I wish my investment portfolio appreciates like my 7308s!!

Posted by meisterkleef (A) on April 27, 2007 at 10:29:07

I've been using my ARC LS5mkII linestage since 1995. After about 1yr I got the itch to try some tube rolling. So in Sept '96 I got on the horn to Kevin Deal and ordered 10 "selected" Amperex 7308 USN white labels for $35/ea. The "selected" referred to high-transconductance and low-noise, not matching. I don't recall what he charged for matching. I believe he was selling his "standard" non-matched Amperex 7308 USNs for $25/ea but I may have that number wrong. All tubes were dated '64 - '66.

Upon receipt I replaced all 10 stock Sovtek 6922s with the 7308s and sat down to listen. All was well until about 15min into my listening session I got the dreaded buzz/whine/squeal from both speakers. Went over to the preamp and sure enough the two cathode followers were glowing much brighter than the other tubes and the silver coating on the top of each tube had started to burn/melt off. I turned off the preamp and reinstalled the Sovteks. I started to do more intensive research into tube rolling with the LS5 but for some reason info was hard to come by. I left the 7308s on the shelf for a few weeks then I changed jobs and moved.

Fast forward 10 years. I recently moved again and came across the box of nearly forgotten 7308s. This time I was determined to give them another try especially considering the prices I've seen for these tubes recently. Luckily info on tube rolling with the LS5 is now plentiful. So as of last night, I now have 4 Amperex 7308 USN white labels in the first gain stage. I left the stock Sovteks in the 2nd gain stage and the cathode follower positions.

My listening impressions from last night (a good 5 hours or so): the treble seems to be more extended with a greater sense of both ease and air but it comes at the expense of a slight lean-ness in the midbass. It was a tradeoff I found quite pleasant. Overall noise-floor seems to be reduced a bit. Bass is no more extended but perhaps a bit more taut and rhythmic. Overall a nice improvement.

So after 10.5 years I finally have some 7308s in my ARC LS5mkII with a replacement set in storage. A belated thanks to Kevin Deal!

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Topic - I wish my investment portfolio appreciates like my 7308s!! - meisterkleef 10:29:07 04/27/07 (2)

Re: I wish my investment portfolio appreciates like my 7308s!! - Gofast 12:32:52 04/27/07 (1)

Yes I did! Thanks! nt - meisterkleef 13:14:47 04/27/07 (0)

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