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Buying tubes...do they vary???

Been posting about degrading tubes. Thinking I'm in need of new.

Sites like thetubestore.com and the tubedepot.com are out there. I spotted Electro-Harmonix 6550 tubes on thetubedepot.com. By name these are the same as the ones I have in my Conrad Johnson Premier 12 mono block power amps that Conrad Johnson sold me.

Would they perform just the same? You would think so but perhaps I'm missing something. Also, a suggestion of where to buy replacements would be greatly appreciated.

Certainly need to get the performance that I got when I bought those Electro-Hamonix from Conrad Johnson at the end of the day...

Thank you!
Randy

rbschauman
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
Every single tube made, even in the same batch can be different.
They may be noisier than the one made just before it, or quieter.
One may last ten years, the other die in three weeks.
The only real way to get matching tubes it to have the dealer do the matching, or you do the matching.
To me, tubes variability is the main problem with owning tubed equipment!
Then you get into NOS where the stock ALL used, just not worn out.

When you have some wonderful tubes, then dread the day you have to find some more... And nothing is nearly as good.
Jut saying plenty of reason to just buy solid state. LOL (kidding)
cleeds
2,065 posts
 
elizabeth
Then you get into NOS where the stock ALL used, just not worn out.
Oh no, not if the product is properly labelled. NOS means "New Old Stock," not "slightly used old stock."
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
At this point there IS no NOS. Anyone claiming they are selling NOS is not telling the whole story.
Like that great 427 Cobra sitting in a barn for 50 years and you find it and buy it for $200. Ain't real. Fantasy, or a lie.
I really would never believe anyone trying to sell NOS (pre 1980) anymore. PERIOD.
(I do believe there are new old tubes hidden away in stashes at various folks homes and garages. Those are not gonna be for sale until the dudes are dead.)

hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,611 posts
 
 I guess I always thought these supposed caches of 1950's etc. tubes were mostly slightly used tubes that tested out as basically new stock.  The thought that all of the modern tube vendors could have such a wide variety of NOS tubes in such numbers in stock is rather unrealistic.  Perhaps those valves should be called SUNOS.
mr_m
1,087 posts
 
Elizabeth. you have to understand that back in the 40's, 50's, and 60's there were tens of thousands of new tubes produced. Not just for people's TV;s and radios, but for medical equipment and for the military of which great supplies where produced but not all used. There is a vast supply of those old tubes out there that never saw daylight outside the boxes they were put in. Call Andy Bauman of VTS. He will give you the REAL skinny on what is out there, NOS......
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