Newbee's advice is excellent. Another thing I might mention is that, while I do like the NOS tubes, particularly for their longevity and the fact that my Jadis equipment was originally designed when they weren't NOS, don't automatically dismiss the tubes that come with your equipment, particularly newer designs. Give the equipment some time to break in and get used to the sound before you do any tube-rolling. Many newer designs were "voiced" around tubes that are available today, and can actually sound better with the tubes they are supplied with (a friend of mine found that out with a Cary integrated, where he was disappointed in the sound when he put in the NOS tubes for which he spent a pretty penny and wound up staying with the stock tubes). So be patient before you start spending on the expensive tubes, they might not always be a sonic improvement.
Some random thoughts for Tube newbies
There has been a lot of requests for tube recommendations for specific components. Many of the responses are generic, and some are specific to the component by folks who actually have it and have tried the tubes in it that they discuss. That's all fine and good. Tubes do have a generic and house sound that can be described by experienced tuboholics.
However, for folks seeking advise on what tube to use on a component they not only need to consider the "source", i.e. the experience and the component of the person making the recommendation, but the type of speakers and sonic preferences of the recommender.
For example I have an all tube system and I recently changed out my speakers. The new speakers have a different sonic signature but my sonic preferences have not changed, so to get the tonal balance (but improved in other aspects)that I want I ended up making multiple changes in the small tubes in both my DAC's and amps to find that tonal balance. Now if I told you that tube A in component B sounded tonally balanced when my old speakers were in place I would now tell you that perhaps that same tube was a bit bright or not as smooth.
The moral of the story for the newbie to tubes is to try to avoid buying tubes based on consensus but to get as much specific info about the recommender as possible before you pull the trigger. Especially on expensive NOS stuff.
Any other thoughts on pitfall's for tube newbies?
However, for folks seeking advise on what tube to use on a component they not only need to consider the "source", i.e. the experience and the component of the person making the recommendation, but the type of speakers and sonic preferences of the recommender.
For example I have an all tube system and I recently changed out my speakers. The new speakers have a different sonic signature but my sonic preferences have not changed, so to get the tonal balance (but improved in other aspects)that I want I ended up making multiple changes in the small tubes in both my DAC's and amps to find that tonal balance. Now if I told you that tube A in component B sounded tonally balanced when my old speakers were in place I would now tell you that perhaps that same tube was a bit bright or not as smooth.
The moral of the story for the newbie to tubes is to try to avoid buying tubes based on consensus but to get as much specific info about the recommender as possible before you pull the trigger. Especially on expensive NOS stuff.
Any other thoughts on pitfall's for tube newbies?