I use Chinese tubes and a GE tube on the line stage. On both the Don Sachs phono stage and the Hagerman trumpet MM phono stage, I am using amperex bugle boy tubes. Upon close listening, I slightly prefer the Haggerman over the D Sachs phono. I have not heard the MC trumpet. I am using the D Sachs Phono because it fits in my rack. There was not that much difference for me to build a new rack.