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Questions from a Tube Preamp newbie

I have my Rogue RP-5 back from warranty repair and I am loving how it sounds. While at Rogue, they installed 4new JJ 12au7-s tubes. Sounds great. I have some questions.

1. with about 2 hours daily playing, how long do typical preamp tubes last (I have heard Rogue's, like CJ, can be hard on tubes)

2. Do new tubes need broken in? if so, what is normal time frame?

3. Does tube rolling really make a difference on a preamp vs power amp?

4. What is the general concensus on JJ tubes for a preamp? Again, I am really happy with the sound, so I probably won't change. However, I will eventually probably get the itch.

Thanks
aberyclark
hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,832 posts
 
@aberyclark

1. I leave my 12AU7 based line stage on 24/7 and the tubes just go on and on.

2. Yes, in my experience. After about a week they are where they will stay.

3. Don’t know as I have never had a tube power amp. With a total of 5 tubes in my system, I have found tube rolling to make a difference in sound quality.

4. Not a fan of JJ tubes in my experience. I use all Gold Lion 12AU7 tubes sourced from Cryoset. The tubes are cryogenically treated and seem, again to last forever. When you are ready to "roll" I would strongly encourage you to contact Ron Sheldon at Cryoset and give the Gold Lions a chance.  You can always talk to Ron and see what tubes his customers have had success with in a Rogue preamp like your's.
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,409 posts
 
When I called Rogue to inquire about tubes for my RP-5 preamp, NOS Mullards were recommended to me.  I purchased a matched set of 5 (1 spare) from Uncle Kevin at Upscale for 60.00 each.  It truly brought the preamp up a few notches and I have used them ever since.
perfectpathtech's avatar
perfectpathtech
236 posts
 
+1 hifiman

I also like the Gold Lion from Cryoset lifespan approximately 5000 hours
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