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EQUIPMENT FORUMS >> MINI TORII >> EZ81 is broke, what to get??
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Message started by jorgen on 07/20/14 at 06:04:02

Title: EZ81 is broke, what to get??
Post by jorgen on 07/20/14 at 06:04:02

Hi all
Ive had my MT for 6 months now and last night the ez 81 tube went down, did a little research to make sure thats the one tube, but I am sure. This is the same tube that was giving me a little trouble earlier, some high pitch bi-sound, coming from the amp itself, didnt affect sound, so Im just hoping it was an issue with this particular tube, and that my amp doesnt need new tubes every 6 months of use. . .

Looking for a replacement, but this is an area of expertise where I DO NOT excel... What are my alternatives? What do I have to expect to pay for these tubes? And how do they sound?

To be honest, I would appreciate a clear message, get this tube from that site, pay this much! Tomorrow I leave for a two week vacation, and would really like to have them by the time I get back.

really nice of you guys to help out.

Title: Re: EZ81 is broke, what to get??
Post by grinnell on 07/20/14 at 07:18:45

Tesla

http://www.thetubestore.com/Tubes/6CA4-EZ81-Tube-Types/Tesla-6CA4-EZ81

Title: Re: EZ81 is broke, what to get??
Post by jorgen on 07/20/14 at 07:32:26

went to the tubes store, and figured i shoud try some options:

ended up with:
tesla 6ca4/ez81

Mullard 12 au7 reissue¨

jan-ge6x4wa, can I use this one??

Electro-harmonix 6ca4/ez81

genalex gold lion 6v6gt/cv511

I have no idea what these tubes will be like. but figured I should try some different ones, so now i have something to look forward to when i get home aswell. Hope i have undertood everything correctly and that i can use all of these tubes. for once I understand the excitement of shopping...

Title: Re: EZ81 is broke, what to get??
Post by grinnell on 07/20/14 at 17:13:44

if your mini is the second version of the first one modified and uses EZ81 you can NOT use jan-ge6x4wa, the 6X4 is 7pin the EZ81/6CA4 is a 9pin tube

Title: Re: EZ81 is broke, what to get??
Post by Fireblade on 07/20/14 at 18:28:29

I also had the stock EZ81 (left channel) blow off at about 4 months of use. Replaced it with both RFT EZ81 and RFT EZ80. Both sound fine, but I personally prefer the EZ80 spec sound. RFT's are reliable, great quality and affordable. My RFT EZ80's have been on for over a year now!

Title: Re: EZ81 is broke, what to get??
Post by jorgen on 07/20/14 at 20:45:42

Grinnel: thanks I wasn't aware and did no know this, will contact tubestore and change my order. But I can use both the ez 81 ez 80 and ez 90?

Title: Re: EZ81 is broke, what to get??
Post by grinnell on 07/21/14 at 14:04:09

I don't think so the EZ90 is a variant of 6x4. If you have the version that uses the EZ81 you can't, check with Decware.

I'm not sure about the ez80 that seems to be a 6v4 variant

Title: Re: EZ81 is broke, what to get??
Post by jorgen on 07/22/14 at 00:36:57

Hi guys
Got to say kudos to the tubestore, they changed.my order no question asked, added an ez80, not sure what kind. So when I return from my vacation I can expect a package with some different tubes. Guess I have some experiments to do this autumn!

Contemplating to get some different versions of the 6L6/6V6 as described by decwareand even OA3(?) tubes. This might be an costly hobby....but hey, nice aswell

Title: Re: EZ81 is broke, what to get??
Post by grinnell on 07/22/14 at 14:43:41

VR OA3/OA2 and OA2/OB2 type tubes are cheap. good tube rolling

6v6g ST not cheap but some great tubes out there

Title: Re: EZ81 is broke, what to get??
Post by jorgen on 08/11/14 at 10:39:33

Hi guys
Got bac k from vacation and did my first tuberolling over the weekend. Tried out a EZ 80 instead of the standard EZ 81, but at the same time rolled the 6v6 standard with a Gold Lion (see above). Played a lot of music that im familiar with, and wow, subtle but very interesing change in sound character. In my ears the EZ 80 is a little more "raw", i do believe I got a little more in the low end, not sure if i lost any in the highs. Need to learn a whole lot more on how to listen. AND those new tubes needs a few hours I guess before I can decide how they sound.

My problem though is that im not familiar with tubes and how they work, and which tube does what... So if anyone has a "Tuberolling for dummies"-link...

Can I ask: what would happen if I went from 12au7 and tried 12ax7 or a 12at7?

And does anyone tried with luck to use a 6L6 or 6K6, as in what are the main differences in these kind of tubes.

Title: Re: EZ81 is broke, what to get??
Post by Les Lammers on 01/18/15 at 12:44:12

Jorgen,

Try the RFT EZ80. It is excellent in the Mini. The GL 6V6 takes a long time to settle in. Be patient. Don't go crazy rolling tubes. ;)

Title: Re: EZ81 is broke, what to get??
Post by Rivieraranch on 01/19/15 at 00:51:24

A 12AX7 would present too much gain.

Title: Re: EZ81 is broke, what to get??
Post by jorgen on 01/19/15 at 11:37:06

RR:
I have tried a very good pair of 12ax7, and that (too much gain) seemed to be the result, I only turned my volume to 8 on the clock or so and i it seemed to play with a lot more SPL than with 12au7, i just replaced them with the standard tube, the pairs im using is a very good telefunken NOS and Mullard NOS, payed a lot for those but i do think i like them for the price. (maybe 200USD for the pair).
With to much gain, that would only give distortion earlier right? i would not get more spl? Or do i get a little more SPL but could damage the output tubes/ reduce expected lifetime of the tube?

