Has anyone tried the new production Genalex 'Gold Lion' 12AX7's and 12AT7's? I've been using the pricey Sophia Electric's but they just don't last long enough in my Hovland HP-100 phono-stage to justify the cost (they do sound pretty good though)...
I would stay with what sounds good unless I wanted even better. How long do they last and how much do you pay for the set? They don't last 500 hours, do they?
While I am a SS user I used tubes when I started; it seems tubes do not last the way they use to; after all the world use to run on tubes and they were not always failing. While some designs do seem to overstress their tubes in an effort to wring the last bit of performance out others use them within what should be consistant with long life. My tube using friends are always complaining about how often they have to replace them so the problem appears to be widespread. Pardon the levity I injected at the beginning of the thread.
Just replaced my beloved Linn Majik 140's with Lipinski 707's. All tube system and never going back to SS. I've never had a problem with the amp or preamp tubes. Everyone should listen to the Lipinski's, their sound is unreal right out of the case.
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