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If NOS pre or power tubes became unavailable altogether, what new tubes would you buy?

Hey tuberollers, 

I'm curious to see what happens if there's a gun to your head, or more practically all NOS tubes disappear (dread).  What would you do with your line/pre stage and/or power stage?  

I have tried 5 different NOS 12AU7s and only 1 new 12AU7 in my preamp section (Cifte, RCA black plates (late 50s), Sylvanias, Baldwin organ tubes, Amperex 70s orange globes, and new Chinese stock Primaluna tubes).  In my power section, I have not tried any NOS tubes and 3 types of tubes (stock Chinese Primaluna EL34s, reissue Mullard EL34s, and reissue Gold Lion KT88s).  

Side note: I haven't ventured into NOS power tubes because of the cost and availability/scarcity.  I need 8 of them!

Without having tried anything else, I would be lost on new or reissue 12AU7s.  On the power tube side, I'd be just fine with either the reissue Mullard EL34s or the Gold Lion KT88s.  
128x128jbhiller
tubed1
161 posts
 

I’d be up a creek w/o the NOS Russian 6h23eb tubes for my Audible Illusions Modulus 3A Pre-Amp. Notoriously hard on tubes this preamp runs those tubes hard. New Electro Harmonix 6922 are reliable and long lasting they sound OK.

I don’t waste my money in cryonics, as I personally can hear no audible difference. Although, I have seen longer tube life which may or may not have been attributable to the physics of this process.

Currently grooving on the 6550/KT-88 sound for the amp side. Filling the bill quite nicely the new issue Tung Sol KT-120, (my circuit supports it) or even better yet. The new issue Tung Sol KT-150 (the egg). Buy these while you are able.....oh yeah, bring it on!

rotarius
426 posts
 
The new production Mullard and Tungsol 12ax7 tubes are nice, I can live with them no problem.  I suppose the 12au7 versions are fine too but I have not used those.  I don't care for new 6sn7.  I have a stash of GE, CBS, Hytron, RCA, Raytheon, Sylvania, Kenrad, Soviet ones and a few others. They should last a lifetime but if some anti-ageing procedure is invented and I manage to outlast them, I would get the Shuguangs.  Oh and you have to try JJ  6ca7 tubes, they are one of my favorites.  Big ballsy sound!
wolf_garcia
4,650 posts
 
I found that Gold Lion 12AX7s are great, as are reissued Mullards. I use NOS 12AT7 type (6201 or something) Mullards also since there seem to be lots of them, but the Lions sound fine and as long as Russia allows them to exist I'm happy with that stuff. Russian GL KT88s are superb.
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almarg
8,673 posts
 
I too have had excellent results with the Gold Lion reissue 12AX7 and 12AU7.  This was in a Chinese-made EL34-based Paxthon VTA-160 amplifier I used several years ago.

Regards,
-- Al
 
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rauliruegas
9,123 posts
 
Dear @jbhiller: That¿’s the only fun tubes can gives to audiophiles: rolling tubes.

That totally anacronic technology can’t really honor MUSIC in anyway. Now, if you instead to follow having fun rolling tubes what you want is to have real fun enjoying MUSIC through a home audio system, that’s the target of any serious audiophile or should be, then you need to change to the only alternative that can do it: SS, I’m talking of MUSIC not just sounds as you have rigth now.

Yes, as with digital with the SS alternative you can't roll nothing because you need nothing to rool other than enjoy CD LP and be truer to the recording.

After all our LPs we have it to a truer enjoyment of MUSIC and only SS can do it. With SS we only have to worry to buy new software ( LPs or CDs. ) to follow enjoying MUSIC, just MUSIC that comes in the recording.

Of course is your very personal choice and your privilege, no one else.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC not DISTORTIONS,
R.
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