Thanks for the review! I have an OG Saga as well. Have a Rays Select on order to see if it outdoes my current Raytheon nos tube :) Happy you are using the Saga in your reviews! Please keep using the Saga :) Thanks 🙏🎧🔈
I own those and have had 2 sets of the Apos Reserve. They're the exact same tube. Nice sounding, but already the stock 6SN7 on some Feliks and other amps. Most NOS ones for a fraction of the price are as good or better, and you can get holy grail options for the price of 2 Apos.
@@Jerdy808 Good feedback! So the cv181-tIisound indistinguishable from the rays reserves? I just picked up a rays select, it has a nice euphonic vibe, but lacks the background details and bass details and misses a lot of the harmonics present in the Saga passive line stage presentation. I have a Raytheon nos, that I’ve been using for awhile, it seems to be more technical, with just a bit more body, and more consistent balance frequency wise. Not as exuberant as the select about 90 hours so far of burn in on the select.
The Lyr+ is probably the lowest (meaning quality) you want to go if spending $200 for one tube. I use one in my Lyr+ and mostly use it as a preamp to my Vidar 2. Definitely makes a difference! Also use it with my Meze headphones. So, yes, it' makes a difference, but you may want to start with a Select. I roll a bit, and love the Reserve. But even with the Lyr+, you're not really getting all you can out of the tube. A Select at less than half the $$$ is probably a better bet. A little less warm, but very nice!
Ray says these tubes require six hours to break in. After six hours I was prepared to send in a hostile comment. However, after about 20 hours these are sounding really good.
@@one-rv2bx, do you eat raw meat like a CARNIVORE, or do you cook ‘your’ dead animals with a variety of spices and/or sauces, in order to disguise its unpalatable taste?🍖 Be PERFECTLY honest. 🤓
@@one-rv2bx You are urged to become VEGAN, since carnism (the destructive ideology that supports the use and consumption of animal products, especially for “food”) is arguably the foremost existential crisis.🌱
@@one-rv2bx, do you eat raw meat like a CARNIVORE, or do you cook ‘your’ dead animals with a variety of spices and/or sauces, in order to disguise its unpalatable taste?🍖 Be PERFECTLY honest. 🤓
Just a pair. I'm running Tung Sol GTB as well with my Freya+, but had upgraded to the Electroharmonix cryotubes (Upscale Audio) on the output stage only and those really enhanced the bass response, increased the warmth in the mids a little, but importantly had greatly increased the holographic image and soundstage. A pair of those are not very expensive at all and were a really, really nice upgrade. Although I'm intrigued by these Ray Reserve tubes, I'm going to stay where I'm at and save for an end game tube pre.
The tubes may sound the best in the author's component, but that conclusion does not really tell us, in absolute terms, how accurate any of the tubes are. For that to occur, one must perform specialized listening tests to determine if the component, with said tube under test, actually alters the input signal. Does the output sound exactly the same as the input, or does the component/tube alter the musical quality. That is the real test. Also, there is no real "magic" as physics dictates sound quality. The distortion characteristics of triodes are different than a solid state part, The materials used are quite different The capacitance characteristics are quite different The tubes of different manufacturers have different distortion characteristics as well. Hope this helps sam
Thanks for the review!
I have an OG Saga as well.
Have a Rays Select on order to see if it outdoes my current Raytheon nos tube :)
Happy you are using the Saga in your reviews!
Please keep using the Saga :)
Thanks 🙏🎧🔈
they look like the PSVANE CV181MK2
Have you tried one of the reserve tubes in the Black Ice Aries amp section? If so, your thoughts please.
Thank you very much for the great review.☺
They look awfully similar to the Psvane CV181 MK2s. I wonder how they compare. Have you had a chance to listen to the gold base MK2s before?
I own those and have had 2 sets of the Apos Reserve. They're the exact same tube. Nice sounding, but already the stock 6SN7 on some Feliks and other amps. Most NOS ones for a fraction of the price are as good or better, and you can get holy grail options for the price of 2 Apos.
