Author Topic: DHT ............LOVE? HATE? MAGIC??  (Read 4402 times)

Offline mresseguie

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DHT ............LOVE? HATE? MAGIC??
« on: May 05, 2020, 05:47:01 PM »
Okay, gang.

Absolutely no politics in this thread. I want to learn about DHT. I know this thread is in the amplifier/preamplifer circle/tubes sub-circle, but I don't want to limit discussion to amps and preamps. There are DHT DACs out there, too.

I'm specifically curious to learn about what makes DHT so great. I'm considering upgrading my already impressive SW1X DAC III. One upgrade option is to add DHT. [Don't know how much it would cost yet.] Someone on AC turned me onto a long thread on DIYAudio. I've only just scratched the surface of that thread.

Talk to me. Why are DHT components so sought after?

Michael
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Offline P.I.

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Re: DHT ............LOVE? HATE? MAGIC??
« Reply #1 on: May 05, 2020, 07:44:12 PM »
Okay, gang.

Absolutely no politics in this thread. I want to learn about DHT. I know this thread is in the amplifier/preamplifer circle/tubes sub-circle, but I don't want to limit discussion to amps and preamps. There are DHT DACs out there, too.

I'm specifically curious to learn about what makes DHT so great. I'm considering upgrading my already impressive SW1X DAC III. One upgrade option is to add DHT. [Don't know how much it would cost yet.] Someone on AC turned me onto a long thread on DIYAudio. I've only just scratched the surface of that thread.

Talk to me. Why are DHT components so sought after?

Michael
This comes down to my basic tenets of audio.

I’ve always been a less is more guy.  Triodes are pure devices.  You put “X” in and you get “X+” out.  Simple - more voltage out than in.

Any time another aspect, component or device is inserted into the equation they bring non-linearities into play.  Elimination of non-linearities (distortions) gives a clearer picture into the recordings.  Add to this the fact that triode gain stages distortion components (there is always distortion) is predominantly even order - consonant - in characteristic.  I prefer my distortions to be musical and not sound like rocks being slammed together.
"A man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument." - Hilmar von Campe

Offline Triode Pete

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Re: DHT ............LOVE? HATE? MAGIC??
« Reply #2 on: May 06, 2020, 05:53:38 AM »
Okay, gang.

Absolutely no politics in this thread. I want to learn about DHT. I know this thread is in the amplifier/preamplifer circle/tubes sub-circle, but I don't want to limit discussion to amps and preamps. There are DHT DACs out there, too.

I'm specifically curious to learn about what makes DHT so great. I'm considering upgrading my already impressive SW1X DAC III. One upgrade option is to add DHT. [Don't know how much it would cost yet.] Someone on AC turned me onto a long thread on DIYAudio. I've only just scratched the surface of that thread.

Talk to me. Why are DHT components so sought after?

Michael

From my TWL website...

"In 1926, the ‘71A direct-heated power triode was introduced, followed by the ’50 in 1928, the ’45 and PX4 in 1929, the PX25 in 1930, the 2A3 in 1932, the 300A in 1936, and the 300B in 1938. Over 94 years after their introduction, these triodes continue to be the simplest lowest distortion amplifying devices ever made."

Like Dave said (in a nut shell), Simpler is Better... I like the K.I.S.S. principle!

There may be lower distortion devices, but they involve more complexity & perhaps negative feedback to become more linear...

Cheers,
Pete
« Last Edit: May 06, 2020, 07:05:57 AM by Triode Pete »
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Offline S Clark

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Re: DHT ............LOVE? HATE? MAGIC??
« Reply #3 on: May 06, 2020, 07:15:37 AM »
I'd never owned a speaker efficient enough to be driven by flea watt amps, but that changed when I picked up a pair of Altec Valencias for peanuts.  So, I'd never thought about a DHT amp before, but I could jump at a kit for the right price. 
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Offline rollo

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Re: DHT ............LOVE? HATE? MAGIC??
« Reply #4 on: May 06, 2020, 08:39:14 AM »
  They have a "Presence" to the reproduced sound that other tubes cannot duplicate. I would vote "Magic"

charles
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Offline P.I.

