Are these dollar amounts of a tube set associated with each amp?
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I’m not the best one for these sort of differences, my hi-fi experience isn’t that standard with tubes, no one has or ever will try out the sort of tubes I did in the Stellaris, plus my numbers for DNA amps are based on unconventional amps from the DIY world. The gear I had at the time is different from what I have now so the numbers are very subjective, even so, out of 100 considering the rest of the chain is pretty much perfect: DAC, transport, power, cables etc.
Stellaris (standard model) maxed out tubes unobtanium- 60
Stellaris (standard model) maxed out tubes - 52
Apex Teton maxed - 47
Stellaris (standard model) stock tubes - 45
Woo WA5 maxeed tubes - 42
Woo WA5 stock tubes - 37
Stratus maxed out tubes - 30
Stratus stock tubes - 26
Starlett maxed out tubes - ??
Starlett stock tubes - ??
Stellaris Silver is for people who own a yacht, if you have to ask you can’t afford it. Stellaris Special is when you absolutely, positively know what you’re looking for and it’s the long term dream.
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Nope. They’re ratings, based on the 10% and 50 to 60% better than statements, translated to a 100 point scale. Pardon the ambiguity.
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I gotcha, I saw the number for Starlett, and was thinking that also looked like the cost for the tube set it comes with. Or close to it.
This is going to be so subjective, especially on the 2A3 power tube options. Reading through the Stratus thread on Head-fi was exhausting, it is a very tube-rolling centric thread and much of the information is contradicted throughout, everyone had a must have 2A3 or a golden rectifier, or some special voodoo salt driver tube.
Then you have the headphones folks used, varying synergies with modified HD800s varieties or modified HD650s, etc.
Basically, it was like 25 people puked information and you are a medical professional trying to figure out what they ate.
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LOL, what a very visually appealing analogy. Thank you.
I will agree though. I found most of my reliable info came from Donald directly. In the HF thread you’ll see a few recommendations for tubes that shouldn’t even be in the amp. When I asked Donald I got accurate information. (I hope he doesn’t mind me sharing this…)
So, the 6DJ8/6922/7308 are not compatible with the Stratus. They have different electrical parameters from the 6N1P. In fact when I first prototyped the Stratus 10 years ago, I started with the 6DJ8 and found it wasn’t a good match with the 2A3. When I then tried the 6N1P, everything fell into place sonically and I fine tuned it from there. You are also welcome to try the 6BQ7.
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Subjective and multiple variables here, yes, but just my attempt to triangulate relative performance among the lineup as best we can from more credible sources. I’m less interested here in preferred tube identification or specific tube performance.
That was descriptive and indicative of the cluster that you encountered. LOL.
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The other issue is do you have the gear to hear the difference?
When I switched out recitfiers on the Starlett and put on the Utopia’s it was a true holy s**t moment, the differences were so stark to my ear that I did a lot of A/Bing to ensure it wasnt confirmation bias. Im not sure if I would have noticed such a difference with something besides a Utopia or similar.
Im not sure what percentage better I would rate the Starlett with stock tubes over what I consider to be my preffered configuration. I kinda wish I rolled the rectifier a lot earlier though.
Yeah, we dont do that, just ask people what and where. Its even better when folks want to show you what they accomplished in the bathroom… nope.
Yep, went straight to Donald for options. I dont think I have ever really looked at HF for tube advice.
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Okay, okay my analogy was a bit out there and I am not a medical professional, nor do I play one on TV.
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True. The entire chain and setup must be taken into account. The utility of the Utopia.
For the Stratus, Donald mentioned changing the power and rectifier tubes make more of an impact on sonics than 6N1P variants, and that 6N6P can be used for 5 dB of lower gain.
It’s interesting how the Starlett standard rectifier is the more solid state like and powerful, whereas the Stratus standard rectifier has more sag and less power.
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Power tube rolling doesn’t do much with Starlett. Preamp and rectifier more important. Good rectifier makes preamp changes more
I imagine tube types play more into synergy than anything. I haven’t seen many 2a3 amps running 5ar4 although they are probably out there.
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I haven’t tracked what rectifier tubes 2A3 amps use, but good to know. A&S Justin said he includes weaker tubes as stock and then it’s on the customer to get more powerful tubes as needed. So for the Mogwai SE, e.g., stock is 5U4G and 6L6.
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@Roark Oh man, you have me laughing at that description … and I agree 100%. I had to cry mercy and throw in the towel dredging through those forums! Yikes! At some point, you just have to relax and enjoy some music (although I have some tube-rolling to come with the Stratus that is breaking in).
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And FWIW the stock Psvane 2A3s Donald includes with the Stratus sound really good to my ears. But I scored some EMLs off this forum that I am looking forward to trying out.
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I just swapped out the included “Classic Series” PSVanes in my Stratus for a pair of 2A3-T2 from the “Art” series.
The original’s do sound good.
But to my ear there was an increase in detail retrieval, and overall clarity, I just have no desire to tube roll 2A3’s. So I’d be intersted in what you think.
FWIW, all the new production tubes I’ve tried recently need a LOT of burn in.
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Good to know. I’ll probably wait a bit before rolling these others in, so I can get my ears used to the stock sound.
Yeah, with those prices you just want to hopefully pick a good one from the start and leave it alone. I’ve seen a lot of independent, I think, reports stating minimum 50 hours but up to 200 for top capability for some new production. That’s a lot of time if you break in while listening. The idea of letting my tubes run while I’m off doing something else doesn’t appeal to me. I burn in my cans with SS amps for this very reason.
In general any NOS tubes I have tried rounded out after maybe 20 hours? Pretty quick in comparison. Once the “harshness” leaves I stop listening for minor changes so who knows what ultimate break in period is.
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Happy to have provided a good laugh!
When mine arrives I do not plan on changing any tubes, and if I do I will go with recommended by Don. He mentioned the EML as a good option down the road for the 2A3, so I would probably do that at some point. Enjoy the set up as is and let the music play.
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Swapping in the EMLs is all have plans (and funds) to do. It does sound mighty fine as is.
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Apologies if you have stated elsewhere, which DAC and headphones are you using with your Stratus?
Focal Utopias and either the DAC on a Bel Canto C7R (2013) or a PS Audio Stellar DAC/pre (likely will sell the latter in the new year; I like it but it doesn’t seem better than BC). Wywires USB, headphone cable, interconnect and power cable (Mac Mini).
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