Tube Rolling with the Line Magnetic 518 IA

My dealer mentioned liking the Gold Lion input tubes in the LM's. As far as output tubes, I am liking the SED winged C's, but of course that doesn't help in your case. Quite a change from Shindo there. Glad you are liking the LM.

The power tubes are actually quite good, the Psvane HiFi Series 845.

Pre-amp tubes: try Gold Lion Genalex 12ax7s. And Psvane Treasure mk2. And NOS. One of my favorite current production 12as7s is the Mullard at about $17 per tube. Nice and warm but not the final word in detail.

Rectifier: try a new production Genalex, Mullard or Tung-Sol.

Drivers: I like a good EL34 or 6L6: SED winged C (while they last; they recently went out of production). Try TAD (Tube Amp Doctor) 6L6. Amazing tubes.

See my review of the amp on www.wallofsound.ca

845 - Psvane

12AX7s - Mullard ECC83, long plate, goal post getter with code f91 on tube (about 1958), about $200 - 250 for a good matched pair on ebay from a good seller.

6L6/KT66: original (not reissue) Genalex, matched pairs $300 - 400 on ebay (a pair there now at $425 buy it now).

5AR4/GZ34: Mullard BVA or Phillips Mini-Watt, both metal base ($300 - 400).

You've bought an $8K integrated...treat it right. :0)

I'm about to take possession of a 518 and wondered about tube rolling as well. Would be ok to suggest some trusted/recommended ebay sellers?

Tried a pair of GE5751's for a couple of weeks then switched back to Nos Philips JAN 12AX7's. Phew what a difference 12AX7's made everything sound spectacular again. I guess the 5751's were too polite for me. Current compliment I am enjoying is the above 12AX7's, Mullard Nos Rectifier., stock 845's and Shuguang Black Beauty 6CA7Z's . Dynamic, involving, organic, all the good stuff.