.īrimar CV4003 – These are really popular.
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Like so many European tube brands, Radiotechnique was owned by Philips Holland the same company that owned Mullard, Amperex, Valvo, and a host of others. Radiotechnique 12AU7/6189 – Badass tube from France made in 1965. But remember the very tippy top will soften a little bit. For that reason, voices will have a little more body. Mullard CV4003 or M8136 – This vintage British tube will have a little bit of a relaxed top end and a warmer presentation. In fact, they have a LOT more top end at first, but that settles a little after 100 hours or so. The reason they have that sense is because they have a little more top end. They are fabulous if you are looking for a greater sense of space. The most popular are:Ĭifte 12AU7 – This is a tube made back in 1962 in France. Also look at Tungsram for their juicy mids.ġ2AU7: What’s cool about 12AU7 tubes is there are plenty of current production examples from Mullard, Gold Lion, and Tung-sol, but in addition there are a large number of vintage NOS tubes that are not expensive. They have a nice sparkle to them, and that’s due to them having helical wound filaments. If you want to keep the top end response, look at early GE 12AX7’s. They are expensive, but remember they will last from 5,000-10,000 hours. In NOS tubes, an original Mullard CV4004 will relax the tippy top just a little bit, and because of that you will get just a little more body. But they are really incredible sounding and last a very long time. They don’t have the same plate structure and the same cathode materials. They aren’t re-issues in the purest sense, as they really can’t be. A Martin-Logan owner may think his speakers are bright, when in fact they need even MORE extension at the very top and want to use a Cifte, Mazda or a few other brands.ġ2AX7: There are current production tubes available called re-issues from Mullard, Tung-sol, and Gold Lion. But before you explore, here’s what you need to know:Ī B&W owner may feel that the top end is too bite-y, and want a warmer small-signal tube like a vintage Mullard.
Do you have to bias guitar amp preamp tubes manual#
And “tube rolling” in PrimaLuna products is easy because we run the tubes easy and Adaptive AutoBias means no manual bias adjustments. Nothing is more disappointing than finding out you can't "play" with your amp.
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They run the tubes so hard you are forced to stay with the factory supplied tubes. But with other brands of amplifiers, tube rolling can be risky. It’s this “gentle nudge” that allows you to hit that perfect spot that will send you to the moon. However, some customers do enjoy fine tuning the sound to their exact personal tastes. Every brand out there would love to run E元4’s, but can’t because their designs run tubes too hard. Ask any tube-head what tube is the most musically satisfying, and they will ALWAYS tell you it’s the magical E元4. The stock tubes really are incredible and have won PrimaLuna many awards from all around the world. There is no need to change tubes in any PrimaLuna component. Our components are perfect, but your system may not be.ĭespite the fact that the stock tubes in PrimaLuna products are incredible, some "tube heads" simply LOVE to experiment with different tubes.