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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
aberyclark OP
1,355 posts
 
What was the problem with your Rogue preamp? If I remember correctly there was a lot of hiss, etc. What did Rogue do to it besides change tubes?

They told me that they repalced some Op-amps and added some grounding to the LED display
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
@aberyclark , there's no rule that says that all four tubes need to be the same type. When I owned a Perseus Magnum, I had 2 RCA Blackplates in the front Gain position, and Mullards as Cathode Followers. The RCA's provided open, dynamic sonics, while the Mullards provided warmth and classic tube bloom.

The best deal that I've come across is the Brimar CV4003 at Upscale. These are British tubes with warmth, but have more extension than Mullard at the top and low-end.
rodge827's avatar
rodge827
620 posts
 
Picked up a pair of Telefunken 12au7's and a single 12ax7 from Andy Bouwman at Vintage Tube Services this past summer for my integrated amp. (not a Rouge)  Andy is extremely knowledgeable and fair in his pricing. He is a straight shooter and won't just sell you something for the sake of it. All of his tubes are tested before shipping and have a return policy.
Check him out at:http://vintagetubeservices.com/
aberyclark OP
1,355 posts
 
I think the Brimars are Kevins favorite. The smooth mids of mullard without high end roll off. Plus, cheaper than mullards
aberyclark OP
1,355 posts
 
I wonder if the Brimars add more sparkle on the top end vs the JJ's. I hope not. I think the JJ's top end (and low end) is perfect. Just a little more silk on the mids would be nice.
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