VAC Signature MK2a pre "phono tube questions"


Hi there I have a VAC pre with MC/MM, upon opening noticed there are two roles of 3 12AX7 tubes in each totaling 6.

Question;

1. Anyone have any experience tube rolling these and if so with what?

2. Are they three matched pairs or all matched?

3. They are a Chinese tube that came standard with the pre., anything special about them?
I have found on other gear which came with Chinese 12AX7 tubes they were nothing special and by substituting I found the sound was transformed, sounding allot better using other tubes.

4. Can you mix and match, say the first role Bugle Boys, second Tel for examaple or best to stay with one brand through out.

I have allot of really nice matched pairs but only that.

Any assistance would be appreciated.
dev
My point was missed entirely. People new to tubed gear ask such questions. Those with much experience, especially those with a stash of coveted tubes from yesteryear know that the only way to determine if the tubes they have will work .... is to try those tubes themselves.

As for questions concerning why tube manufacturers don't load up their gear with the best tubes is simple.....there is no best tube. And a manufacturer must be able to provide a suitable stock for production and customer support. There's just not enough of any NOS or UOS tube type for a manufacturer to rely on. So their only choice is to install the crappy Sovtek and EH tubes throughout. For those of us who know the benefits of getting these replaced by other tubes, we are on our own. And often we hear the performance of products that far exceeds what the manufacturer ever experienced.

We all try various tubes in our DACs, phono stages, line stages and amps, and with a lot of effort and a little bit of luck, we find a set with a result that can truly be so impressive. A Tele 12ax7 may sound good at one place but very disappointing at another. And the same for an Amperex 6922 or a Mullard EL34.

As many proponents of SS gear would claim, we tube fans are just chasing one set of colorations with another. That's ignorance. No device is perfect. I have no tolerance for tonal coherency problems, but there is always a tradeoff with noise level, resolution, dynamic contrasts, portrayal of space, etc. The key is to experiment enough and deal with as few tradeoffs as possible to achieve the overall system magic. When a tube is discovered in a link that before was our reference at that link, opportunity arises elsewhere. It's simply not possible to do this with SS.

No manufacturer of a tube product will ever be able to provide a tube or tube set to you that will come close to the set that you ultimately discover that you like for yourself.
Yes, they might. When I am ready to order my LAMMs I will get in touch with Vladimir and discuss with him exactly that along with some other things. Or even if I get a used one. I may still have to try couple of sets but not dozens of them. And I would have no intention to roll tubes back and forth depending on particular recording though it might actually make sense. Unless perhaps if I decide to make compilations using something like Studer 810 deck. Now that would really be audiophile fun.
Sorry Inna, but not a chance. No manufacturer listens to my system in my listening room. Tube selection is not about one component but rather for the entire system. What Vladimir might be able to suggest to "optimize" your LAMM product n the test bench guarantees not at all that this is the ideal r preferred by you in your system.

Rolling tubes for a given music type or even a specific recording would be to much for me as well. I guess this is why many people have multiple phono cartridges with multiple arms or replaceable armwands.
Right. But you know I might just invite Vladimir over for coffee. Anyway, I think many here with LAMM either use what he supplies or some particular military or medical grade Amperex. And with VAC I don't know.