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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
jafox
1,475 posts
 
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.
inna
7,923 posts
 
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.
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
If it were my VAC, I would ask VAC.
wrm57
1,086 posts
 
I asked VAC. VAC recommended tube rolling. In fact, Brent strongly recommended (three times!) installing the switch to accommodate the 6DJ8 family instead of just the stock 8416 tubes primarily because the latter was only made by Amperex and the former would give me a wide variety of "sonic flavors" (his phrase) to choose from.
lewm
13,718 posts
 
I have no idea about the particular Chinese 12AX7s that VAC supplies, but don't dismiss them just because they are Chinese. Some of the best 12AT7s I have ever heard were made in China, supplied to me by the Billington company in England. Admittedly, they were "select" types. But they killed Mullards, GE Gold Star 6201s, Philips, and a few others I compared them to. (The Gold Stars took second.)
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