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Re: DHT ............LOVE? HATE? MAGIC??
« Reply #5 on: May 06, 2020, 11:29:49 AM »

DHT tubes indeed are magic, especially used single ended.  They have a linearity that is natural, not beaten into supmission by negative feedback. It is the feedback that is the magic killer. I still have a 572 tube here that I acquired as a spare.  They are now readily available again.  Their scarcity was what prompted me to sell my Cary mono blocks.  They had 20 HUGE watts that had bass response to the earth's core.  I'm saving my $$$ to acquire another pair when I find them.  The Cary SLP50B with the mods I made to it (including using a 6H30 Reflektor Tube) and the 572SE MkII amps was an amazing combination.  This plus the light generated by that 572 was all the light needed for listening at night.

What I really want is a pair of Border Patrol 300B amps... they are stunning!   Too much money for this old man, though  :(
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Offline mresseguie

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Re: DHT ............LOVE? HATE? MAGIC??
« Reply #6 on: May 06, 2020, 12:16:09 PM »
Thanks, guys.

Question: In your opinion(s), is it better to have DHT in an amp, a preamp, or DAC?

Secondary question: Since I already have tube amp and pre that I love, doesn’t make most sense in my situation to insert DHT into my DAC?

Michael
Daedalus Audio Apollos; Fritz Loudspeakers LS/5-R
SW1X NOS DAC III BAL/SPL; Holo Spring3 KTE
Don Sachs Model 2 preamp
Don Sachs dual mono 300b; Nuprime Evolution STA
Hapa loom
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Offline P.I.

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Re: DHT ............LOVE? HATE? MAGIC??
« Reply #7 on: May 06, 2020, 09:29:15 PM »
Thanks, guys.

Question: In your opinion(s), is it better to have DHT in an amp, a preamp, or DAC?

Secondary question: Since I already have tube amp and pre that I love, doesn’t make most sense in my situation to insert DHT into my DAC?

Michael
Michael,

Let logic prevail.  You have a pre and amp that float your boat, right?  Then a DAC with DHT  I/V conversion or output buffer is where I would suggest that you look.  There is that “righteous soulfulness” that goes along with DHT SET. 

This from a dude that was stupid enough to sell his  :roll: ...
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Offline rollo

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Re: DHT ............LOVE? HATE? MAGIC??
« Reply #8 on: May 07, 2020, 08:04:50 AM »
Michael, you have two choices IMO. A Amp or DAC.


charles
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Offline steve

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Re: DHT ............LOVE? HATE? MAGIC??
« Reply #9 on: May 07, 2020, 10:18:06 PM »
I pondered whether to post any information, either pro or negative, but I have some information that virtually no one ever posts, or has seen, so I have decided to post it here. Some time ago, I also posted at some info on AC. Anyway, here goes.

I must add that some two decades ago, there was a fierce marketing campaign on to push SET amps, especially using DHT tubes (along with profits). All kinds of superlatives, specs etc given to DHT amps.
Virtually no one had/has the test equipment, or listening tests, to separate truth from fiction. And when was the last time you heard the recording studio walls when playing an set amp.

The main difference claimed between SET and other amps is the "midrange magic". This is partly due to:

1. The claim is that DHT distortion is predominantly 2nd harmonic in nature. This sounds good except:
 
     A. the distortion spec is virtually no better than any other tube. Below I compare a 300b to my
         SET using IDHT, and my PP amps. In both cases, my amps have much much lower distortion, without global
         negative feedback.

     B. there are 3rd, 5th, and 7th order products produced by DHTs, just like other 3/2 power tubes. Check bottom
         of post to view Eimac data. I always have to chuckle when I hear the extravagant claims of DHT distorton is
         even order harmonics. 

2. The midrange "magic" is also due to frequency roll offs of the extremes (parafeed operation may help the bass). 
          The roll off of the extreme high and low frequencies are due to:
 
low transconductance, poor frequency response of the input/driver tubes,
poor quality and small size of coupling capacitors, and
DC current through the output transformer (OPT) reducing the primary inductance and also increasing the distortion

(See RCA Radiotron Designers Handbook, 26 engineers. All these problems minimize both high and low frequency response.)

By the way, the lower the high frequency response, the more musical nuisances are lost. The high frequency response mimics a low pass filter, just as power supply filtering stages minimize 120hz ripple (signal). The lower the high frequency response, the more masking of low level musical nuisances/information/cues. Ever hear of the intimacy described of an SET amp?

