@larryi - yes, I was talking about vintage/NOS tubes. That's all I use. I appreciate the suggestions, and I've been interested in the Vifa as well. I'll look into the Zanden, for sure.
@noromance - yeah, I thought I was at the lowest load setting on the Hagerman and it turns out I wasn't. (It isn't obvious because the gain adjustment, which is built the same way doesn't operate the same way and neither are labeled or marked, so I had assumed that I was already at the lowest load based on knob positioning). That's what I meant earlier when I said I tweaked load as well.
Again, it's definitely sounding better overall and on quality recordings it's sounding rich and full so, I think I have addressed short term issues.