Newb Tube question

I suggest trying some 6FQ7s with good paint. Conrad Johnson used them back when they were in production. Matched pairs $25-$50.
RCA sounds better than Sylvania to me.

To avoid a lot of disappointment and frustration: just follow tomcy6's advice.     

AAAAAHHH Tubes :-) They are like little bottles of electronic wonder and joy. However, being new to tubes in 2020 is to embrace the term "made in Europe or Asia" Of course anyone with an old warehouse and a tube tester is now on the tube bandwagon and is a expert. My point is that there are many crappy pedestrian sounding brand new tubes out there so it pays to do as much research as you can by yourself and take the time to learn why tubes work and what they do. I agree with lewm that tube rolling is better with better sounding gear, so dont worry about buying a $180 tube to put in a $150-$300 unit. Stock tubes are fine with these products. Where Andy At Vintage tubes comes in is when you have a special sounding unit and your looking for "real new old stock tubes from the 50's 60's 70's" to really bring out the best. That is special.

Matt M

@lewm 

First, in my experience mediocre sounding gear does not become wonderful sounding gear via tube rolling.

Beware, the corollary is also true - a bad tube can make a great amp sound average. 


  

Given your system I would go with RCA or Mullard NOS. Telefunken and Siemens are said by many to be better but possibly out of your price range. I don't know your phono stage but if it has 2 or more tubes be sure to get matched pairs.