Update: I sourced 3 sets of matched quad KT88’s from Ebay "NewQuestInc", based in California (strategy: less shaking between CA and VA). They arrived very well packed (thank you if you see this in the next decade) but I have not yet yanked the Ayons and re-biased the amp.
The Ayon will auto-bias (see manual) the tubes in an initial non-operational post-warm-up mode if it is user-initiated, and also before shutting down but only after a minimum length of time running (I recall 45 minutes). The auto biasing is a separate circuit outside the signal path, and it maintains tube bias (state) information over time. It’s a remarkable amp, but the Ayon tubes have had a high-failure rate (2 out of 8 tubes) in slightly oner it’s first month. (I have excellent power and am running ALL gear behind PS PowerPlants.)
The Ayon Triton III has 4 KT88s per each channel. The untried new Gold Lion tubes (I have 3 sets of matched quads) have match numbers: 48, 51 and 57.
Question: If I install these new tubes, what seems to be a good strategy: Mix them up by bias and tube position within left/right circuits or group matched tubes in left and other matched in right?