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***Is It Me Or Have Todays Modern Tubes Gotten REALLY REALLY Good***

About 3 years ago it was the Quad VA-One EL-84 amp that won my ears & heart.Almost 3 years I ran that amp night and day and never felt the urge to roll any of the tubes,which I believe were E.H...A user interface problem forced it’s sale and now it is the magical Cayin CS-55a with factory KT88’s,AU7 & AX7 small signal tubes..Once again I find absolutely no reason to start rolling tubes.Maybe,maaayyybbbeee I could squeeze a drop more liquidity outta the upper mids and possibly a hint more shimmer on top but at what expense?I hate gambling.Anyone else noting the quality of today’s new issue tubes?
freediver
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,959 posts
 
We designed all of our stuff to work with the garden variety of available tubes. Why saddle the customer with the need for a tube that is difficult to get?
My experience has been that the Chinese signal tubes are pretty good but for power tubes the Russians or the JJ (Slovakia) tubes are the way to go- depending very much on the tube type however- the Chinese are making some good power tubes as well.
ebm
9,311 posts
 
Old nos tubes from the  late 50s or 60s are always better than new ones.
freediver OP
1,237 posts
 
^^^ Oh ok,since you are obviously a tube guru we will all bow to your superior knowledge and completely disregard todays far better manufacturing facilities and materials and spend hundreds of dollars on 50+year old tubes that may or may not be matched,balanced or even unused...
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,608 posts
 
Don't get all defensive freediver.  Different people have different opinions.  If you haven't tried NOS how do you know how they sound?
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