The magical part of Telefunkens is that they speak clearly and ennuciate. The tube halographic layered imaging is not all that Telefunken like, not at all. They are very neutral to cool and do the job with precision which may be in fact all you expect your tubes to do.
I like tubes that are alive with some soul, some emotion, that draw you in, and keep you listening. If a tube makes you want say "man is this a great stereo or what" that's where the the tough hunt for a decent pair, getting burned paying a hard dollars worth . The hassle of buying old tubes pays off big time and you forget the B.S. and I say it's worth it.
I hope for and find the emotion with 7136s in 12AU7 positions, by definition Amperex, and the best 5751 I have in my possession -the obvious pick, Raytheon's famed windmill version are telefunkens of 5751a, but a 1950s Sylvania triple mica blackplate truly warms your soul.
Non Jadis related but exemplary, I found that every time I have put Sylvania Chrome domes in my pre amp. I am referring to the W construction types. Only The top getter with gobs of chrome flashing tubes found on the very early 40s GTs or Ws or the oldest of the 6SN7. It has 6SN7W on base and an A etch in the glass n.b. not the GTA although I have a few pairs of GTAs with the W no rod type chrome dome which are very much like the others. The later GTAs have angled "triangle" plates and a very different sound. These tubes the chromed chrome domes really boxed plated with a welled t fin on the bacl which are facing each other, produces music that has the power to make everything going on no mtter how good or troubling only good. All seems well. Now that is one magical tube..
Pardon the poetic rapture.
If the recording blows , the magic ain't there, but anything is reasonably well engineered/pressed glues me to my seat and I just can't help a smug smile. Even with compositions I never loved, I love it then and listen to all of it.
A gear head maybe so who said that was so bad.