I think knowing what it is you are chasing helps. And that in itself is a challenge. Everyone is chasing for the end game system but that end game is going to be different for each one of us. There is the curiosity factor and the FOMO factor as well. My curiosity and my OCD led me to try and audition 8 different high end speakers, 7 different silver plate receivers from 70s and 3 different tube amps with different tube sizes and close to 20 different power tubes. And I’m talking all vintage… between 50s to 70s. After all the permutation combinations I have to say I found what I like. The process helped me fine tune exactly what I was looking for. There were setups i initially loved but realized that I would want to live with that long term. Systems that i initially didn’t like but realized that it’s the sound that I could live with long term. So now I have found my peace. Are there other systems out there that sound better than mine. Absolutely. Do I need that system? No. I have found what I’m looking for. I also find solace in knowing what all the different systems I tried sounded like and I have experienced the strengths and weaknesses of each setup so I know exactly what I’m missing out on and what I’m not. Some speakers had killer vocals, some killer bass and I had to fine tune my preference and figure out which one would I keep if I could only keep one. That process helped me navigate through various gear and settle on what I have now. Hope everyone can find their peace, it’s out there. And if someone loves chasing new or different equipment all the time then that’s their game. Either way it’s a fun hobby. Some listen to their music, some listen to their gear. Whatever works.
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:
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:
EL84:
EL34:
6500/KT88: