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How are Mullards supposed to sound?

System: Rogers Studio 7, Prima Luna Prologue One, Marantz SA-8003

The stock (Chinese?) tubes in my Prima Luna Prologue One finally wore out after two years. The stock tubes sounded really excellent.

I decided to "upgrade." First to Electro-Harmonix tubes, which sounded decent but not as good as the stock tubes, and now to Mullards.

I know that tubes take a little while to "burn-in" but these Mullards sound awful.

They have a hard, clangy, echoing (microphonic) quality that none of the other tubes ever had. The soundstage seems to have receded backwards by a hundred feet. Everything sounds small and far away.

Is this how Mullards sound? I thought they were supposed to sound romantic. Is this all part of the "burn-in" process?
layman

Showing 4 responses by unsound

unsound
7,315 posts
 
Quack, quack, oh, you said Mullards, never mind.
unsound
7,315 posts
 
Why are you surprised? As an Audiogon seller I regularly ask potential buyers if they ever bought gear in a Brick & Mortar salon. If they they admit that they have, I tell them that I don't waste my time with high-ballers and hang up.
unsound
7,315 posts
 
George Carlin cried for the blue food. I'm crying for the blue font.
unsound
7,315 posts
 
Tom, absolutely! While I don't actually dedicate all my professional time to earn a living selling audio gear, I just fill out the forms, cut and mail in my checks to buy my ad space, list all the details, take photos, etc., in effort to sell my stuff. After all that effort I can't be bothered wasting any more time on people that just kick my proverbial tires only to end up spending much more money on a brand new item, complete with box, manual, accessories, and warranty at some Brick & Mortar salon. I'd much rather just take my chances just holding on to stuff longer and pay for more/longer ad space with the hope that my right kind of buyer might eventually come along. Without fail anybody that has ever purchased audio gear at a B&M, never, ever actually buys stuff on Audiogon. Every single last one of them is just the same, a contemptible lot that should be shunned at first chance. In this economy I can't be bothered wasting time for money.
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