Marvel Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Once again it's playing so sweetly! A little over a week ago, the JAN Philips 6922 that came in my JMA Merlin decided to get really noisy and microphonic. First, I tried one of the EH 6922 tubes that Mark had recommended for the BBX. When I had tried the other Philips tubes in the BBX, they had been noisy and slightly microphonic. The EH had slight noise, but seemed stable, and I was good to go, until I sold the BBX. I tried an EH in the Merlin and it sounded like an open steam valve, all the way to my normal listening position. Then I remembered that seti had sent me some Amperex 6DJ8s, made in Holland. The first was a little microphonic, too, but the second one was good, is good... NO, it is INCREDIBLE!! Invidiosulus and his family are here for a few days, and he said he hasn't heard this system sound so good. Lots of detail, and the magic is back better than ever. So... a big thank you to Ian! [Y] Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seti Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 I wish I could take credit but it was TubeMeister Thebes who sent them to me then I sent what was left Finding a great 6922/6dj8 is a pita. I'd like to know which one he found to be the grail of 6dj8's..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted December 29, 2009 Author Share Posted December 29, 2009 Most of any I have tried are noisy, microphonic, etc., but the second of the four 6DJ8s you sent along is working magic. It is labeled HP, but was made by Amperex in Holland. Maybe Thebes will tell us what he kept. At least with the Merlin, I only have to deal with one audio tube and one rectifier tube. Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddy Dee Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 Yep. The merlin is indeed magic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tk49 Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 I couldn’t agree more. I sent my Merlin to Craig NOSValve last summer to have him do his magic, after choking and a larger tranny it came back within a breath of the BBX sound. Once I found a quite, sweet sounding 6DJ8, the little Merlin now sings with a detail I never heard from it before. Thanks to Daddy Dee, I'm pretty sure it was you who pointed me to the Merlin 3 or 4 years ago, and Thebes for sharing. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Par2 Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Sounds like a worthy upgrade, I should consider the same for mine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tk49 Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 I can speak for the Merlin only, if you have one, you won't regret the up-grade, it's money well spent. t Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gartenman Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 i love the amperex 6922 in my BB too...congrats! good ones are hard to find, all hail Thebes the Magnificent...the Holy Grail are the Amperex Pinched-Waist 6922, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gartenman Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 check out the Copper Stopper at http://www.audiotubes.com/damper.htm i had a slightly microphonic Amperex (not the current Pinched-Waist) 6922 that i paid good money for and was about to give up on it until Brent told me about these...they work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Invidiosulus Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 It really is spooky. I never thought the BBX sounded as good as the Merlin when Bruce still had it. The Merlin and the Moondogs are doing a wonderful job of making the LS dissappear. There is just music coming from the far end of the living room and while it's now very easy to place individual instruments it is much harder to hear where the speakers are when you close your eyes. My only real beef with the sound would be the lack of (immense head crushing) bass. Due to room gain when you sit back on the couch the sound fattens up pretty well but as soon as you lean forward to pick up your hand thrown pottery mug filled with fresh brewed coffee from the melita pot the bass drys up a bit. Things like the title track from Flight of the Cosmic Hippo by BFATFT made me miss my heresy's(such as they are) but the additional guitar parts I heard on Neil Young's Freedom more than made up for it. Meanwhile there might have been some crazy guy out back with a JBL 2360a horn stuck to his face yelling at the relatives causing echos off the nearest ridge... -Josh(Elder son of Marvel) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 My only real beef with the sound would be the lack of (immense head crushing) bass. Hmm, I'd suggest changing coffee brands, then move on to less likely upgrades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Invidiosulus Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Actually the effect was the same with Bruce's Food Lion/ Cafe Bustelo blend as it was with my Starbucks Italian Roast(VIA instant). I was using the same mug though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksonbart Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 and I am King Arthur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebes Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Seti and Marvel. Glad you liked the tubes. Thebes trikes again. Send Money!!!!!!!!!!!! [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Actually the effect was the same with Bruce's Food Lion/ Cafe Bustelo blend as it was with my Starbucks Italian Roast(VIA instant). I was using the same mug though. OK, now we're getting somewhere. I called Mark @ JuicyMusic. He originally voiced his preamps and amps for use with this brand of mug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Invidiosulus Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Aha, It turns out I'm a pretty decent potter myself. I should be able to make a similar mug. Does the type of clay matter? -Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Aha, It turns out I'm a pretty decent potter myself. I should be able to make a similar mug. Does the type of clay matter? -Josh Considering your long, thick locks, I'd guess you could be called a hairy potter, at least from the mug shots I've seen. So, the Merlin should be magical. The perfect type of clay slips me at the moment. This must be kiln you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted January 7, 2010 Author Share Posted January 7, 2010 Probably not, but you're killin' me! [:|] Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neo33 Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 Merlin was a wizard and he did magic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Invidiosulus Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 My eyes glazed over when I read that. I'm dissappointed that you can't remember what type of clay. Surely that info is wedged in your brain somewhere. I had some other puns I was going to fire up but they were to bisqué for a public forum. -Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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