Where to buy decent 845 and 211 tubes?


Let’s start saying most vintage tubes from eBay are junk.... "oh we cannot test this, but this looks like new and should work" with definition of "work" meaning there is filament continuity. or the tubes "used to work a few years ago before going to storage".

Short of paying USD $2000+ for a pair of vintage RCA or United Electrics, what modern 845 and 211 tubes are worth buying. What’s your experience with their sound and longevity?

I will not buy 211 / 845 tubes that cost more than my Viva Solista, much like I would never buy a TV shelf that cost more than the TV itself.  :-)


bsimpson
Alot of these vintage tubes ,theres no way to know how long they will last or if they have many hours of use.
I no longer have my Viva Aurora's and have my extra NOS 845s for sale.
Also, you are aware I'm sure that you only need one pair of good 845s for output. The rest just buy the regular cheap chinese. Mine used the 572 tube for driver. I'm assuming yours is a 211. 211's are inexpensive usually for NOS.

Every tube I've gotten from eBay has been fine. The old much better than new.