"New Stock" EH EL34 Fat Boy and TungSol 6550

I'm wondering, what recordings do tube fans like ourselves typically use to test out new tubes, or when trying to determine whether their tubes are delivering the sonic goods over time? I have a short list of CDs for this purpose including Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Giants to hear how well the opening vibes in the first cut "glow" and also whether the tape hiss of the old recording becomes instrusive (with some 12ax7s, it does). I also use Chris Isaak's Baja Sessions, which is beautifully recorded; Christa Ludwig singing Mahler orchestral songs, which some tubes make muddy sounding and other make ethereal; and The Great Jazz Trio to hear how drums and bass are handled. Dylan's Oh Mercy has some great moments that try tubes souls as well--like the beginning of The Man In The Long Black Coat.

I put a quad of EH EL34 Fat Boys in my amp this past week. But I've been laid up with a fever for a couple of days so haven't broken them in yet. Nevertheless, right off the bat, they impressed. My favorite in the past has been the Svetlana. I've tried JJs and they were okay. And I've tried EH "Skinny Bottles" and didn't care for them. But the Fat Boys really sing. Great even tone. Nice and... well, fat. Certainly worth a try.

Jayboard, I've put about 10 more hours on the EH Fat Boys since I last posted. But first, what I like about the Svets is their full-roundedness. The highs are very natural with no shrillness. The bass booms impressively when it has to and there is no tubbiness--at least not in my system. I don't hear the congestion that you and Ckorody find in the mids. I'll listen more intently for it now--but it may be some time before I pull out the Fat Boys because I like them so much. The Fat Boys have an enveloping presence, subtle but palpable, that I'm very much enjoying. I listen to a lot of classical vocal music--solo and choral voices and opera--as well as a lot of chamber music and small combo jazz. I like a rich sounding mid range and lots of air around the voices and the instruments. The Fat Boys help to deliver that very well, along with sweet highs and reasonably good bass (deeper than the Svets I'm thinking thus far). Btw, the other tubes in the amp (a Jolida integrated), are Sylvania blackplate 5751 and Telefunken ECC 801S. The reason I didn't care so much for the regular EH EL34s is that they seemed a bit pallid in comparison to the Svets in the mid range and the bass didn't come alive as well. I realize that sounds subjective, but it's the best description I can give. Hope this helps.