2. amps-preamps
  3. 161387-96791

Constant noisy tubes maybe go solid state?

I have a Quicksilver Line Stage Preamp (12AT7) mated to an Odyssey Khartago Stereo. Overall I like it. Way too much gain but I digress. Weeks after receiving it I rolled in a few different tubes, kinda fun to color the sound signature. I liked rhe RXA black plates I got and those stuck around for more than a year. They started going microphonic and making noises so I ordered another pair (noisy) then another different vendor (blasts of white noise) and another set that arrived today (one is noisy as holy hell and one seems fine).

So where does one order preamp quality tunes that are quiet? Is there something I’m not requesting when ordering? Maybe dump
snd go solid state? I’m trying to be humorous because I’m pissed. Ha.
gochurchgo
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
After many years (20+) trying different tubes my go-to now is JJ from tubestore.com Not because they are the absolute best - although they are better than most I've tried that's just me in my Melody. But I have never had a problem with any JJ tube. Maybe I'm just getting old or jaded or something but with so many other things out there that can make a much bigger difference with nowhere near the risk of headaches of tube rolling I go with the tried and true JJ.  

BUT, if I really did want to try something different the man I would call is Dave Thompson at Raven Audio.  https://www.ravenaudio.com/
russ69's avatar
russ69
3,579 posts
 
I'd give Mike at Quicksilver a call. 
gochurchgo OP
931 posts
 
@millercarbon thanks I will look into the JJ’s. I believe the QS came with them and while they did sound good overall they seemed to have a bump in the midrange that my speakers also seem to have. Might be too much but will look.
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
8,202 posts
 
Vintage Tube Services. You won't waste your time or money.
jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
the odyssey’s are very high input sensitivity -- makes for the need for super quiet tubes if feeding it with a tube pre (or tubes that wouldn’t sound noisy with another amp seem noisy going into it) - klaus’s amps are very nice sounding but they are certainly finicky for a solid state unit
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