That is because the low level musical nuisances has been essentially removed leaving only the main instrument.

3. The SET amplifier is basically a simple build, and has hidden faults inherent in a Class A design.

     A. The damping factor varies from virtually none (near maximum power) over a portion of the waveform, to maximum damping (at minimum plate resistance, tube conducting maximum current), for any type SET amp. PP basically does not have this problem as one tube's damping being lowered, the other is increasing, so basically constant damping over the entire waveform.

     B. The intermodulation distortion (IMD) is very generally 2-3 times that of the harmonic distortion (HD) figure. Thus for 5% HD, the IMD is some 10-15%. For 10% HD, the IMD is some 20-30%. Claiming a tube's distortion as inner detail, intimacy, is not high fidelity?

4. The lowest distortion driver tubes ever produced are the new JJ brand 6dj8/12axx line of tubes, and
by a wide margin. We are talking some 1/9th or less distortion, or -18db less than any other tube, such as a
6SN7xxx series. A tube with that low of distortion is difficult to work with but the intimacy is superb when done right.

Below is the distortion products (.pdf) of a typical 3/2 power tube, either DHT or IDHT. Notice the 3rd, 5th, and 7th orders, distortion.

5. I have heard claims that the musical signal is somehow "taken apart and put back together again" in push pull designs. That is utter nonsense and breaks the laws of science.

6. One of the easiest things to design is a limited bandwidth audio amplifier. But how does a limited bandwidth amp realistically produce music? It cannot by definition since so much of the music is deleted. It takes a wide bandwidth system to accurately reproduce realistic music with dynamics/rise times, spacial characteristics, proper harmonics etc.

7. Distortion from a different view. Below is distortion data of 300b vs power output vs RL.

Just the 300b tube, 4% harmonic distortion (HD) at 6.5 watts output. (see graph below) The tube is lucky to produce
less than 1% at 2 watts.

A comparison of my 20 watt PP triode KT88 amp, the entire amp measured ~2% at 7 watts and 0,05% at 1 watt without any global negative feedback.

We also need to consider is the combination of input/driver/output tubes in an amp and the distortions produced.

300b needs up to 200 volts p-p drive signal for full output. At least three stages (which includes the step up transformer). KT88 needs less than half that.
 
6sn7 types have limited gain, so two stages are necessary, with much much higher distortion and harmonic orders created. Besides that, each 6sn7 has limited bandwidth, so more stages means limiting the bandwidth even more.

8. For the number guys, all devices create 2nd and 3rd harmonics. Such distortions combine to create new orders. For instance, 2 stages, 2nd harmonic from X tube combines with the 2nd and 3rd from Y tube to create 4th and 6th harmonics. 3rd order combines with 2nd and 3rd to create 6th and 9th harmonics. Notice the 7th harmonic is created in a 3/2 power tube so we can obtain 3rd and 7th for 21st order harmonics etc. But one never sees those harmonics in the measurements. (The higher the harmonic/order the more sensitive the ear is.) Rid the higher order harmonics by eliminating the inner detail of the music.

9. Another problem with SETs in general is the need for chokes/inductors in the power supply to minimize hum (which is a signal). However, from the musical stand point from the musical signal end, chokes cause a non-linearity that interferes with the musical honesty. With lots of expensive "iron" and tubes creates more cost, thus more profit.

10. Don't want to forget the IMD distortion products, which are sum and difference products. As a simple example, say we have a 1.1khz and 3.3khz signal. The results are additions and subtractions, producing products. In music, there are incredible number of combinations of additions and subtractions. Most are not harmonics, but spurious.

11. One of the main advantages claimed by DHT fans is "intimacy". However, manipulating the music is not hearing the real music, what the artist intended.

Have you ever heard the recording studio walls when playing any SET amplifier? Yet, it occurs with PP, OTL amps all the time. How about Pro Musica 2nd/3rd reference upgraded ST-70 amps, DeHavilland, Herron etc.

I have been in the audio world for over 40 years, and I will take the real deal any day. Knowledge is power to understand the difference between reality and hype.

steve
« Last Edit: December 21, 2023, 10:33:54 AM by steve »
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