ArtMan
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After having my amp for about 6 months, I finally decided to do some tube rolling for the rectifier and driver tubes. I purchased several rectifier and driver tubes on ebay and began to listen to various combinations as they arrived. What I discovered blew me away. The rectifier tubes had a bigger impact on the sound than the driver tubes, although the driver tubes had a big effect also. I first tried a SED Winged C black plate rectifier, a Westinghouse 5U4GB, and then a coke bottle RCA 5U4G.
I tried a NOS JAN Sylvania 6DJ8, Phillips 7DJ8, Amperex 7DJ8, Matsushita 7DJ8 and Mullard 7DJ8 for the driver tubes. Each had a different sound with each rectifier tube. I read the forums and decided to purchase a Sophia Electric 274B Aqua as many gave it glowing recommendations. It is on another level above my previous choices. Each driver tube sounded better with the Aqua.
Going back to the Phillips 7DJ8, I clearly noticed a high frequency grain to the sound. My previous recommendation was written before my final listening sessions with the Aqua.
My driver tube is now a Mullard 7DJ8. It has the high end air of the Phillips without the grain and a little more fleshed out midrange. The Mullard and the Aqua is a wonderful combination and was worth the time, money and effort to have reached this deep into the music. It has taken the sound of the Zen amp to a new and wonderful level.
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