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Tube recommendations for AES AE-3 Preamp

Does anyone have tube suggestions for this Audio Electronic Supply pre-amp? I'm new to tube components, and I realize the perfect tube is always going to be a personal preference. With that said, I know upgrading to a NOS tube will be an improvement to reduce microphonics, and help combat the thin sounding digital music.

I have a tight budget, so any suggestions for 6SN7 tubes on the AE-3 would be great!

Thanks!
hockey4496
sfar's avatar
sfar
1,762 posts
 
I had the AE-3 DJH for awhile and had good luck with vintage Sylvania VT-231 and Tung-Sol 6SN7 tubes but was also happy with the reissue Tung-Sol and that might be a good fit if you're on a budget.

Best advice I could give would be to email Jim McShane at McShane Design and tell him what you need and how much you have to spend.
mingles
799 posts
 
I had an AE-3 and later a DJH. The best tube--to my liking--was 6SN7GTB RCA silver label. It had a fleshy bottom end without sounding bloated, and a midrange to die for. I also liked Sylvania, but I kept coming back to the RCAs.
trelja
3,224 posts
 
Though they will not equal the likes of Sylvanias, I have two recommendations for low cost tubes.

Raytheon and the silver colored metal based Shuguang 6N8P. Both sound satisfyingly good, at pricing that comes in lower than the lousy sounding current production out of Russia and China.
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