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Do vacuum tube test values reflect sound quality?

I recently ordered a pair of output tubes to try in my LTA MicroZOTL preamp. Two Sylvania 6SN7WGT tubes, Gold Brand. I’ve had good luck with Sylvania 12sn7gt bad boy tubes, so I thought I’d give them a try.

After I bought them, I saw a similar pair for more money that had slightly higher test values. Does that mean they might sound better or that they just have more life left? What properties do you look for in tubes?

Below are the values of the tubes that I bought.

 

Tubes are matched for dynamic gain and structure, testing at 3000-2750 and 3000-2750 where pass/fail is 1625 micromho. They have the same structure inside and out, having matching date codes of "922", the 22nd week of 1959

sls883

Showing 1 response by elliottbnewcombjr

elliottbnewcombjr
5,770 posts
 

Have you heard differences between tube brands thru THAT unit?

I would listen to the ones I bought, AFTER I break them in for 60 hours by simply leaving the unit on, no signal required, and if they sound great, expect many years of life.

IF they don't sound great, try a different tube not the same one, no matter what it measures.

Sound good, but not better than prior good ones, there's your 'never without music spares', find some that you prefer some day. 

Keep in mind, each time we push pins in a socket; rotate a dial; move a switch on a tube tester, it's similar but can be slightly/perceptibly different; and published numbers from two separate testers are not scientifically exact.

If you had your own tester, then you could test them when received, and every 6 months, keep a chart, have confidence in your tubes when problems occur. 

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