Can’t buy output tubes anywhere except from manufacturers at high prices.


I have given some thought about going the tube route for amplification but it sounds  like a risky move. None of usual online stores: Tube Store, Tube Depot or Upscale Audio have any output tube available. Are things that bad? 

hiendmmoe

No, they are not that bad.

 

You must compare the value of the sound created using tubes compared to temporary market changes. Tubes are not going away.

 

All my equipment is tubed. I purchased a replacement tube set for each. This means that I should be good for around 6,000 - 8,000 hours. I am retired, and listen to my system about 3 hours a day. At that rate, I am good for eight years. Any tubes that have gotten scarce because of the war will either become available because it is over or the facility is moved.

Anyway, I was put off by tubes in amps for twenty years because of possible reasons of possible failures, biasing, cost… biggest mistake in my audio pursuit.
 

Great sound quality and tubes go together, I have been listening to my all tube system for the last four years.. 3,500 hours. I have replaced 2 tubes… about $120. I can’t tell you how much pleasure these years have brought me.

There are plenty available on Ali Express.The prices have gone a bit silly but it is good to see that Chinese manufacturers have stepped in to the hole left in supply and production by the sanctions on Russia.

I have bought probably 40 sets of output tubes, rolling on multiple amps in the past 2 years.  Very few were chinese new production.  No, they aren't as cheap as they used to be.  But they are available from tube sellers, message boards, ebay, etc.  And sometimes the input/driver are harder to find in top quality, probably the toughest one is NOS 6SN7s.  Oh yeah, some rectifiers are not easy to find in top quality...but they are available.

300B you have to look around, but you can find them.  Or pay top dollar for Westinghouse.

 

Sounds like a monster opportunity for the new Western Electric factory. Hope they can step up and put U.S.A. tubes back on the map.