tube rolling

Newbee, thanks for your response. I just want to ask a couple of questions? First what do you mean when you say rugged? and are you a saying that the tesla's are not quiet or not as quiet as the 6h23's?
Some have said that the tesla's are similar to the siemens which are considered to be quiet.
Just wondering...

Thanks for your responses.

Quietness/ruggedness depends on tube screening/selection. Ruggedness has a lot to do with how long they stay quiet in a given application.

For example, I have an ARC SP10 which is reknown for being 'tough' on tubes. NOS 6h23EB's selected for low noise last, in that pre-amp, thousands of hours. I have tried old and new low noise EI tubes which didn't last 100 hours, nor did old or new Tesla's. Both went from quiet to quite noisy in a short time. The same EI's and Tesla's have remained quiet in amps and other pre-amps, and one CDP that I have used them in. Another CDP I have eats those brands as well as the ARC. Audible Illusions has a similar demand for 'rugged' tubes and many folks use 6h23's there as well.

One of the reasons that ARC used Sovteks so long as OEM tubes in most all of their stuff had much less to do with sonics than just plain ruggedness. My old Sovteks seemed to last forever and sounded very similar to my NOS 6h23's. They were not euphonic but are much better than the later Sovteks and, in my humble opinion, far better than the steel pin EH's which I find unbalanced - too much bass, not enuf mid range etc.

FWIW, I like the old Tesla a lot and presently use them in two different amps. Nice combo of warmth, overall tone, and clarity. I find them a bit warmer than my fav's, the EI 6DJ8, and for a tube a lot warmer look at the Amperex Bugleboy (which my SP10 also eats!). Horses for courses.

Hope that helps a bit.

Newbee, Have you heard of a company called Tubemonger?
I ran across their information while googling and was wondering how reputable they are?

Thanks again for youe responses.

I've no personal experience them, but I do recall their reputation being discussed in the tubes forum on AudioAsylum. Can't recall if it was good or bad. You might visit the site and do a search under that name (ditto here).

You might try Vintage Tube Services Andy is a great guy and knows more about tubes than anyone I have had dealings with. He is a little slow but he has the nicest tubes around.