Here are time codes for jumping between segments: 2:10 Rectifier tube rolling 3:06 Preamp tube rolling1 4:30 Preamp tube rolling2 6:00 Preamp tube rolling3
I don't know...have to say through headphones on this side, the Tung Sols and the GE's. Really want this preamp. Holy jeez, sounds great even through youtube. Nice setup btw. Thinking now the Paradise will pair well with my Goldnote PA - 10!
Thanks for this. Mine's on order..... Looking forward to getting used to the standard tubes and caps before rolling. Your preferences are noted, sir! 🎶🤫🎶
Great comparison video and superb choice of music! Check out ‘Future Islands’, if you don’t know the band yet. Similarly expressive. Also, seems the stock tubes are really holding their own in the MP-701. Almost seems like upgrading the caps is money better spent than messing with the tubes.
Hello and thank you very much for your great video presentation, I have just purchased this Preamplifier, could you please provide me with more information about the specs for the two pairs of capacitors, thanks very much.
I have the EH 6H30-pi's across all v1-v3 stages, and its given me the best overall sound, no noticable sibilance, good soundstage, depth, and bass punch. They're now my goto set without spending crazy dollars on nos tubes. Totally agree on the rectifier rolling here, but the change is less noticable unless when changing over from a 6.3v rect to a 5v rect. The 6.3v rect will give you more drive to the sound, and is much more forward sounding. These are my perceptions and others may very well vary. Cheers!
Thank you for sharing too. I bought just one EH630pi but hearing the result, I'm now going to buy a balanced pair to complete the set. Down the line I might also try 12BH7's, I read a lot of good things about it.
I enjoyed this video and the comments. Love that preamp! But I never understand an audiophile expecting viewers to hear subtle differences in a stereo system recorded on possibly a phone and listened to on computer speakers at best. Usually a tablet, phone or laptop speakers. What am I missing here?
"Listened to on computer speakers at best".... NO no no no no, never listen on computer speakers... ALWAYS, always HEADPHONES, no if's and's or buts about it.
I get it that it is a hobby and it is fun that there is a change by rolling tubes, and all that. 📻 But it is NOT about getting the best sound quality. But only to have fun and passing the time. 😅 When tube rolling is like trying out different mechanical wrist watches vs quarts movements. The later one is on another performance level regarding in time keeping while the mechanical is further from to actually tell the correct time. 🎉 The best tube amp, tubes or solid state preamp. Cost no object.😮 Is a DSP as a preamplifier that will give you the best sound quality for you! (When you also can tailor it exact for your own preferred subjective liking and change it as time goes buy..) 🤯 You could instead use your time to learn how sound really work and what you can do with your DSP. 👍 That is much more well spent time than just plop in and out a tube that has very little of a learning curve. If the goal is to get actually better sound quality. ❤
Checking in for an update...Did you end up keeping the Mundorf caps in the Power Filtering Bypassing circuit, or did you revert to the stock or other caps in the end?
You ordered with the Mundorf Caps right....not complete stock? Does this effect any of this? Never had a tub preamp and trying to decide between this and freya+ which is 300 more. Thinking this is the way to go. Thanks for doing this..I enjoyed it>
Yes, I ordered with the Mundorf *coupling* caps, so I can't compare the "before." However, with another Mundorf upgrade in the *filter* caps (previously Bennic), I do confirm there is improvement in the noise floor. When deciding between to Freya+, just be aware (*Noted in the MP webpage) that the MP701 XLR output is not really balanced, it's still single ended signal. Also, make sure that the MP701 output impedance matches your power amp input impedance.
If you truly need balanced output, go the Freya +, otherwise the MP701 is a much better preamp IMO. I only can re-iterate this from my experience owning the Freya ORG, which sounded closer to a solid state preamp. Tube rolling the Freya ORG didnt yeild much of a difference. OTOH, the MP701 has a similar pedigree sound to my former Modwright LS100. Anything that is tube rectified, tube driven, will give you that tube sound. The Freya and Saga uses the tubes as an output buffer, which doesnt impart alot of tube euphonics to the final sound output.
@@NoStereoNoLife thanks for the response. Yes i noted that XLR is for convenience only and not for true balanced. I don't need, or am I looking for that at this time. As for the Mundorf's I can't justify the 200 "upgrade" because I don't know what I'm giving up vs what I'm getting like you probably did-is it a "musical" change vs sonic (noise floor) difference etc? I only brought up the freya + because upgrading brought the two closer together in price. I have the XTZ Edge A2-300 so the 38K input impedance shouldn't be an issue. I've read your posts in the forums as well. Thanks for all your feedback. Very helpful.
