Re: You need to try some more tubes...

Posted by Jim McShane (D) on September 17, 2006 at 08:37:47

In Reply to: You need to try some more tubes... posted by kukakunga on September 16, 2006 at 13:23:42:

This post bothers me to some extent - not that you aren't free to share your experience, but the one caution I would interject is that most of the new production tubes you picked are not what I would consider the best out there (at least for audio use).

Also, NOS tubes die on me all the time - so a single dead 6550EH is likely not a reason to panic.

Of the tubes you named only the reissue Tung-Sol 12AX7 seems to me to be a top shelf item. Some Eis are, but as you observed the quality was/is erratic at best. And the Shuguang may well be a great tube, I just haven't got experience with it as yet.

But that all having been said, there are wonderful quality (both sonically and build-wise) new production tubes out there. Here's some of what I consider the top stuff:

12AX7LPS Sovtek
12AX7M GT "Mullard clone" (if quality is okay - we'll see)
12AX7 Tung-Sol reissue
EL34 SED
6L6GC SED
6SN7 EH
KT-88 EH
6V6GT Tung-Sol reissue
845 China

There are others I'm sure I've forgotten, but these are all terrific tubes IMHO. Of course, everyone's ears/system/etc. will differ. So some tubes I've recommended to people in the past and will in the future aren't listed simply because they are more system dependent. The 6CA7 EH and Tung-Sol reissue 6550 are two examples.

It also helpful to think of tube combinations. For instance, the warm sounding SED power tubes work really well with EH in the front end - the top end energy of the EH is complimented by the SED softness.

In a phono stage the LPS is SO quiet and unflavored that you can use it in the first socket in the phono section and "flavor" the tone downstream any way you want!

Again, there are many more combos I could list...

I urge you to keep an open mind is all I'm saying. Some of the new stuff is REALLY good - you just haven't experienced it yet!

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - NOS tubes Vs. current production tubes. - Polo 08:28:46 09/16/06 (11)

Re: some NOS tubes are much better - mdjukic99@yahoo.com 16:23:22 09/16/06 (0)

new are just as good if not better - Scott Woebcke 10:23:57 09/16/06 (7)

Re: new are just as good if not better - walt farr 12:26:23 09/19/06 (0)

You need to try some more tubes... - kukakunga 13:23:42 09/16/06 (4)

Re: You need to try some more tubes... - Jim McShane 08:37:47 09/17/06 (2)

Re: You need to try some more tubes... - tvr2500m 19:51:58 09/18/06 (0)

I need to try more too!. - kukakunga 16:44:54 09/17/06 (0)

I've had pleasant surprises with modern production tubes - Ray Moth 19:52:10 09/16/06 (0)

Some what over the top don't you think...... - Chuck Y 10:49:21 09/16/06 (0)

Re: NOS tubes Vs. current production tubes. - Jim McShane 09:13:23 09/16/06 (1)

Re: NOS tubes Vs. current production tubes. - IdlerWheel 14:10:09 09/16/06 (0)

Follow Ups

Re: You need to try some more tubes... - Jim McShane 08:37:47 09/17/06 (2)

Re: You need to try some more tubes... - tvr2500m 19:51:58 09/18/06 (0)

I need to try more too!. - kukakunga 16:44:54 09/17/06 (0)

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