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McIntosh MC275 VI preamp tubes

I can tell that one or more of the preamp tubes (12ax7 and 12at7) are starting to get weak...the music is starting to sound a bit muddled and not quite as clear as it used to be.  I need to replace one or some or all.  I am looking for suggestions for tubes.  I love NOS RCA tubes, but they are getting harder to find and a bit pricier than they used to be.  Has anyone tried the Golden Lion, and/or the newer black diamond telefunken?  I think I tried Tung-Sol, but didn’t care for them much.  I’m open to suggestions, I’d like to keep the price roughly around $50/tube.  
I have golden lion KT88 that still seem to be going strong.  My system is:

CD Player : Marantz SA8005
Preamp:  Krell KSP 7B
Streamer:  Cambridge Audio CXN (V2)
Speakers:  B&W683

Any suggestions would be helpful.  Thanks !!!
jbeckley42
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
A vintage 12AX7 that's still a rock solid value is the GE black plate 3 mica 5751.  Good examples can still be had around $100/pair.
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,911 posts
 
Andy at Vintage Tube services in Michigan.  is my go to guy for great tubes
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,769 posts
 
+1 on the GE 3M/BP. They are a fine tube but not suited to all applications due to their lower gain.
At your price point, the Gold Lion are a good choice. 
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
# 1 Telefunken or RCA (I don't trust to many of them any more RCAs)
Valvo, Mullard, Mazda, Marconi (Expensive) or Tungrsram (Expensive). Then Tung sol, GE, GL (not a big fan of their little valves) Sylvania (always bright).. GL KT66,77,88s good stuff, great sound.. KT66 in particular..

Regards
mrklas
441 posts
 
Why not buy exact replacements?  I may be counterculture in an audio forum but what’s wrong with the date you brought?

I can appreciate upgrading and I’m a history major. So I make engineers and scientists to achieve my goals. 
I have  MC 2600 preamp and I appreciate the impact of my preamp. I’d be more inclined to add a phono stage than change the phone tubes. After all that engineer is more trained than I. 
If I final a better preamp, I’d be happy to buy it and would rather upgrade than try to tweak myself to the same results 
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