Do NOS Mullard EL34 tubes last much longer than NOS SED (Svetlana) EL34 ?

@akg_ca 

Why didn't the merchant just replace the tube?

I would have. No problem.

$450 for a fx1 is way to high for me.  I bought 4 quad’s of fx2 over time when I noticed prices going up years ago. I’ve been buying used xf2’s that test as new for 1/4 of the price for the fx1 quote you have. I’ve been running the same quad’s in a CJ amp for years with never an issue. I also have quad’s of sed wing C’s from the 80’s that to me do not sound near as good as the xf2’s. Some of the wing c’s have red plated on me, much better luck with the Mullard. 

New Tung Sol EL34B

I have used mullard xf2s, wing Cs, JJs, and a few others.  Then I found Gold Lion KT77s from upscale audio was the right choice for sound, reliability and price.  

jetter, you are probably right in that I should try these Gold Lions reissues.

In fact, Kevin of VAC told me that he no longer used any NOS output tubes in his own reference amps. This opinion has a lot of weight. He also said that in his power amps output tubes affected the sound less than driver tubes. I currently have RCA black plates 12AU7 from 50s and like them.

Maybe I should forget about those very expensive Mullards, yeah, but the doubt remains.