Constant noisy tubes maybe go solid state?

If you have to stick with the 12at7 I would order the phono stage graded tubes from vintage tube service, Andy really does test them for microphonics.

  If you try 12AU7’s , cut to the chase and get a pair of NOS Telefunkens, the highest grade you can find . I have multiple pairs . The Tektronix and the black G73-R’s are outstanding . If you want a smidge brighter the Seimens Silver plates are the way to go . Either will out perform any RCA . 

If you want to be an audio equipment hobbyist and tinker with extra things to worry about, then tubes are for you if you think they sound better. I think they heat up a room and tend to not have enough power.

It all depends where you draw the line....some think vinyl is too much of a pain or too expensive or whatever...it's all I play, but I don't constantly experiment with different cartridges, phono stage settings (I set it up to what I liked and haven't touched it since) or VTA (I have a Rega table). I believe in KISS.

You can get as good or better sound from solid state amps - one technology is not better than the other, although solid state is more efficient.

I'd rather listen to different records and enjoy the music than have to worry about things to keep the status quo. The only thing I have to worry about is a cartridge rebuild or replacement every 4-8 years.

Never had a problem you got the wrong stuff.

@aj523.....the noise I was hearing was audible much farther than that.  My turntable is 3 feet to the right of the right speaker and I could hear when I was standing there.  

The whooshing sound during tube failure was a bit louder but nothing significant.

It was not noticeable during music, but if it was a soft jazz album then possibly audible at times.  

Much of this is how we obsess over details.  Even if I could not hear during music playback....the fact that I COULD hear while flipping a record was enough to frustrate me.  Having better components and hearing nothing now is quite satisfying.