First Sound Preamp Owner's - What NOS tubes?????

Well, for the record, mine are VR5s. Thanks for the info Ace. I didn't realize there were so many variations.

I preferred the VR5s to any of the Amperex 7308 or 6922 tubes in the First Sound, as well as others.

I have found my FS Presence Del. Mk II, like any other component, highly sensitive to other gear in the system.

My Merlin TSM-MM monitors were excessively bright and this was tamed by moving from NOS Amperex (D-getter 6922, BB and Orange Globe 6DJ8s) to '60s vintage Mullard, Blackburn factory ECC88s.

Philips SQ E188CC. These add a little warmth to the FS which it needs. I prefer even a little more bloom than the FS can give.

this was tamed by moving from NOS Amperex (D-getter 6922, BB and Orange Globe 6DJ8s) to '60s vintage Mullard, Blackburn factory ECC88s.
Thom_s

I would agree. I wish I had discovered Mullard Blackburn tubes when I owned my FS Presence Deluxe II. While I owned the FS, I used several tubes (PQ, SQ, CCa, White Label, Orange label...if they made it, I tried it) from Siemens, Amperex and Phillips. None had the magic and sweetness of the Mullard Blackburn tubes as I subsequently discovered while using another preamp.

If you can't get the sweetness the First Sound preamp with Mullard Blackburn tubes, then it's time to move on to another preamp.

Anyone have a good source for Mullard tubes? Looking for a pair of Mullard E188CC tubes.