If NOS pre or power tubes became unavailable altogether, what new tubes would you buy?

Thanks Raul for the heads-up, I always figured that there was something missing that I couldn’t quite put my finger on, you have illuminated it so well in what it takes to realize music in a complete FULL sense outside of the live experience, just the music,I hear you, thanks again for that epiphany. But then again there are many things, old-fashioned, that fit like a glove, wouldn’t you agree? Kind of like comfort food :)

So far as new tubes, I really like the Sophia Electric 6SN7 tubes which I'm sure are Chinese sourced. Only problem is longevity but they are both linear and extended, more preferable to me than any of the NOS types of this tube, pricey however considering.. Another new tube I find superb is the Russian made Tung Sol KT150 it does everything right in my mono amps, certainly better than the Gold Lion KT88s I also have tried.

Raul, you're making too much of your opinion in this thread. You may not know Bo but check out his threads, you two remind me much of each other which is to say taking a bulldozer approach in offering your prejudices regarding the reproduction of music playback to the absolute disrepect of other contributors, is this some kind of Alpha dog thing or do you just fail to understand the question of the thread?.  Now if this thread was about the differences and virtues  between SS and tube amplification or source components then fair game. You are persistent in your obtuse arrogance in not understanding this point that has been brought to your attention too many times, what's the problem man?

To me at least it is nothing more than connecting to the joys of music, playback. Live, well Raul, it's live and I don't need the playback to do that, it can't and never will and the search for that ideal is totally unrelated to enjoying the emotional and intellectual content in music. That's just my opinion.

 

Lowrider so far as lacking warmth, yes this may be true compared to the NOS Sylvanias, Ken Rads and a wonderful pair of National Union that I had in my Supratek years back  that to my ears at least had the most enjoyable midrange of them all. That said I find these tubes just sound more natural, certainly a matter of taste but that is more the direction my tastes have evolved. I still like the NOS tubes for sure but those Sophias are my current favorite, especially in my Modwright/Oppo. I have not tried the Psvane CV181, maybe it's time if it's a drop in replacement in the modwright.

and Raul I'm not at all upset with your choices, believe me. The point is that the thread is just not about what you're continuously bringing up, it is about new tubes to replace NOS tubes, that was my main  point and that of others but you can't seem to get it. So far as tubes vs SS I wouldn't feel compelled to get involved in such a thread as I've heard superb examples of both and your facts are not mine, sorry.

Al you are not alone concerning the hum problem using the Sophia 6sn7 tube and thank you for bringing it up, I should have mentioned my experiences as well. It also happened to me several months after purchase of my first pair. Lowrider this was at the time purchased for a Supratek Syrah pre-amp. The modwright oppo cd player had the Sophias in place when I purchased and I have not had any issues as you note. After I determined it was one of the tubes causing the problem in the pre-amp, I checked on my Hickok tube tester but couldn’t determine what might be the cause. This was about 3 months after initial purchase. I called Sophia but since I didn’t purchase the 18.00 year warranty they initially said there was nothing they could do. After I balked about the price paid and the longevity Sue finally agreed to send out another pair. I subsequently had a similar hum problem with one of those tubes but after a longer period. The third pair was the charm and no problems. By that point I purchased the warranty.

Lowrider make sure you purchase the warranty and enjoy! They are quite nice tubes sonically at least.