@@Jerdy808
Good feedback!
So the cv181-tIisound indistinguishable from the rays reserves?
I just picked up a rays select, it has a nice euphonic vibe, but lacks the background details and bass details and misses a lot of the harmonics present in the Saga passive line stage presentation.
I have a Raytheon nos, that I’ve been using for awhile, it seems to be more technical, with just a bit more body, and more consistent balance frequency wise.
Not as exuberant as the select about 90 hours so far of burn in on the select.
@@ScottoGrotto Yes, because it's the same tube. Can get on AliExpress for about 1/3 of the price.
@@Jerdy808
Thanks for your reply Jerdy!
I asked because some claim the psvane and or Shuguang treasure are better?
Amazing review
This may be the first time I've ever hit "like" after hearing "like and subscribe"
Great review! Is it worth it with the Schiit Lyr+?
The Lyr+ is probably the lowest (meaning quality) you want to go if spending $200 for one tube. I use one in my Lyr+ and mostly use it as a preamp to my Vidar 2. Definitely makes a difference! Also use it with my Meze headphones. So, yes, it' makes a difference, but you may want to start with a Select. I roll a bit, and love the Reserve. But even with the Lyr+, you're not really getting all you can out of the tube. A Select at less than half the $$$ is probably a better bet. A little less warm, but very nice!
Curious how they sound in the Darkvoice
Ray says these tubes require six hours to break in. After six hours I was prepared to send in a hostile comment. However, after about 20 hours these are sounding really good.
Professor, thank you for another wonderful vacuum tube review! 👌
Reverend Dr. Thomas,
✝️ The Vegan Vicar 🌱
Had steak for dinner, it was delicious
@@one-rv2bx, do you eat raw meat like a CARNIVORE, or do you cook ‘your’ dead animals with a variety of spices and/or sauces, in order to disguise its unpalatable taste?🍖
Be PERFECTLY honest. 🤓
@@one-rv2bx
You are urged to become VEGAN, since carnism (the destructive ideology that supports the use and consumption of animal products, especially for “food”) is arguably the foremost existential crisis.🌱
@@one-rv2bx, do you eat raw meat like a CARNIVORE, or do you cook ‘your’ dead animals with a variety of spices and/or sauces, in order to disguise its unpalatable taste?🍖
Be PERFECTLY honest. 🤓
@@ReverendDr.Thomas you're welcome! I appreciate your continued support.
Nice one, im curious if need matched 2 or Quad for my Freya+ 😊
I'm just getting a pair for my Freya+
Just a pair. I'm running Tung Sol GTB as well with my Freya+, but had upgraded to the Electroharmonix cryotubes (Upscale Audio) on the output stage only and those really enhanced the bass response, increased the warmth in the mids a little, but importantly had greatly increased the holographic image and soundstage. A pair of those are not very expensive at all and were a really, really nice upgrade. Although I'm intrigued by these Ray Reserve tubes, I'm going to stay where I'm at and save for an end game tube pre.
You pronounced psvane correctly! Did you know psvane was a spelling mistake?
He knows. He does his research. ☺️
The tubes may sound the best in the author's component, but that conclusion does not really tell us, in absolute terms, how accurate any of the tubes are. For that to occur, one must perform specialized listening tests to determine if the component, with said tube under test, actually alters the input signal. Does the output
sound exactly the same as the input, or does the component/tube alter the musical quality. That is the real test.
Also, there is no real "magic" as physics dictates sound quality. The distortion characteristics of triodes are different than a solid state part,
The materials used are quite different
The capacitance characteristics are quite different
The tubes of different manufacturers have different distortion characteristics as well.
Hope this helps
sam
👌👍
I paid total 3 USD for 5 NOS tubes for my xduoo mt604🤣💰 6J1P-EV PERFECT SOUND
I am speechless for 1020 USD for 4 tubes 😁😁😁
Too expensive
Linlai E-6SN7 is probably better than this one
probably. Linlai e series are amazing