Hi Saxo; interesting thread: Paragraph by paragraph:
1. I agree and prefer to not buy tubes from anyone except a reputable dealer, and am willing to pay the price-- some of which is for piece of mind.
2. I found a type of NOS tube that sounds great in my pre-amp, and it was worth it to me to then buy 3 full sets (6 tubes/set) at $150. per set. If I could find present production tubes that I liked as well, I would certainly purchase and enjoy them-- assuming an acceptable price.
3. As you are the tube component owner, you only have to please yourself. As long as the replacement tubes (new or NOS) are electrically compatible with your component, choose tubes that YOU like and don't be particularly concerned with what the designer was aiming for. Afterall, he was probably trying to please as many people as possible. Only you can decide what is pleasant to you.
4. The designers idea of sonic accuracy may not be the same as yours. Further, the designers tube component may sound different with your components/speakers/wires/room than it does in his design system. Also, you may choose to deviate from absolute sonic accuracy (whatever that is) and choose something that is more pleasant to you in your system.
Personally, I like a somewhat warm, timbrally rich, full bodied sound because that's the way music sounds to me (I don't like that big bloomy, euphonic sound that some tubes produce). But some like a leaner more detailed-- or other sonic presentation-- there's no accounting for taste! When a professional reviewer describes a component as "accurate", take it with a grain of salt IMO. Only you can decide what is accurate and pleasing to you. Cheers. Craig
1. I agree and prefer to not buy tubes from anyone except a reputable dealer, and am willing to pay the price-- some of which is for piece of mind.
2. I found a type of NOS tube that sounds great in my pre-amp, and it was worth it to me to then buy 3 full sets (6 tubes/set) at $150. per set. If I could find present production tubes that I liked as well, I would certainly purchase and enjoy them-- assuming an acceptable price.
3. As you are the tube component owner, you only have to please yourself. As long as the replacement tubes (new or NOS) are electrically compatible with your component, choose tubes that YOU like and don't be particularly concerned with what the designer was aiming for. Afterall, he was probably trying to please as many people as possible. Only you can decide what is pleasant to you.
4. The designers idea of sonic accuracy may not be the same as yours. Further, the designers tube component may sound different with your components/speakers/wires/room than it does in his design system. Also, you may choose to deviate from absolute sonic accuracy (whatever that is) and choose something that is more pleasant to you in your system.
Personally, I like a somewhat warm, timbrally rich, full bodied sound because that's the way music sounds to me (I don't like that big bloomy, euphonic sound that some tubes produce). But some like a leaner more detailed-- or other sonic presentation-- there's no accounting for taste! When a professional reviewer describes a component as "accurate", take it with a grain of salt IMO. Only you can decide what is accurate and pleasing to you. Cheers. Craig