Is upgrading stock tubes standard proceedure?

Newbee- I've really been happy with my BAT since day one, and wouldn't trade it for anything but maybe the right Lector, or a Linn CD-12(yeah right!). The tubes are in a buffer circuit and, Yes- the piece can be flavored per someone's tastes. Personally: I've been striving for that last drop of transparency, ambience retrieval, bottom extention and definition. Between the tubes, and now a simple, home grown isolation system, I'm very satisfied. Kimber's KS-1130's didn't hurt anything either.

There are a few modern companies that take the time and use the quality of materials that made MOST of the NOS tubes so good. The vast majority of those manufacturing tubes currently, are doing so strictly for fast profit, cut corners anywhere and everywhere they can, and their tubes sound like it. I got back into tubed gear/NOS tubes 18 years ago. I've yet to find a piece of equipment that did not sound more like live music with the right NOS tube upgrade. Here's a list of the companies that are producing tubes that can compete sonically and quality wise with the old stuff. Price some of the pieces and get an idea of the cost of quality manufacturing nowdays:(hhttp://www.kraudio.com/ttp://www.gcaudio.com/cgi-bin/store/search.cgi?cat=49) (http://www.gcaudio.com/cgi-bin/store/search.cgi?cat=49) (http://www.westernelectric.com/products/300b.html) If the signal passes through a tube, it WILL affect it's sound. There's no such thing as a tubed circuit that is not "tube sensitive", in this regard(the tube being the most "active" component in the circuit). Even the rectifier will have a sonic effect on the sound of most tubed equipment, although it's not directly in the signal path.

An extra "H" got in that first URL. Here's a correction: (http://www.kraudioproducts.com/Kr/ProductMain.aspx?CatID=13)

I've owned a BAT VK-D5 for the past 6 years, and the sound has changed markedly(although it's never sounded disappointing) with various tubes I've had in it(no simultanious system changes)!! That's exactly why I won't have it upgraded to the SE version(no tube rolling possible). I've got six Siemens CCa's(NOS two years ago) in it right now, and it's never sounded as lucid, accurate, open and with as much bass definition, extension and slam as it has with them. A system has to be able to resolve the changes that will be manifested by a tube swap in whatever component, and your ears have to be able to recognize/appreciate the differences. I've heard other manufacturers make unreasonable claims to dissuade people from experimenting with designs that they think are flawless. Probably lest the owner find out it can be improved upon.

Mr L- I've got a pair of the TungSol round plates, and a pair of Sylvania 6SN7W(tall bottle) in my Carys. Rest assured: You won't find anything current that can come close(or anything better, NOS). From that and the choice of Teles- You must appreciate an un-colored presentation of your music. I can understand the manufacturers having to use current production. Especially with the cost/lack of consistant supply of NOS tubes. Have you seen these?: (http://www.kraudioproducts.com/tubes/2A3blue/)