I have some alternative choices for all tubes at the moment, about to to pull the trigger on some nice Marconi tubes (6F6) i think, but also want a really good pair of an 6v6 variant. I do believe I have tubes for 10-15 years to come, maybe more.
maybe i should try out a pair of 12at7, those have the least gain of three?

Title: Re: EZ81 is broke, what to get??
Post by Rivieraranch on 01/19/15 at 14:28:42

A 12AT7 presents a rational mid point between the 12AU7 and 12AX7. I had a Mini so I know what I am writing about.

When I first saw the Mini on the website I decided that I had to have it. I bought the prototype, #003, which was the first one built with EX transformers. It had a painted top plate and I recall that it sounded wonderful. I sold that one and bought a regular production model with a white top.

The problem that the Mini presents is that there are so many tube choices that you could literally lose your mind. My experience with the 6x4 rectifier blowing made Steve switch to the EZ81 6CA4 rectifier instead of the 6X4. I used some RFT EZ81 rectifiers with a 7-pin to 9-pin adapter.

I found that some of the 12AU7 variants such as the 5814 and 6189 did better than the regular 12AU7. Also that the 12AT7 was workable in the input position.

Title: Re: EZ81 is broke, what to get??
Post by Les Lammers on 01/19/15 at 16:51:51

I have some alternative choices for all tubes at the moment, about to to pull the trigger on some nice Marconi tubes (6F6) i think, but also want a really good pair of an 6v6 variant. I do believe I have tubes for 10-15 years to come, maybe more. maybe i should try out a pair of 12at7, those have the least gain of three?

Hi Jorgen,

The Mini is first and foremost a 6V6 amp. I would not spend a lot on the Marconi's or other varients. I tried a lot of different tubes in mine and 6V6's sound 'right'. As RR said don't go wild rolling tubes or you will go nuts. The gain of the 12AT7 is in the middle of the 12AU7 and 12AX7 and is a good choice in the Mini. The black glass Russian and Shuguang 6V6's are a nice tubes and not expensive. Mullard 12AT7/CV4024 are good and priced reasonably.

Les

Title: Re: EZ81 is broke, what to get??
Post by jorgen on 01/19/15 at 21:29:45

Hi guys and no worries, I will not go nuts tube rolling, but thanks for the heads up. I figure, I will stay on the wide tracks, but it's good experience to try some options, As for all matters in life..
I'm learning a little by little.

I definitely will find a few pairs of different 6v6 to roll.

Btw, ordered a pair of Westinghouse 6v6 mil spec Nos, a little expensive but hopefully worth it.
And I have to say it's close to win win situation. to have a few extra tubes to roll and change when one goes dead is good, and If i want to sell the amp it will only make the amp more desirable to a new owner, but of course I do not have any plans selling it, even if I decide to buy a new amp like a torii or the set monoblocks Steve is working on,I will keep this one in another room.

Title: Re: EZ81 is broke, what to get??
Post by Fireblade on 01/19/15 at 23:12:22

Jorgen, I agree with all previous comments.

Try and follow the link in reply No. 9 from the following Mini Torii thread:

https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl?num=1392498205/11#11

I would stay away from 12AX7 or anything closer; and 12AU7 would be the opposite boundary you don't want to go beyond.

SQ7062 or RCA 12AU7 Black plates work best for most 6V6's, while the Russian Reflektor Black Glass 6V6 works nicely with 12AT7's.

Title: Re: EZ81 is broke, what to get??
Post by P K on 01/20/15 at 14:53:46

I have used both the VA 350B (still have them and will sell for $25.00/pair) and the 1940's RCA 6V6 ST.

After a lot more tube rolling, the Mazda 6v6 GT was the clear winner (a Brent Jessee recommendation, about $99.00/pair)

The VA 350B is very good and a bargain (the VA 350B is far superior to the stock Tung-Sol 6v6 GT).

The Mazda 6V6GT tubes are Organic, Smooth, Lifelike and provide the most Detail (with a very light touch, not harsh at all, but the amount of new detail is amazing).

Title: Re: EZ81 is broke, what to get??
Post by jorgen on 01/21/15 at 22:44:55

What would you expect is a proper burn in period for these tubes?

Title: Re: EZ81 is broke, what to get??
Post by P K on 01/22/15 at 19:43:24

Steve D. suggests 5 hours on, 5 hours off. or 10 hours on, 10 hours off.

I suggest 12 hours on, 12 hours of for ten days.

Title: Re: EZ81 is broke, what to get??
Post by jorgen on 04/14/16 at 13:11:38

have tried a few different tubes in this slot, EH and Tesla and some others. A few days back I got a carepackage with some Ultron EZ 81 which I like. In the same process I got a pair of NOS 6K6GT (1954, and small ones) and a pair of 6v6gta from RCA (nos and nib) The 6k6 seems to better in the bottom end, but actually a nicer sound than the westinghouse 6v6gt i had installed, not a wow difference, but i liked them better, at least in the beginning. I would like a pair of NOS 6L6G if i can make them fit since they are very large. i now have atleast 6 different tubes for almost all the slots, and atleast ten pair of output tubes.