First of all, are you using a tube or SS amp? And do you still own Focal speakers?
For tube recommendations, it depends on the characteristics of the sound you seek.
As a former Perseus Magnum owner, Amperex will provide an airy top-end with great bass and incredible soundstaging. A neutral sonic signature, look for the Heerlen, Holland factory tubes. Also, Phillips Holland ECC83. Amperex Bugle Boys are a premium tube with deep 3D imaging.
RCA Cleartops have very good detail with high-end extension; Siemens as well, and they sound more natural to my ears.
Telefunken is an excellent tube for detail and high-end extension. (but very costly).
A great classic sounding tube is the RCA Blackplate. It’s warm, very open, with smooth highs and good dynamics. There are so many
variants of this 12AU7 Blackplate that they can range from sounding laid-back to very dynamic. The 5814A is open with very good top and bottom extension, while the RCA 5963 is very dynamic with more air on top.
If your system is bright or lacks warmth, you can use these premium NOS tubes in the Gain stage, and a warmer or less detailed tube in the Cathode Follower position. That’s what makes the Perseus so versatile, you can really tweak the colour of the sonics. I always bought NOS tubes in matched pairs, since the cathode followers don’t have to match the Gain tubes.
Brent Jessee explains the different brands and their sonic signature.
http://www.audiotubes.com/12au7.htm
For tube recommendations, it depends on the characteristics of the sound you seek.
As a former Perseus Magnum owner, Amperex will provide an airy top-end with great bass and incredible soundstaging. A neutral sonic signature, look for the Heerlen, Holland factory tubes. Also, Phillips Holland ECC83. Amperex Bugle Boys are a premium tube with deep 3D imaging.
RCA Cleartops have very good detail with high-end extension; Siemens as well, and they sound more natural to my ears.
Telefunken is an excellent tube for detail and high-end extension. (but very costly).
A great classic sounding tube is the RCA Blackplate. It’s warm, very open, with smooth highs and good dynamics. There are so many
variants of this 12AU7 Blackplate that they can range from sounding laid-back to very dynamic. The 5814A is open with very good top and bottom extension, while the RCA 5963 is very dynamic with more air on top.
If your system is bright or lacks warmth, you can use these premium NOS tubes in the Gain stage, and a warmer or less detailed tube in the Cathode Follower position. That’s what makes the Perseus so versatile, you can really tweak the colour of the sonics. I always bought NOS tubes in matched pairs, since the cathode followers don’t have to match the Gain tubes.
Brent Jessee explains the different brands and their sonic signature.
http://www.audiotubes.com/12au7.htm