Question for tube aficionados

So that's the problem with tube rolling, they sound different and depending on your tastes and your system they may or may not work for you. I found the Telefunkens to be pretty good, I liked them more than some Amprex tubes, including Bugle boys. As you wrote, they are great tubes, but just not in your setup. If you are already used to and like the sound of the EH, I think you might want something that hits with a little more punch than the tele or amprex tubes, I would try the new Golden Lions or the psvane, if you want to try NOS I would recommend you look at some RCA blackplates from the 50's or early 60's. I've tube rolled a lot of different tubes, and it's always a give and take with tubes. Amprex gets such a good rep because they are very balanced, but that might not be what you are looking for, and you don't really understand that until you try them out for yourself. Happy hunting

I am actually delighted with my system right now. My search is over.
 The Telefunkens are my tubes of choice.

The current production Gold Lions produce a sound that comes closer to the old production Philips tubes such as Mullard and even the less rich sounding Amperex.  Still many of the old 5751s while excellent in regard to tone are even better for imaging and sound spectrum profile balance  i.e. relative amounts treble to mid to bass that is partly a function of what a tube type can alter sort of a tone matter but different in my mind.  Gold lion does not make a 5751 to my knowledge but I sure would like to see them try. They do make a 12AU7.
There has been a run on whether a 6SN7 can be subbed for a dual triode 9 pin minature, and it can in some applications take the place of a 12AU7 in some applications. adapters can be bought on Ebay and elsewhere.  I am not sure whether you pre would allow the diferences betwen the 2 or not, but my understanding is that they serve similar purposes.  6SN7s are said to be very linearand there are plenty of 12AU7 bashers around on tube froums.

I owned the PV5, PV8, PV11 and PV12 over the years. Going from memory, seems the later versions starved the tubes a bit. before you start serious tube rolling, may want to measure the plate and cathode voltages and see what there are, then calculate the current going through the tube. On my PV12, there was less than a milliamp, so changed out the plate and cathode resistors to at least get the current up to a milliamp. sounded much more open and less constrained.

The PV5 I wish I had never sold...did not have the highest resolution, but was such a musical sounding piece.

best
J

If the CJ uses any 12AU7's try NOS RCA 5963. These are always a serious upgrade from your new stock 12au7's and they're a plug and play replacement. Highly recommended.