@@F105Thundr No worries mate. The stock Obbligatos are 'Ok' and for most, it will do fine. I have tried several of the Mundorf caps on the MP701 - *i just couldn't resist*.. I have tried the Mundorf Evo Oils, Evo Supreme Oils, Supreme Silver Oils and now Supreme Silver Gold Oils. The Evo oils are pretty good, and if funds permit, you can upgrade to the SIO or SGO's later. The Evo Supreme Oils is the sweet spot cap here, offers most of the SIO/SGO's performance but cheaper. Noisefloor and musicality is up there and it is a cap i'm happy to live with before upgrading to the SGO's. That being said, the SIO, SGO's give that last 10% if your system is up to it..
I applaud your work and dedication with this regarded preamp but: what is the purpose of this preamp: to 'color' the sound of the source? Wouldn't it be better to invest in a better dac, which is 1/5 the cost of the preamp+tubes+caps and give more natural sound? Why pass the signal through all these lossy components and not use a good passive volume attenuator instead? You don't need gain with most amps.
Yeah sometimes the difference is so subtle. And as you listen more and more your ears gets so sensitized/numb. So what I do is to just stop listening for 2-3 days and get back to it. And frustratingly, I sometimes discover that the ones I didn't like actually sounded good.
@@NoStereoNoLife Yes that i can imagine. I did some testing with 5 different DACs. 100-1500EUR DACs. I have to say that i would never ever hear out difference , even not with quick A/B switching. Same i did with headphone preamps. All on same DB. No differences at all. The only change i could clearly hear and reproduce was with the Gaia 2.
Here are time codes for jumping between segments:
2:10 Rectifier tube rolling
3:06 Preamp tube rolling1
4:30 Preamp tube rolling2
6:00 Preamp tube rolling3
Wow..another awesome and relevant vid, thanks for taking the time to do this for the benefit of others. Cheers!!
My pleasure!
I don't know...have to say through headphones on this side, the Tung Sols and the GE's. Really want this preamp. Holy jeez, sounds great even through youtube. Nice setup btw. Thinking now the Paradise will pair well with my Goldnote PA - 10!
Thanks for this.
Mine's on order.....
Looking forward to getting used to the standard tubes and caps before rolling. Your preferences are noted, sir!
🎶🤫🎶
Great comparison video and superb choice of music! Check out ‘Future Islands’, if you don’t know the band yet. Similarly expressive. Also, seems the stock tubes are really holding their own in the MP-701. Almost seems like upgrading the caps is money better spent than messing with the tubes.
Hello and thank you very much for your great video presentation, I have just purchased this Preamplifier, could you please provide me with more information about the specs for the two pairs of capacitors, thanks very much.
I have the EH 6H30-pi's across all v1-v3 stages, and its given me the best overall sound, no noticable sibilance, good soundstage, depth, and bass punch. They're now my goto set without spending crazy dollars on nos tubes. Totally agree on the rectifier rolling here, but the change is less noticable unless when changing over from a 6.3v rect to a 5v rect. The 6.3v rect will give you more drive to the sound, and is much more forward sounding. These are my perceptions and others may very well vary. Cheers!
Thank you for sharing too. I bought just one EH630pi but hearing the result, I'm now going to buy a balanced pair to complete the set. Down the line I might also try 12BH7's, I read a lot of good things about it.
I enjoyed this video and the comments. Love that preamp! But I never understand an audiophile expecting viewers to hear subtle differences in a stereo system recorded on possibly a phone and listened to on computer speakers at best. Usually a tablet, phone or laptop speakers. What am I missing here?
"Listened to on computer speakers at best".... NO no no no no, never listen on computer speakers... ALWAYS, always HEADPHONES, no if's and's or buts about it.
274B. Linlai. And sylvania 12bh7s. Miflex kpcu012,2uf. Duelund bypass silver 0.01uf. Just amazing
I just wonder if you can provide specs of Mundorf Coupling Caps and Filtering Caps. Thank you.
Amazing effort here. I can't decide this DAC, Doge 7 or holospring 3
Its a PREAMP not a DAC....
