I have been preparing for the ultimate output tubes for over a year on this pet project, a 1957 Bell Sound 2300. This mono integrated amp (oddly enough 23 watt push pull cathode bias type.) A modest and affordable amp in its day, acquired from a thrift shop in the 1990s with a cooked power transformer, amateurish powsup mod, open winding on the output transformer and even with original design errors throughout,—- the perfect Cinderella project!
The unique output transformer with cathode winding was repaired, the power transformer replaced with a barely fit under the hood Drake transformer and a 2 Henry choke installed. The phase splitter line amp and phono pre 12AX7s were outfitted with my selected CryoTone tubes. The phono 12AX7 and 12AV6 triode buffer tubes are part of the 26 volt drop for cathode bias, but still selection and matching is critical for low hum.
A matched set of fake (Russian) TunSol’s were in place and passable but not stellar until the Cryo Silver 6L6’s were dropped into the octal sockets ( sadly the Cryo 5881’s won’t fit under the hood) and WOW! Who took the film cover off of the speakers?!
The tweeter and mids faders were adjusted down on both the 1957 University Sound corner cabinet and the 1957 Jensen 4 way kit speaker. Some mellowing and break in has occurred in the last two weeks, a hum/noise virtually non-existent pure musical bliss w/o the ignorance!
Summarily, as you get closer to the mountain top, you just don’t want to sneak behind the garage with a bottle of Boone’s Farm!
I can send photo’s!
I found the 5ar4 to be very smooth in my preamp, I liked it so much that I ordered another one, along with the 6sn7 and 2a3 they will be installed on a 2a3 amp.
Hi, replaced my Linlai E series tubes wit CryoTone 300 WC and can confirm that next, relatively small, but clearly audible pleasant step up was achieved.
Hi, tube well received and my previous reference tube Psvane Acme was replaced by CryoTone. Immediate audible effect was achieved, specially in low end - tighter and faster bass. Plus a bit better general definition in all frequency areas.