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Buy new tubes, or use "stock tubes?"

I'm considering purchasing a YS Audio Experience A2-SE. I have read reviews of different pieces, as well as different users and some say to replace the stock Chinese tubes with US or even Russian tubes. Does anyone have any experience with this matter. One member told me he replaced with RCA tubes, but heard no difference. As I said, I have heard this not just with the YS equipment, and not just Chinese tubes, but understand different brand tubes on different equipment can really change your sound. What about it ladies & gentlemen? One more thing: I read a review of the A2 SE and the owner said he was going through a set of tubes every 6 months!! In reviewing other tubed equipment, I understand it's not uncommon for a set of tubes to last years. (??)
handymann
lesvan's avatar
lesvan
39 posts
 
I have a Mcintosh MA2275, tube rolling made a huge wonderful improvement........ the stock tubes were horrible. I've bought from Upscale Audio and The Tube Depot with great results.
rcprince
3,070 posts
 
I agree with Elizabeth and Kurt (tongue-in-cheek) tank in that I would advise that you listen to any unit you buy for a long while with its stock tubes and enjoy it. If after that time you are dissatisfied with the sound you can consider tube-rolling, but save that for when you've decided what sort of sound you're looking for. And if the reports from the field are that tubes keep going bad every 6 months in a particular unit, perhaps you might want to consider a more reliable piece of equipment (it is not always the tubes' fault, necessarily).
handymann OP
383 posts
 
Thanks for your response. AS I said-not familiar with tubes. Haven't had any since a stripped my folks old stereo 30 years ago. The A2SE has (2) 12AT7's and (1) 5687WB. I'm not familiar with either. Have heard of 12AX7's and they may interchange. Anyway, given what tube types this preamp has, know any better brand tubes for it?
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
12 AX7s are NOT equivalent to 12AT7s. They may "work" but they are not the same tube.
vegasears
1,173 posts
 
If you buy new stick with what they are shipped with while it is under the warranty. If anything does go wrong the first thing your dealer is going to ask is "What tubes you are using?". Also getting used to the stock Chinese tubes at first may just help you appreciate NOS tubes.

Have fun!
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