Review: Tube Rolling The ALO CDM

Motorola 6BF7

• Very comparable to the stock tubes
• Upper mids and treble are more layered, this is especially noticeable in the voices
• Slightly more focus on voices and treble as in “they’re more upfront”
• I couldn’t really notice a difference in the lower mids region. Bass is a tad looser as stock, but with the same punch and depth
• Fairly fast and tight sounding tube
• Same sound stage as Sylvania 6111WA
• Runs at the same temperature as the stock tubes as well: 42°C

Sylvania 5718 (single triode)

• Slightly thinner sounding than the stock tubes, especially noticeable in the (upper)mids and treble
• Treble can sometimes sound a tad harsher
• Bass goes less deep, has less layering and is looser
• Less spacious sounding, impression of a smaller sound stage
• What’s missing most in this tube is depth
• Very basic sound, not as detailed as the other tubes
• 35°C and the “coldest” tube of the bunch

Raytheon 6111

• Portrays more depth than the stock tubes
• Have a softer and smoother timbre, especially vocals and mids
• Same type of bass with same depth and punch as the stock set
• No difference in sound stage
• Slower sounding than the Sylvania 6111WA
• 40°C

Raytheon 6BF7

• Less timbre and depth as the stock tubes
• Bass goes less deep and isn’t as layered
• Stock tube has more detail and is more musical
• Mids and treble have less detail and aren’t as spacious
• Dryer presentation
• Better with fast music than stock tube
• 42°C

GE 6021

• Less depth and timbre overall
• Less detailed, mostly noticeable in the mids section making treble a bit more forward with a dryer presentation
• Missing the airier presentation most of the other tubes have
• Not the most extended treble
• Bass impact is about the same but the stock tubes are more layered
• Running at the same temperature as the stock tube: 42°C
• Of all the tubes in my tube collection there isn’t a single GE I like

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