Dave,

Thanks.  Getting an amp back like this was a welcome and totally unexpected pleasure as I never did get the time to assemble myself another amp using the same schematic (and all cost-no-object parts).  Still have the parts sitting in boxes waiting for my attention.

Yup, for sure I'll post on what the cryo'd 6N2P-EB does for me.
I expect I'll hear a little soft white noise with the extra gain, but I actually like that "12AX7" tube rush -- just like a dog salivates when you set out a steak for him, I get this feeling of wonderful expectation when I hear those tubes come on line - the prelude to a beautiful experience with my music.  My mind has simply trained itself to look forward to a little tube hiss as in "yes, T-minus 5 and counting".  Sure hope it's not a disappointment.  My Torii could do with a little boost at the input.

Hoping all your listening experiences are as pleasurable.  ;D

Chas

Hi Harana,

Let me say that I firmly believe everyone should have all of their tubes cryo'd for two reasons:  One, the sonic improvements are noticeable and sometimes striking; Two, the tubes should last longer due to the strengthening of the metals which have had their crystalline structures permanently transformed and "toughened" by the cryogenic process.  Many tooling manufacturers get their metal cutters cryogenically treated and these tools stay sharp in use up to three times longer.  I don't know how long a cryo'd tube lasts relative to non-cryo'd tube, but would be interested if anyone could comment on this.  To me, a tube that last longer AND sounds better is worth quite a lot - a whole lot more than the $5. per tube treatment costs.

The value of having a group batch of tubes done doesn't really have much savings involved anymore.  I get all my tubes cryo'd at http://www.cryoplus.com/ and Kathi charges $5.00 per tube with a minimum of a $20. order.  I've compared the sound of cryo'd vs non-cryo'd of the same batch and the cryo'd tubes are more detailed, refined and natural sounding to me.  My cryo'd 6N1P-EV input tubes on my Torii amp are two years old now and still doing fine.  I now have some cryo'd Svetlana EL34 tubes and I plan to plug them into the Torii to see if I can hear any difference compared with non-cryo'd EL-34s -  I expect there should be some difference, but no idea what, as yet.

So, if you have a Select amp, for instance, you can get all four of your favorite tubes cryo'd for just 20 bucks -- I don't see how a group order can do you better than this as the same $5.00 per tube charge still applies.  I think you'll agree that this is the best $20. you've spent on audio.  

Thanks, Steve,

I'm looking forward to them. I just ordered a couple, but I accidentally ordered Next Day Air service, but I don't need that at all.

DOH!

I'm hoping someone sees this or the email I sent to Devon, before the order is complete.
<:^( ... I'm a dunce.

Thanks for your help.

[quote author=gnat leader  link=1151980939/15#20 date=1153759072]Which amp?  The CS?  We're not talking the CSP I'm thinking since it already has tons of gain. [/quote]

I ordered 4 with the thought of swaping in the high-gain ones to compare (1 for CS and 3 for CSP).   Adding gain to the CSP might be an over-kill, but i look forward to finding out

--e

[quote author=Rap  link=1151980939/15#22 date=1154210726]Why is the tube complement for a SE84zs 10$ more expensive then a re-tube of a se84cs? Though all tubes are listed as the same ??? [/quote]

Why does it cost $14 to ship a $16 tube? Why does it cost $14 to ship a tube - period! $16 is high enough for a Russian tube but $30 shipped?

[quote author=bo  link=1151980939/15#23 date=1154284323]

Why does it cost $14 to ship a $16 tube? Why does it cost $14 to ship a tube - period! $16 is high enough for a Russian tube but $30 shipped? [/quote]


Our realtime shipping calculator used in the shopping cart has been undergoing updates for the past 30 days.  It has been having problems calculating the correct shipping.  We are working on it.  Meanwhile, as always, all of our orders are processed by DeVon who always makes sure the shipping is correct before the cards are charged.

I will order one too at some point but…

For the last couple of months I’ve been listening to my Select with the stock SV83’s and 6N1P. I really got use to it and I was really loving the 6N1P. I mean I rolled through lots of different tubes and found that I liked the 6N1P best or at lest I found it to be the best compromise for musicality. I was actually disappointed with my much loved 6922 Amprex PQ, I found it to be edgy and overly detailed.

Well I decided that after all this time; I’d switch back to the assortment I had used prior and for quite some time and get a fell for the difference. Again, it had been at least 8 weeks with the stock assortment of tubes. So the other day I put the GZ32, Mullard EL84’s and the 6922 Amprex PQ back in and nave been listening.

Now maybe it’s the mods EV and Steve did but the amp just takes on an entirely different character with these tubes. From the first moment and through all the hours that have passed I am more pleased with the systems presentation then the stock assortment. I really liked the stock assortment and I really think the 6N1P is best suited for the amp with the SV83’s. I have listened to hundreds of hours of music of all types this way, trying (like I said) different input tubes and was and can be quite happy with the amp.

However, the GZ32/EL84/6922 combination is richer in the vocals range, has more weight and authority, more detail without being edgy or harsh. The soundstage is deeper, more focused and/or layered better and the system is more dynamic or has that sparkle that I like. Unfortunately I can’t find anything that the stock assortment does better.

This tube assortment would cost about $200 for NOS or close to it and I think that’s a small price to pay for the difference. But again, my amp isn’t stock and the mods what I choose with Eddie were specifically for this assortment of tubes.

Mull, what mods did EV do to your Select?

Well, guys, I still can't talk intelligently about Steve's new tube for the Zens, just yet.

I started this thread.