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EL34 tubes- alternates to matched octet for Primaluna HP dialogue premium

I have the Primaluna Dialogue Premium HP power amp that uses 8 EL34 tubes.  I am currently using the stock EL34s, but have noticed a nice improvement in imaging when I switched to NOS mullards 12au7s.

As I look at playing around with different power tubes, (especially NOS Varieties) I see numerous sets of matched quads out there, but never matched octets, unless they are new production.

my question is this:  what do I lose sonically by using unmatched tubes, or two sets of matched quads, or four sets of matched pairs?  Wondering if since the Primaluna is self biasing, if it is less sensitive to non-matched tubes than other amps? 


meiatflask
bluesy41
211 posts
 
@meiatflask - I have Magnepan 20.7 Planar speakers and so my amps came with stock EL 34 which were very warm and gave me that very intimate tube sound that we all love, but lacked in the area of bass and dynamics compared to the KT150’s. I also believe the 150’s expands the soundstage a few rows further than the EL34’s. More like being in the 5th row. You do lose some of the subtle nuances and inner detail that the EL34’s give but I’m talking a fraction. I have the Tung-Sol KT150’s and IMHO they are simply bad-ass.

Cheers
tooblue
787 posts
 
For me the 50 year Treasure tubes are  a blow me away change.
tooblue
787 posts
 
@meiatflask, I have a set of 8 Premium Grade Black Bottle Treasure tubes with about 600 hours on them so they are broken in, pulled them from my VTL MB125s that are boxed up to go back to factory for rebuild, if you pay the shipping to you and back to me, you are welcome to try them out for a month or so. Let me know.
meiatflask OP
58 posts
 
@tooblue - sounds like an offer I can’t refuse.  How do we do this? Can you send me a message/email outside of the discussion so we can word out the details directly?
lloydc's avatar
lloydc
549 posts
 
I experienced reliability issues with Psvanne  Ax7’s.  Wish it were not so, they sounded nice.
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