Would also love to hear about differences people have heard when using higher end amps / preamps with the rarer, and less obtainable NOS tubes.

I’m currently running a set of first issue Telefunken 7DJ8 and a set of Philips 1955 EL34 metal base in an amp. I am thinking about trying to find a set of unobtainium Siemens CCA or the like, but just not sure if they’re worthwhile if I could find them.

  • VintageTannoy@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    In my experience, Yes!! However I would say it completely depends on your system AND your preference. If your system is resolving enough and you can hear the difference then it’s worth it to try and tube roll NOS tubes with current gen tubes and see what differences you can hear and whether you prefer one set of tubes over the other.

    I have experience with McIntosh MX110z preamp and 3 different power amps with different tubes sizes - Sam Kim EL84, Marantz 8B(EL34) and McIntosh MI-75s(6550/KT88). I started with current gen Russian and Chinese tubes on my amps and they sounded great. However, my curiosity and OCD led me try and tube roll as many tubes as possible. And when I heard NOS tubes, not only was the difference in sound noticeable to me, I also preferred the sound of the NOS tubes. In some cases, the older the tube the more I preferred the sound. I have found that the tubes from 50’s-60’s sound best in my Marantz and McIntosh amps. Across the tube sizes, I have tried at least 20 different variations of tubes. In some cases I have found that the recommended tubes for my amp work the best in other cases I have liked tubes that are not highly recommended or sought after. The best way to figure out if a tube is going to work for you is to try it out. Although it is becoming quite difficult to acquire NOS quality vintage tubes. I also had to invest in tube testing gear to ensure my tubes are up to mark. My strategy has been to:

    1. Acquire good quality paris/quads of NOS tubes
    2. Tube roll as many tubes as possible
    3. Find the preferred sound (tubes) on my system
    4. Keep the preferred tubes and sell the others.

    Here’s a recent video I made on the differences between original Telefunken EL34s and the RFT Telefunken EL34s: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3PBUw8tFVM

    I have tried the following tubes in my amps and I have preferences in each category and in every category my preferred choice is an NOS tube:

    12ax7/12au7:

    1. RCA
    2. Telefunken
    3. Amperex
    4. Sylvania
    5. GE

    EL84:

    1. Mullards
    2. RCAs
    3. Telefunkens
    4. Amperex
    5. Phillips Miniwatt
    6. Siemens L
    7. Russian 6P14P

    EL34:

    1. Philips/Siemens
    2. Telefunkens
    3. RFT Telefunkens
    4. RFT Siemens
    5. Svetlana winged C
    6. Chinese Shuguang

    6500/KT88:

    1. Tung sol black plate 6550
    2. Tung sol grey plate 6550
    3. Tung sol 3 hole 6550
    4. GE 6550A
    5. Sylvania 6550
    6. GEC KT88
    7. Genalex KT88
    8. Svetlana winged C
    9. Chinese Valve Art KT100