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

Ebay 12au7

Some of the 12au7’s on places like Ebay look like they have been treated with a rolled sponge dipped in acid. It is a distinctive and recurring treatment that has always given me pause.

My experience is nope…testing or matching seems to have minimal impact on SQ especially with preamp tubes.Triodes that are unbalanced sound just as good as long as one side tests strong.  Matching and gain balance on output tubes does matter more.  I have a tube tester that is very helpful for comparing tubes and validating whether a tube is good.  Just my humble experience on my system…

I do hope you scored genuine Telefunken 803S tubes.  These days, they sell for up to $2,000 a pair.  The fakers have become increasingly sophisticated.  They use to offer their fakes at a price so low as to tempt even the wary.  These days, many of the fakes are being sold at the going rate of genuine articles which makes it harder to distinguish real and fake offers. 

With things like rare Western Electric transformers, the fakes use to be in too good condition visually to be realistic.  These days, the outer cases are rusted a bit to look old, but often the Western Electric decal is left in nice condition to tempt collectors.  A local builder who buys such parts on line prefers to buy such parts from sellers from Japan.  

Japanese don't deceive ?

I understand, those Telefunken tubes can last up to 100000 hours, at least 50000 hours.