calling all valve experts

[daytona600]

Nb - for all non uk forum members calling all tube experts

what are the best sounding of these types , fancy some tube rolling

let the thread commence , or any good prices from members new or Nos

12AX7
12AT7
12AU7
6P6P
5Z3P
300B

[myles]

Hey Scott, this could be the start of a useful thread. Can I add 12AU7 to the mix, and ask for budget doozies to be included?

[Ali Tait]

Electro harmonix gold grids are a good sounding 300b for reasonable prices from those I've heard. As for ecc82 and 83, probably the usual suspects for NOS - mullard, telefunken etc. Prices are rising though.

[Ali Tait]

A good UK valve source for EH's. They sell a lot of other types too.

http://www.hotroxuk.com/matched-valv...gold-grid.html

[realysm42]

Do you guys buy in bulk, given you know they've got a finite life, or take your chances as and when one goes bang?

[jaym481]

Both. I've bought in bulk (I have about 20 MOV/GEC KT66s around, and a similar number of various NOS 5751s) and suffered from no spares (in this case relatively new Shuguang Treasures).

As to the OP, the "best" sound is really something personal. The aforementioned Telefunken and Mullard etc all have a different presentation, as do new stock. It has to be tried in combination with the equipment.

What do I like? In my Leak amp, there's no substitute for the Mullard ECC83 (12AX7), but in my Chinese integrated I honestly cant tell the difference between Mullard ECC88s and the stock Chinese 6P1s (the amp is designed to accept the different valves).

[Ali Tait]

Yep, it's all amp dependent.

[SPS]

Yep, it's all amp dependent.

thats sort of true ali...

you could also say that with some setups the differences are not apparent..

that dont mean the old valves are not better, so far i've not heard 'any' new production valves that i think are better than the old ones... even when others say the opposite..
i think we listen for different things, we all pick up on different aspects of the musical presentation and ultimately we can only hear what the particular system allows you to hear,
that's why many go on how good a lesser system is... and thats the main issue with internet/written evaluations..

[Ali Tait]

Aye, have to agree there Steve, there is something special about the old triodes. Those 300a's of yours are still one of the best sounds I've ever heard.

[Jonboy]

stiil think the 2A3 sounds better than a 300b but as you say it is all amp dependant, 45 still tops with me at the moment it just does everything well