How tube dependent is the PH12 phono stage? I have no experience with 6DJ8/6922 tube types, but internet rhetoric suggests microphonics are often encountered and that vintage brands to watch for are Amperex, Telefunken and Siemens, but these are expensive! New manufacture seems limited to JJ, Electro Harmonix and Gold Lion. Will this stage sound good with whatever's thrown at it, or do I need to dig deep? I don't see much room for experimentation with NOS at $200+/pair very common...Any experiences would be gladly heard!
4 posters
Rolling 6922's in PH12?
kevco- Posts : 69
Join date : 2009-07-16
Location : Aldan, PA, USA
plexus- Posts : 94
Join date : 2012-02-18
Location : Toronto, Canada
I am using Amperex 6922 PQ's and Telefunken 12AU7 in my PH15. I also have a pair of EH 6922's and other 12AU7's such as mullard and RCA. they all work. I have yet to do listening evaluations yet though. but so far the Amperex 6922/Telefunken 12AU7 sound really good. I got the Amperex's off ebay, used, for $100 for the pair. the Telefunken I got awhile ago and maybe cost me $30-50 or so.
You don't have to get NOS, you can get good condition used tubes that will work fine. small signal tubes last a long time so if they measure out ok on a decent tester then you will be good to go. unless you really want NOS then you have to pay the $$$.
You don't have to get NOS, you can get good condition used tubes that will work fine. small signal tubes last a long time so if they measure out ok on a decent tester then you will be good to go. unless you really want NOS then you have to pay the $$$.
kevco- Posts : 69
Join date : 2009-07-16
Location : Aldan, PA, USA
I only consider NOS when they are affordable, good used vintage tubes are generally my goto...My question however is: "How tube dependent is the PH12 phono stage?". What I'd like to know, and perhaps Roy is the guy to ask, is this circuit designed to sound more or less at it's best as long as the tubes used are of good quality and non-microphonic, or does it respond well to tube rolling? Will major differences in sound quality be noted in different tube types?
jjones3318- Posts : 57
Join date : 2011-04-05
Location : Boulder, CO
kevco wrote:Will major differences in sound quality be noted in different tube types?
I've tried 4-5 different NOS tubes in my PH12 and IMO the influence to the sound was minimal. No impact to quality, just very slight changes to the character of the sound.
plexus- Posts : 94
Join date : 2012-02-18
Location : Toronto, Canada
I have been listening to my new PH15 with Amperex JAN 6922 PQ's. last night I put in a new pair of EH 6922 low noise. the EH's sounded darker, not flat to me but then again they are new tubes. I will do more listening between the two once they burn in a little bit more.
guentherj2- Posts : 50
Join date : 2013-06-22
Location : Bellingham, WA
I've read that the Amperex 6922s are excellent despite their being "pingy" when you tap the tube or even the preamp. I guess this is microphonics? I've read in numerous sources that this is nothing to be concerned about. Enjoy.