NOS Tubes--Are they worth it? or accurate?

Hi Saxo; interesting thread: Paragraph by paragraph:
1. I agree and prefer to not buy tubes from anyone except a reputable dealer, and am willing to pay the price-- some of which is for piece of mind.

2. I found a type of NOS tube that sounds great in my pre-amp, and it was worth it to me to then buy 3 full sets (6 tubes/set) at $150. per set. If I could find present production tubes that I liked as well, I would certainly purchase and enjoy them-- assuming an acceptable price.

3. As you are the tube component owner, you only have to please yourself. As long as the replacement tubes (new or NOS) are electrically compatible with your component, choose tubes that YOU like and don't be particularly concerned with what the designer was aiming for. Afterall, he was probably trying to please as many people as possible. Only you can decide what is pleasant to you.

4. The designers idea of sonic accuracy may not be the same as yours. Further, the designers tube component may sound different with your components/speakers/wires/room than it does in his design system. Also, you may choose to deviate from absolute sonic accuracy (whatever that is) and choose something that is more pleasant to you in your system.

Personally, I like a somewhat warm, timbrally rich, full bodied sound because that's the way music sounds to me (I don't like that big bloomy, euphonic sound that some tubes produce). But some like a leaner more detailed-- or other sonic presentation-- there's no accounting for taste! When a professional reviewer describes a component as "accurate", take it with a grain of salt IMO. Only you can decide what is accurate and pleasing to you. Cheers. Craig

No one said adopting tube amps is easy. Finding tubes that work well is a demanding undertaking, especially with the NOS's. Some that you find are gems, some are dogs, some work well with this but terrible with that, some die quick and painless, others explode in a great fanfare, and so on. But this is part of the hobby which, in a mad way, is what the fun is all about. Much like a high maintenance girl friend.

BTW, amps are not designed around NOS tubes because their availability and quality cannot be counted on as being consistent enough to be used in a product line.

Yah they are worth it if you are willing to accept dissapointment now and then. You may not hit it on the mark the first time,so be patient and use dealers with good feedback or people you trust to deal with.
When designing these peices,manufacturers use tubes that are currently available,due to cost reasons,and sound consistencies.Manufacturers must have to have on hand many replacement sets available to customers,so thats probably why the must use generic tubes.
It is fun to try to squeeze out more performence,but its at a price. Time and Money!

I've been playing around with tube amps since I was in high school 35 years ago. I've owned dozens and have designed and built around 8 or so (I have degress in electrical engineering and physics). Garfish's points are all accurate.

Speaking of accuracy, what makes you think that the original manufacturer had any special direct line to accuracy. Most high end equipment is "voiced" which means the engineering ends and the subjectivity takes over.

On asylum, this very topic came up, and someone posted that the old NOS tubes had somewhat different electrical characteristics than, say Sovtek 6922s. So, yes, you are distorting the original design parameters by putting NOS tubes in. Contrary to your claim, many manufacturers state that they do strive to design for accuracy as well as sonics.