Tho they do make one
I get it that it is a hobby and it is fun that there is a change by rolling tubes, and all that. 📻
But it is NOT about getting the best sound quality. But only to have fun and passing the time. 😅
When tube rolling is like trying out different mechanical wrist watches vs quarts movements. The later one is on another performance level regarding in time keeping while the mechanical is further from to actually tell the correct time. 🎉
The best tube amp, tubes or solid state preamp. Cost no object.😮
Is a DSP as a preamplifier that will give you the best sound quality for you! (When you also can tailor it exact for your own preferred subjective liking and change it as time goes buy..) 🤯
You could instead use your time to learn how sound really work and what you can do with your DSP. 👍
That is much more well spent time than just plop in and out a tube that has very little of a learning curve. If the goal is to get actually better sound quality. ❤
I just got the same preamp. Are there any other tubes other then the onesie you used in the video that you would recommend?
The jjs almost sounded like they weren't matched,like the right channel was a louder.Maybe lol
Great video.
Thanks!
Checking in for an update...Did you end up keeping the Mundorf caps in the Power Filtering Bypassing circuit, or did you revert to the stock or other caps in the end?
I have not made any changes. It still sounds very good.
You ordered with the Mundorf Caps right....not complete stock? Does this effect any of this? Never had a tub preamp and trying to decide between this and freya+ which is 300 more. Thinking this is the way to go. Thanks for doing this..I enjoyed it>
Yes, I ordered with the Mundorf *coupling* caps, so I can't compare the "before." However, with another Mundorf upgrade in the *filter* caps (previously Bennic), I do confirm there is improvement in the noise floor.
When deciding between to Freya+, just be aware (*Noted in the MP webpage) that the MP701 XLR output is not really balanced, it's still single ended signal. Also, make sure that the MP701 output impedance matches your power amp input impedance.
If you truly need balanced output, go the Freya +, otherwise the MP701 is a much better preamp IMO. I only can re-iterate this from my experience owning the Freya ORG, which sounded closer to a solid state preamp. Tube rolling the Freya ORG didnt yeild much of a difference. OTOH, the MP701 has a similar pedigree sound to my former Modwright LS100. Anything that is tube rectified, tube driven, will give you that tube sound. The Freya and Saga uses the tubes as an output buffer, which doesnt impart alot of tube euphonics to the final sound output.
@@NoStereoNoLife thanks for the response. Yes i noted that XLR is for convenience only and not for true balanced. I don't need, or am I looking for that at this time. As for the Mundorf's I can't justify the 200 "upgrade" because I don't know what I'm giving up vs what I'm getting like you probably did-is it a "musical" change vs sonic (noise floor) difference etc? I only brought up the freya + because upgrading brought the two closer together in price. I have the XTZ Edge A2-300 so the 38K input impedance shouldn't be an issue. I've read your posts in the forums as well. Thanks for all your feedback. Very helpful.
@@shogo3300 thank you for your reply. I am convinced the MP 701 would be the better buy-for me. Thanks for the input.
@@F105Thundr No worries mate. The stock Obbligatos are 'Ok' and for most, it will do fine. I have tried several of the Mundorf caps on the MP701 - *i just couldn't resist*.. I have tried the Mundorf Evo Oils, Evo Supreme Oils, Supreme Silver Oils and now Supreme Silver Gold Oils. The Evo oils are pretty good, and if funds permit, you can upgrade to the SIO or SGO's later. The Evo Supreme Oils is the sweet spot cap here, offers most of the SIO/SGO's performance but cheaper. Noisefloor and musicality is up there and it is a cap i'm happy to live with before upgrading to the SGO's. That being said, the SIO, SGO's give that last 10% if your system is up to it..
I applaud your work and dedication with this regarded preamp but: what is the purpose of this preamp: to 'color' the sound of the source? Wouldn't it be better to invest in a better dac, which is 1/5 the cost of the preamp+tubes+caps and give more natural sound? Why pass the signal through all these lossy components and not use a good passive volume attenuator instead? You don't need gain with most amps.
this thing can take 5u4g ???
Hahah ..love Godzilla in the corner!!! :)
lol my kid doesn't want me to put it away.
Did you change out the caps by yourself?
Yes. Pretty easy since you don't need to solder.
Thank you
So basically no difference. Or marginal ones. In blindtest you would fail ;). Thanks for that work.
Yeah sometimes the difference is so subtle. And as you listen more and more your ears gets so sensitized/numb. So what I do is to just stop listening for 2-3 days and get back to it. And frustratingly, I sometimes discover that the ones I didn't like actually sounded good.
@@NoStereoNoLife Yes that i can imagine. I did some testing with 5 different DACs. 100-1500EUR DACs. I have to say that i would never ever hear out difference , even not with quick A/B switching. Same i did with headphone preamps. All on same DB. No differences at all. The only change i could clearly hear and reproduce was with the Gaia 2.
You need bigger speakers