Renewing valves

[Zoidburg]

I've a consonance valve amp which has been my main amp for a few years now. I've never had any need to touch the valves but want to give it a freshen up so to speak. info on my amp is on the below link. I know nothing about valves so am wondering which ones I should replace first EL34/6550,12AT7, 6SN7? are any more important than others?

http://www.opera-consonance.com/products/cyber100-el34.htm

I know the amp is auto biasing so the valves should be simple to remove and replace.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers,

Ben

[Ali Tait]

The front end valves will probably be fine, so I'd replace the power valves first.

No harm in having a few spares though, and different makes will have slightly different sound, so it's worth buying some different makes and seeing which you prefer.

[Ali Tait]

The front end valves tend to make more of a difference to the sound than the power valves- moving from EL34 to 6550 notwithstanding.

[Zoidburg]

The front end valves will probably be fine, so I'd replace the power valves first.

No harm in having a few spares though, and different makes will have slightly different sound, so it's worth buying some different makes and seeing which you prefer.

Your have to fill me in a bit more here Ali, which are the power valves please?

[Ali Tait]

The EL34 or 6550, whichever you have fitted. Might be worth buying a set of each to see which you like best.

[Zoidburg]

Thanks Ali

il get a couple on order now.

[Ali Tait]

Can recommend Hotrox-

http://www.hotroxuk.com/matched-valves-links-page-12ax7-6l6-909-0.html

Not the cheapest maybe, but service is top notch, and they do matched sets too.

[Zoidburg]

Cheers Ali I will keep that link for future reference

I've just pushed the button on these

http://www.jellyfishaudio.com/VAL003.html

[Haselsh1]

The front end valves tend to make more of a difference to the sound than the power valves- moving from EL34 to 6550 notwithstanding.

Got to agree, from experience I have found that excellent quality first stage valves make a much bigger difference than do power valves. I used Gold Lion gold pinned valves and they were sublime (12AX7 and 12AU7)

[agk]

Cheers Ali I will keep that link for future reference

I've just pushed the button on these

http://www.jellyfishaudio.com/VAL003.html

They aren't terrible, I've the same in my amplifier and a spare set I got cheap. They came in it stock and as I say aren't terrible but will be replaced cos I'm a snob.

I've gone for replacing the pre amp tubes first and have gone vintage British.

I can't recommend vintage Brimar/Mullard/Mazda enough.

Be warned. This can be an addiction. I've now lots of "spares".

[Ali Tait]

Well, a while ago I had an EL34 amp that came with what I was told were cryo'd Shuguangs. I preferred them to a set of NOS RFT's that I bought to replace them. YMMV of course.