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In the Forum: Melquiades Amplifier
In the Thread: Single-stage Melquiades vs. DHT amps
Post Subject: Sylvania 2A3 in a World without ColorPosted by drdna on: 2/13/2009
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 Romy the Cat wrote:
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 drdna wrote:
However, there is no comparison to the expensive tubes from Kron, Sophia, and Emission Labs. These are all in a separate category. These produce a very different sound. It is like this: on the old black and white TV sets, there were controls for brightness and contrast. The NOS Sylvania tube has the controls set quite well, but it is a totally different ballgame from a new color TV. Now, some movies, like Citizen Kane, depend on black and white. It would not work in color. Likewise, the NOS tubes present the music in a unique way the new tubes do not.
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<P>This comment of your about “some movies” makes developed nerviness in me.&nbsp; What in your view in the Kron, Sophia, and Emission tube would not allow them to operate in monochrome setting? Are they so saturated with color that they toss them where they shell not? I do not want to be completely taken away by your association but am a bit concern the you still give some black/white credit to NOS Sylvania. Can you more elaborate on it? Where is from you view is the place where the NOS Sylvania still hold the ground?</P>The Cat
I would not say that the Sylvania tube does anything better than the three new tubes (by Kron, Sophia, & Emission Labs). When I was done with the listening tests, I removed the Sylvania tubes and put them away. When the Kron tubes were re-inserted the Sound returned.

To explain, with a black and white TV, you will never run into problems like "too much green", aspect ratio wrong, HD dithering algorithm not working right. It just doesn't happen. However, you may find a black and white TV that really excels for what it is. All the NOS 2A3 tubes have some distinct limits: they all seem to have no real bass response, and give a slightly warm, slow, mellow presentation. This can be nice if you like that sort of thing. (I mean by comparison the new Chinese tubes sound awkward and harsh.) Within the NOS limits, the Sylvania does very well, but it never goes "outside the box." It just does very little wrong, and in the problems I have heard in NOS tubes, the Sylvania balances them. If you have ever heard NOS 6SN7 tubes, the perfect comparison is the Tung-Sol VT-231 round mica. Can't really complain, it accomplishes the audio checklist, but it lacks the connection to the Sound.

However, the three new tubes (KR, SE, EL) go into a new territory. In my opinion the price difference with the new tubes is justified. Sell all your NOS tubes and buy one pair of new tubes without hesitation.

Adrian

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