I'll take DACs for under a thousand Alex...

What tube dose it use?
American 9 pin tubes like GE & RCA can be quite good.
 
What tube dose it use?
American 9 pin tubes like GE & RCA can be quite good.
I kind of missed that detail, didn't I ? Not very sharp these days. The tubes are the 5670/2C51/6N3P/396a types. There's actually a bunch of equivalents. This acts as just a buffer, and no need for balanced triodes according to the manufacturer.

Apparently with an adapter one can use a 6922 type, but since I have none of those in the stash, the 5670 types are more economical to acquire. (none of those in the stash either until recent shopping)

I've been trying out Sylvania (stock), GE, RCA, Raytheon, and Tung-Sol.
 
Update here.
A little birdy was left on my doorstep today.
MHDT Canary.
20210804_193650.jpg
Just plug it in and playing from my Rpi4 via usb.
First impression is bass is very prominent. I will spend the night playing some old favorites and see how I fair.
 
Update here.
A little birdy was left on my doorstep today.
MHDT Canary.
View attachment 38615
Just plug it in and playing from my Rpi4 via usb.
First impression is bass is very prominent. I will spend the night playing some old favorites and see how I fair.
Is that new ? My Istanbul was, and it needed a week or thereabouts to settle down.

Congrats, hope it works out for you.
 
Last edited:
Bought it used.
Not sure how much it's been used, it is about a year old.
So far I like it.
Seems to have a lot of potential for tube rolling and cap swapping...
 
Bought it used.
Not sure how much it's been used, it is about a year old.
So far I like it.
Seems to have a lot of potential for tube rolling and cap swapping...
I've read that others have swapped caps, etc. though I don't know if that's something I want to do. So far I've mostly been using a GE triple mica 5670 blackplate with good results.
 
I am going to leave it be for a while and get a good fix on how it sounds before any time or cap rolling.
I did enjoy it last night, it does outshine my other two dacs as is.
 
I am going to leave it be for a while and get a good fix on how it sounds before any time or cap rolling.
I did enjoy it last night, it does outshine my other two dacs as is.
Good plan. After having the Istanbul a while, I found I didn't think about it much and just enjoyed the music. I don't know how you're connecting; I found I had a real preference for the SPDIF over the USB and use a converter for that.
 
I am using a pi4 via usb.
I also have pi3 with a hifiberry digi+pro I can try.
 
The MHDT's respond well to cap rolling... I had a way over the top upgraded orchid and it was amazing, but I never heard it stock.
 
Last edited:
Do you still have this dac?
No sorry. I meant to say had… the Audio Mirror replaced it but it was damn good. I also got the orchid in 2019 fully upgraded for pre inflation price of $1100, so even better value then.
 
I've read that others have swapped caps, etc. though I don't know if that's something I want to do. So far I've mostly been using a GE triple mica 5670 blackplate with good results.

FYI re repairs: my pagoda had a channel drop out. when i couldn't diagnose it i sent it back to linear tube audio in MD, which does authorized repair. turns out the PCM1704 dac chip for the right channel died, something i would have never figured out. they got a new one from MHDT and bingo, back in operation. i was pleased with their service.

I had a MHDT Havana for nine years. I had a problem with the board out of warranty and Jun at MHDT sent a new one gratis via DHL.

I have an Orchid now and also use the GE triple mica 5670 blackplate. I changed the coupling caps to Audiocap Theta. A nice and inexpensive improvement.
 
I kind of missed that detail, didn't I ? Not very sharp these days. The tubes are the 5670/2C51/6N3P/396a types. There's actually a bunch of equivalents. This acts as just a buffer, and no need for balanced triodes according to the manufacturer.

Apparently with an adapter one can use a 6922 type, but since I have none of those in the stash, the 5670 types are more economical to acquire. (none of those in the stash either until recent shopping)

I've been trying out Sylvania (stock), GE, RCA, Raytheon, and Tung-Sol.
I tried a 6922 with an adapter and quickly went back to a GE triple mica 5670 black plate. I have Raytheon windmill getter 5670's, Tung Sol's and Tesla 6CC42/5670 O getter and D Getter pinched waist. I seem to default to the GE in my rig. I tried the Bendix 6385, it was meh and now unobtanium.
 
I read a post about using 6sn7 tubes in these.
Since I have quite a few I ordered an adapter.
I may order a GE triple mica to try soon.
Added a couple little Russians to mix and still evaluating it.
20210808_134544.jpg
 
I read a post about using 6sn7 tubes in these.
Since I have quite a few I ordered an adapter.
I may order a GE triple mica to try soon.
Added a couple little Russians to mix and still evaluating it.
View attachment 38845
Would the adapter allow the 6sn7 to sit above the top plate ? Wondering how that would fit.

When I first started with my Istanbul I couldn't really see if the stock Sylvania's heaters were lit. In a non-purist move I added a socket saver that allows the top third of the tube to be visible. Got that tube glow now.

Currently running a Raytheon CK5670 2 mica black plate with good results.
 
Would the adapter allow the 6sn7 to sit above the top plate ? Wondering how that would fit.

When I first started with my Istanbul I couldn't really see if the stock Sylvania's heaters were lit. In a non-purist move I added a socket saver that allows the top third of the tube to be visible. Got that tube glow now.

Currently running a Raytheon CK5670 2 mica black plate with good results.
I am not sure but an octal is definitely going too look big competitively to a 9 pin..
I will post some photos when I get my adaptor.
 
Back
Top