No_regrets, I ordered both and would have been able to compare but apparently I made a mistake while ordering the Psvane's and got 12at7's instead:-(
I did receive the Gold Lion reissue 12ax7's and put 3 of them in the line stage of my ARC SP16 - the previous tubes were cheap New Sensor (Russian) Svetlana reissues (very similar looking to the New Sensor made EH and Tungsol 12ax7's).
The Gold Lions sounded very good, big full tone, bolder and perhaps more dynamic than the Svetlana, very nice - but when I swapped the Svetlana back in the sound was more neutral (IMO) and more transparent. Transients were more lifelike and explicit with the Svetlana. Both sets of tubes were very quiet - as they should be in a line stage.
I can imagine that in some setups the sound of the Gold Lions would be welcomed - and I liked them - but I prefered the transparency of the Svetlana's in my setup.
Note: the Svetlana had the ARC tube damping rings on and I couldn't remove the rings to try on the Gold Lion (stuck on by heat), so this could have influenced the sound in the Svetlana's favour (or not).
FWIW my impressions were the same at all volumes and with quieter music, so I expect my general impression would persist regardless of the rings - but I'll get some more tube rings (of some sort) and try again with the Gold Lions.
Also worth noting that my SP16 was originally supplied with the New Sensor EH 12ax7's, so perhaps it's 'voicing' suits the New Sensor tubes(?).
I did receive the Gold Lion reissue 12ax7's and put 3 of them in the line stage of my ARC SP16 - the previous tubes were cheap New Sensor (Russian) Svetlana reissues (very similar looking to the New Sensor made EH and Tungsol 12ax7's).
The Gold Lions sounded very good, big full tone, bolder and perhaps more dynamic than the Svetlana, very nice - but when I swapped the Svetlana back in the sound was more neutral (IMO) and more transparent. Transients were more lifelike and explicit with the Svetlana. Both sets of tubes were very quiet - as they should be in a line stage.
I can imagine that in some setups the sound of the Gold Lions would be welcomed - and I liked them - but I prefered the transparency of the Svetlana's in my setup.
Note: the Svetlana had the ARC tube damping rings on and I couldn't remove the rings to try on the Gold Lion (stuck on by heat), so this could have influenced the sound in the Svetlana's favour (or not).
FWIW my impressions were the same at all volumes and with quieter music, so I expect my general impression would persist regardless of the rings - but I'll get some more tube rings (of some sort) and try again with the Gold Lions.
Also worth noting that my SP16 was originally supplied with the New Sensor EH 12ax7's, so perhaps it's 'voicing' suits the New Sensor tubes(?).