R
Ravager1663
New member
Hello forum,
In the past, someone who lives around the corner from me helped me with my Einstein, but I haven't received a reply.
Unfortunately, I haven't received a helpful response from BTB or Tubetown either.
I read a lot in the past weeks, and I understand a few things about electronics because it interests me a long time, but I have very little experience with tubes.
Could someone here please tell me exactly what I should order for the Einstein 100W?
Peter Diezel wrote to me saying that they currently use TungSol and TAD Redbase EL34 tubes.
However, I have a few general questions; I’d like to understand the technical logic behind which tube makes sense in which position, so I don't get confused by all the marketing labels.
So, here are my questions:
Can I order a TungSol tube for V1 that has a "selected B-side" (like the Ruby 12AX7AC5 HG+678)? And how important is this factor for the Einstein—or rather, what priority should I give it?
Is it important to use a low-noise/low-microphonics version (selected for V1) in the V2 position as well?
Does it make sense to mix tubes from different manufacturers, or is that somehow illogical from a technical perspective? Could I use a TungSol for V1, a Tubetown TT E83CC Classic (or Shuguang 12AX7B) for V2, and then a TungSol again for V3 or is mixing too much making it worse?
I have absolutely no idea about V4 and V5. If I don't really use the effects loop, do those tubes have any impact on the sound or the signal at all?
Just as a side note—something else I don't understand—is why the TAD set for the 50W Einstein recommends "only" the TAD 12AX7 Redbase Selected for V2 and V3, but the Redbase Premium Selected for V4, V5, and V6. It makes sense for V6 (the phase inverter), but I can't quite grasp why the Premium Selected version wouldn't be suitable for V2 but *is* suitable for V4 and V5. If there’s something specific to understand here, I’d really like to know.
My last point concerns the phase inverter position. Many people like the LPS type there—the Sovtek LPS, for example. That one really ought to be balanced, right?
Now, there was a thread stating that the LPS shouldn't be used as a cathode follower (i.e., in V2 or V3), and Peter wrote that it shouldn't be used as a phase inverter tube either.
On the other hand, it seems a lot of people do exactly that.
Originally, I wanted to put a Genalex CV4004 in the PI position because I’d read about it here on the forum.
They are extremely expensive, of course—and even more so if you get a balanced one.
Is it worth spending €50 on that? Can anyone confirm this tube as a good choice for V6? And how important is it for this tube—which is supposedly of such high quality anyway—to also be balanced?
Is there anyone here who really knows their stuff and can help me sort through these uncertainties and the various options? I just haven't gotten around to ordering the tubes yet because I don't have any real answers or explanations.
In the past, someone who lives around the corner from me helped me with my Einstein, but I haven't received a reply.
Unfortunately, I haven't received a helpful response from BTB or Tubetown either.
I read a lot in the past weeks, and I understand a few things about electronics because it interests me a long time, but I have very little experience with tubes.
Could someone here please tell me exactly what I should order for the Einstein 100W?
Peter Diezel wrote to me saying that they currently use TungSol and TAD Redbase EL34 tubes.
However, I have a few general questions; I’d like to understand the technical logic behind which tube makes sense in which position, so I don't get confused by all the marketing labels.
So, here are my questions:
Can I order a TungSol tube for V1 that has a "selected B-side" (like the Ruby 12AX7AC5 HG+678)? And how important is this factor for the Einstein—or rather, what priority should I give it?
Is it important to use a low-noise/low-microphonics version (selected for V1) in the V2 position as well?
Does it make sense to mix tubes from different manufacturers, or is that somehow illogical from a technical perspective? Could I use a TungSol for V1, a Tubetown TT E83CC Classic (or Shuguang 12AX7B) for V2, and then a TungSol again for V3 or is mixing too much making it worse?
I have absolutely no idea about V4 and V5. If I don't really use the effects loop, do those tubes have any impact on the sound or the signal at all?
Just as a side note—something else I don't understand—is why the TAD set for the 50W Einstein recommends "only" the TAD 12AX7 Redbase Selected for V2 and V3, but the Redbase Premium Selected for V4, V5, and V6. It makes sense for V6 (the phase inverter), but I can't quite grasp why the Premium Selected version wouldn't be suitable for V2 but *is* suitable for V4 and V5. If there’s something specific to understand here, I’d really like to know.
My last point concerns the phase inverter position. Many people like the LPS type there—the Sovtek LPS, for example. That one really ought to be balanced, right?
Now, there was a thread stating that the LPS shouldn't be used as a cathode follower (i.e., in V2 or V3), and Peter wrote that it shouldn't be used as a phase inverter tube either.
On the other hand, it seems a lot of people do exactly that.
Originally, I wanted to put a Genalex CV4004 in the PI position because I’d read about it here on the forum.
They are extremely expensive, of course—and even more so if you get a balanced one.
Is it worth spending €50 on that? Can anyone confirm this tube as a good choice for V6? And how important is it for this tube—which is supposedly of such high quality anyway—to also be balanced?
Is there anyone here who really knows their stuff and can help me sort through these uncertainties and the various options? I just haven't gotten around to ordering the tubes yet because I don't have any real answers or explanations.
