Thanks for the responses. I’d love to have more
suggestions and reputable sources for tubes and thoughts about the quality of
the Russian/modern tubes vs NOS tubes. I’ve
had the pre for quite awhile (and I still have a couple of others including SS CJ) and have generally used older tubes.
Let me clarify: My plan is to buy some
tubes in addition to the spare ones I have. I was hoping to get some feedback
from folks about the tubes that they have used (particularly if they have used
them in the CJ) so that I could cut my selection down and save money in my
process of evaluating a few sets of tubes. The pre-amp actually takes 4 tubes
(not 2) so depending upon the tubes selected it can get pricey. Particularly if
I follow the "test a bunch of tubes in your system and pick the one that
sounds the best to you" approach.
General observation: I think we would all agree
that a particular brand and/or set of tubes would sound best in my system and
in my room, but I don’t have the time and/or money to try every combination to
achieve that goal (I’d be potentially more cost efficient by going out and
spending the money on a different pre-amp). If our advice becomes “trust your
ears, in your room, with your equipment” although it is an accurate assessment
we then lose the benefit of the community and reviews and comments become
irrelevant. That’s part of what a forum is designed to do: share experience and
wisdom across audiophiles.
Personal experience: I know I can sell the
tubes used. I always intend to sell my old equipment, but I have observed that
I tend to keep it (with the exception of the really pricey stuff and then I
price it to sell before my wife goes insane).
So again – thanks for the advice, more is
welcome; after 45 years of tinkering I still have lots to learn.
PS
What's YMMV?
Joe's even more anal than I am and must be single and rich (thanks for the reference)!
