2. amps-preamps
  3. 191831-85928

Calling All Tube Gurus

I know everyone loves to have their tubes come from the same date codes and manufacturers. But just how critical is this?


If you can determine that a tube was made in the same plant, has the same construction and date codes, how critical is it if the tube was made by Siemens and rebranded as an Amperex? Or let’s say the tubes has the same construction but were manufactured within a year or so of each other?


I’ve heard people say that if a manufactures tubes are not up to their standards, THOSE are the tubes they send out to the other manufactures for their branding. Fact or fiction?


Has anyone experimented to see how these variables actually affect their music? I realize everyone has their own tolerance to what is acceptable to them, and that it can also be system dependent, but I am curious to the findings any of you may have.

elrod
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,598 posts
 

Everyone?

elrod OP
244 posts
 

If they want to contribute in a positive way (sad I had to say that)

russ69's avatar
russ69
3,501 posts
 

Ideally you want the same brand tube. I wouldn’t take a chance with different branding. But, the most import would be the matching.

Are rejected tubes resold? Yes.

hasmarto's avatar
hasmarto
194 posts
 

I find it hard to believe that Siemens would intentionally make inferior tubes for Amperex, or vice versa. It’s an impossible concept. I have Valvos made by Amperex, and British Brimars made for German Lorenz with the German military hawk symbol on them. They work great.

 

Of course, we want our tubes to have matching codes, and names, but these days it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find. However, if they were made at the same factory within, say, a couple of years and have the same construction, I wouldn’t mind buying them even if they have different labels—as long as they’re matched, of course. In my experience, the sound will be indistinguishable from the originals.

 

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