Matching pre amp tubes?

You can purchase matched some NOS pre-amp tubes from Kevin Deal at www.upscaleaudio.com, or try the new Tesla tubes (best value) from the folks at www.tubestore.com. Leave the theoretical electrical analysis to the amateur physicists. Matched tubes that have been pre-tested for your specific pre-amp will image and balance significantly better. Let your ears be the judge.

If you don't have a ton of cash, using a tube preamp an SS amps is a decent way to get the signature sound of tubes in your system without having to sell appendages or organs to keep up with the cost of replacing power tubes in a tube power amp. Most small preamp tubes are quite cheap. I agree with most of the above posters that matching isn't really as critial in a pre.

poulkirk, i paid less than $2k for a nice used tubed preamp. i can't think of anything solid-state anywhere near the price, even used, that would come close to it. the linn kairn solid-state pre i was using before - a wery nice pre for the price, imho - can't touch my new toobed pre...