Tubes, tone, and old age.

I’ve been running tubes since about 1973. I used to retube my ARC SP 3-a-1 with period Telefunken 12ax7s which were about 10 bucks a tube. Finding true unused ones from the ’60s or ’70s is not impossible but they are expensive now.

Everything I run is tubes except for the home theater. (Even that was three ARC tube amps at one point until I decided it was stupid).

My vintage system uses a matched quad of GEC KT66s from the era. Not easy to find and if and when, might have to be replaced with a modern production tube.

The line stage in the main system only likes period DR 6h30s, a tube that is very scarce.

The rest I source from Lamm (for the amps), Allnic (replaced all the audio circuit tubes with Holland Siemens). I roll the rectifier in that, and have a bunch of grail tubes- I like the GEC u-52 in my system, given how it voices.

I’m no tube guru. I rely on trusted vendors. Andy is the best, but he’s slow and old school. I’m not buying bulk- but want enough to have back ups.

Tubes are truly a pain in the ass these days, given sonics. More power to you if your gear sounds good on modern production tubes. I’ve found that I do better with other, older tubes, and that’s where you wind up going down the rabbit hole.

Prefer, not Better

I've been playing this game a long time, like back when Vandersteen had only two models....really one, but officially two.  Anyway, my hearing back then was stellar, but after a lifetime of live sound, shooting sports, and other high SPL events, I have light tinnitus, and a definite disparity between right and left ears.  So I realize I have ultimate limitations, but I also realize that my lifetime of critical listening has helped to overcome some of the actual loss.  I still hear new things in familiar recordings.  

Concentrate and enjoy the moments, they're still there.

....and 'whipping the dead horse' becomes more 'ritual' than real.....

Esp. when the carcass has been long gone, beaten into dust...😏

Just being the devils' advocate....after reading a post commenting:

"....there is no devil, it's just god when he's drunk..."

Had a certain appeal to me....;)

Carlsbad2

@llg98ljk Keep whipping that dead horse repeated by ss fans ad nauseum.

Maybe you didn't pay attention to my post. I'm whipping no horse, dead or alive. My point is simply that audio perfection would mimic the source. The technology is irrelevant to the discussion. Many people spend inordinate amounts of money and time chasing a sound using a very imperfect instrument. Their ears.