2. amps-preamps
  3. 164106-3879

NOS Tubes - Ecstasy or Agony

I have been running tube amps for many years and have built a number of SETs and other tube amps, kit's mostly.  My main power tubes have been 2A3's and 300bs and I have used mostly new manufacture tubes including JJ's and EML 300b's (great tube btw).  I did use NOS driver tubes and headphone amp tubes.  Never really had a problem.

I just transitioned to a Don Sach's 6sn7 based preamp and McCormack SS power amp.  The preamp is very nice and sounds great with Shugang tubes. Of course, I wanted to try some NOS tubes, went online and did my research.  Now the DS2 is a great preamp, the drawback is it uses 4 6sn7s and so I need to get pairs.  Would  have love to get my hands on the Dehavilland, uses one tube!

First Pair - I ordered some Sylvania's from TC Tubes. Advertised as 50's vintage, ,when I received  them they were marked 60's. Hmmm.  So I tried them and they sounded pretty darn good except after a couple hours one of them developed a high pitched hum, like a florescent bulb. So I sent them back.  

Second Pair - ordered from Brent Jesse - has a good rep online and a really informative website.  Received them and one was dead on arrival, they were also clearly of different construction. So they are going back.

Next will try Andy at Vintage Tubes Services, he also has a solid  reputation so hopefully I can get something that works.

I am curious what experiences others have had. Maybe its COVID, or are these dealers just unreliable, or is just 6sn7's?  Really thought I could just buy some NOS tubes and experiment, I can't even get two to work.

I don't really want to disparage these dealers but I do think all the claims of testing are maybe overblown.
drewh1

Showing 1 response by mglik

mglik
913 posts
 
In the past, I have had great success with NOS tubes. But recently, have had consistent failures of 12AT7s. Bought 3 pair from,I thought a reliable source.
Have made a note of Brant Jesse. I have been told that NOS, especially for a preamp, are rarely quiet enough. Normal testing only reveals the main functions of a tube and not how it will sound. Believe a complete test must include actually putting the tube in a component. And hearing it for several minutes. I doubt that many or any tube sellers will do this.
Manufacturers may do this for their stock tubes. But, I think, most will use cheap new stock tubes that they buy by the hundreds in order to find the good ones. Am getting a new preamp with 18 tubes: 8 12AT7s and 10 6SN7s! They will all be new, all Chinese I think, tubes that were sorted out and “completely” tested.
Maybe Brent can supply tubes sorted. I am very hesitant to replace the stock tubes. Psvane offers some tubes that have been sorted out from many. Don’t know if they do a complete test but they do charge a lot for these “premium” tubes.
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