Agree with Mr Tennis. You are also rolling tubes with different gain factors which at first may give the impression of a dramtic change, but after time passes, that change may not sound as appealing, in fact you may even return to your original configuration because it offered something appealing that's just missing with the new configuration. Tube rolling to different brands is one thing, but to roll out to a differnt type completely is a whole different ballgame. I think that manufacturers do in fact employ complimentary tubes in their individual units. However, your idea begs the question, what do you do when two or three different tubes are excellent compliments with each other, but your piece of equipment can not use them in combination?? Are you suggesting that manufacturers build their equipment with circuitry to accept whichever tube you might have a fancy for trying, which would be very interesting, if it were possible!
Favorite Tube Combinations
OK, I've never been a big believer in "synergy" except maybe as a last resort and never completely bought into the idea that this or that tube sounds different in your system than mine. Well recently I've been rolling 12AX7/ECC83/5751s and 12AU7/7316/5814s and I think I'm on to something.
After many recommendations of the CBS Hytron 5814a, I was able to acquire a nice NOSish pair. In combination with a Raytheon Black Plate it sounded gorgeous as long as I was using a SS CD player. When I hooked up my Cayin CDT17a (which uses Ei 6DJ8EGs) the sound became syrupy and sloppy, dark and really not too pleasant. When I switched to the 7316 / ECC83s (JJ copy of the Telefunken E803s), everything became clearer, focused with much better definition and life. (This combination with SS was just a bit much and a little dry in the mid-range for my liking). The Raytheon Black Plate still sounds beautiful as long as the 7316 pair is in the circuit but the ideal seems to be with the JJ, at least with the Cayin in the path.
I stand a changed man.
What combinations of tubes have you found to synergize?
After many recommendations of the CBS Hytron 5814a, I was able to acquire a nice NOSish pair. In combination with a Raytheon Black Plate it sounded gorgeous as long as I was using a SS CD player. When I hooked up my Cayin CDT17a (which uses Ei 6DJ8EGs) the sound became syrupy and sloppy, dark and really not too pleasant. When I switched to the 7316 / ECC83s (JJ copy of the Telefunken E803s), everything became clearer, focused with much better definition and life. (This combination with SS was just a bit much and a little dry in the mid-range for my liking). The Raytheon Black Plate still sounds beautiful as long as the 7316 pair is in the circuit but the ideal seems to be with the JJ, at least with the Cayin in the path.
I stand a changed man.
What combinations of tubes have you found to synergize?