[ampsandsound]

What I use almost exclusively in my pre and my amps are Sylvania black plate 12ax7 or 5751s, not gray, But black plate. For me, that’s where my journey ends. Such a good tube.

That said, I’ll test this week and report back.

 

[ampsandsound]

ECC99 and 12BH7 are compatible

 

[KPzypher]

ECC99 and 12BH7 are compatible

Thanks Justin. My wallet wouldn't agree, but good to know we have more options.

 

[Celty]

1. Isolate the power plug away from other plugs, consider using a monster HTS strip, you can get them on ebay for like 30 bucks usually. By the way I really recommend the monster HTS strips, for whatever reason they have worked better than many audiophile units I have tried at just getting rid of noise. It's also cheaper than most audiophile options!

Apparently, the Monster HTS strips have been discontinued.

 

[zach915m]

Apparently, the Monster HTS strips have been discontinued.

I usually buy them on eBay - they seem to be around 30 to 60 bucks depending on the seller. Did they replace them with something newer and cooler?

 

[Celty]

I usually buy them on eBay - they seem to be around 30 to 60 bucks depending on the seller. Did they replace them with something newer and cooler?

Not that I have seen listed on their website

 

[ScornDefeat]

Where are you guys typically leaving your volume pot at for nornal listening volume on your Pendant?

Using the stock JJ 12AX7, with my Auteur on the low-z tap, I'm typically at 3-4 o'clock for solid listening volume. Atticus on the high-z is around 12-1. For the stated output specs, I'm a bit surprised I find myself dialing it up so high.

Additionally, my power tubes and rectifier get exceptionally hot and exhibit a beautiful glow, while the preamp/input tube barely emits any heat or glow. I've found on my other tube gear that the preamp tubes tend not to "glow" so much, but just wanted to see others' feedback on it!

 

[Bhk1004]

I have to turn down the volume on transport or pc to get my the pendant to 9 o'clock range which is where I like to be.

I would blow my headphones out with 12ax7 at those levels. This is for aeolus.

 

[ScornDefeat]

I have to turn down the volume on transport or pc to get my the pendant to 9 o'clock range which is where I like to be.

I would blow my headphones out with 12ax7 at those levels. This is for aeolus.

Wow, that's a vastly different experience than me. I have my streamer outputting 100% (fixed volume in Roon), my Chord Qutest outputting 2v, and a stock 12ax7 and yet I'm dialing it up 75%+ to 3-4 o'clock for 85db, give or take 3db. Interesting.

 

[steve468]

I also am at 9-10 o'clock AT MOST with an LCD-4 in low z and a 12au7. It's usually less. When I read your volume positions, I honestly thought your volume pot must be upside down! Something weird is going on there maybe.

 

[Polygonhell]

I also am at 9-10 o'clock AT MOST with an LCD-4 in low z and a 12au7. It's usually less. When I read your volume positions, I honestly thought your volume pot must be upside down! Something weird is going on there maybe.

Me too, Verite C usually well below 9 O’Clock.
using a 12AU7.

 

[ScornDefeat]

Thanks for all the feedback. I'm definitely concerned now that something is off, especially utilizing the 12ax7 input tube (which is one of the higher gain ones available in the 12 series). I'm afraid I won't even get to listenable levels with my 12au7 and 12at7 tubes.

The thing is, the amp sounds great. The synergy with my ZMF phones is tremendous. Not as great with my planar Rosson RAD-0s, but that's a bit to be expected. Either way, nothing sounds "wrong" at all, just that I'm dialing it up a boat load of clicks to get to my volume (nothing crazy loud, either).

On Atticus, Auteur and the RAD-0s, I'm at at least 1-2 o'clock for modern rock/metal music on low-z, and sometimes approaching 5 o'clock for classic rock, folk, etc.

The Chord Qutest on the 2v output produced regular volume on my other amps, so that's not the issue. The only other variable are the RCA interconnects, which I've tested on another system but I was going from 4v balanced to 2v SE on that system, so naturally I had to dial-up the volume to match on that.

Any other ideas?

 

[Baldeagle58]

Where are you guys typically leaving your volume pot at for nornal listening volume on your Pendant?

Using the stock JJ 12AX7, with my Auteur on the low-z tap, I'm typically at 3-4 o'clock for solid listening volume. Atticus on the high-z is around 12-1. For the stated output specs, I'm a bit surprised I find myself dialing it up so high.

Additionally, my power tubes and rectifier get exceptionally hot and exhibit a beautiful glow, while the preamp/input tube barely emits any heat or glow. I've found on my other tube gear that the preamp tubes tend not to "glow" so much, but just wanted to see others' feedback on it!

Not more than 9 o’clock when listening to any of my headphones (Aeolus, Mr.Speakers Ether flow1.1, HD650) via Hi Z with a 12ax7 or 12au7. Maybe 10 o’clock with the LCD2 on Low Z.
The hum in my unit has about gone with 30 hours on it. Still a slight noise with the Aeolus but almost silent with the others. I have a monster strip coming ($30) via EBay. Am hopeful that this will completely kill what is left of that hum.
I put in a 12au7 (Genelex gold pin or RCA clear top), tightened all of the screws down (most were pretty tight already but a few had a quarter turn in them), and just played the amp. It seems to have worked.
Am now just happily listening to the music. Thanks for all the tips Zack.

 

[Bhk1004]

12ax7 at 100% transport volume is fairly loud at like 7 o'clock on my aeolus. Do you have other tubes to test? I am wonder if you tubes are failing? Are your cables all the way in?

 

[zach915m]

Wow, that's a vastly different experience than me. I have my streamer outputting 100% (fixed volume in Roon), my Chord Qutest outputting 2v, and a stock 12ax7 and yet I'm dialing it up 75%+ to 3-4 o'clock for 85db, give or take 3db. Interesting.

Do you have a stepped attenuator in yours? Those have a slower volume gradient but just as much power.