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 4 responses by rodman99999

rodman99999
6,032 posts
 
Never have had a problem with Brent Jessee.    Recently (5/2020): bought his last pair of NOS, T/S Round Plates (40's/6SN7GT/spring top support) and couldn't be happier.      Far as TC Tubes: My last octet of GE 6550's (from them) had one that went South (wouldn't hold bias), after about a year of use.      I sent them all in, to be tested and they found the rebel.      They matched one up (brand new, but- measured low) to the remaining seven and gave it to me, mentioning that they couldn't have sold it as first-quality/NOS, anyway.      I wasn't expected that kind of service (a pleasant surprise).    
rodman99999
6,032 posts
 
If they’re the staggered plate, copper post, bottom gettered K-Rs; they’ll be a tad less warm than the RCAs, with nice sound stage/detail recovery (a quiet tube).        Solid/clean extension on both ends of the spectrum.    Have fun!
rodman99999
6,032 posts
 
I have one Sylvania (40's/bottom-getter/two hole*) VT-231 and a T/S Round Plate (metal top support), in each of my Cary monoblocks.   In the past 20 years of owning the amps, no combination has taken me, "there" better, regardless of ancillaries.                                                                *identical to these: https://www.ebay.com/itm/173745797960?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=533...    That seller is REALLY proud of his pair!
rodman99999
6,032 posts
 

     UPDATE (just a little fyi):  STILL have the same Sylvania (40's/bottom-getter/two hole*) VT-231 and a T/S Round Plate (metal top support), in each of my Cary monoblocks (per my 3-21-2021 post) and they are STILL performing splendidly, far as taking me from, "here" (my listening room) to, "there" (the recording venue). 

     There are a multitude of variables*, when it comes to purchasing vacuum tubes, whether NOS or new production.       PERHAPS, the most important: your individual knowledge/research on the subject.

     It's been my experience: the aural benefits/attributes of listening through a tubed system I value most, are (invariably) best generated by components equipped with NOS valves.

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