Thanks everyone for the replies! Very informative!
Do vacuum tube test values reflect sound quality?
I recently ordered a pair of output tubes to try in my LTA MicroZOTL preamp. Two Sylvania 6SN7WGT tubes, Gold Brand. I’ve had good luck with Sylvania 12sn7gt bad boy tubes, so I thought I’d give them a try.
After I bought them, I saw a similar pair for more money that had slightly higher test values. Does that mean they might sound better or that they just have more life left? What properties do you look for in tubes?
Below are the values of the tubes that I bought.
Tubes are matched for dynamic gain and structure, testing at 3000-2750 and 3000-2750 where pass/fail is 1625 micromho. They have the same structure inside and out, having matching date codes of "922", the 22nd week of 1959
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Tubes have a huge effect on SQ, in every level of the circuit. Tubes sound wonderful and buttery. |
For a cathode follower you WANT high transconductance. Tubes like the 12AX7, used by many companies as a cathode follower, are not a good choice. They do it because there are billions of 12AX7s in the world, and more are being made in Eastern Europe. The CF changes voltage to current. 12AX7s are puny for current. |
@donavabdear LOL. I'm probably close to 30. I have ten 6922 tubes that I bought for a c-j preamp that ended up having issues and I returned it. Found a set that liked (four + 1 extra), so I bought five more. I don't have anything that uses 6922 tubes. |
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