Tube Rolling In Audio Research Phono Preamp

Funny I just posted this to another AudiogoNer: The Siemens E188CC's, 7308's and CCa's(grey plate beneath the getter support, from the 60's- the Holy Grail) are VERY dynamic and extended top(without any stridency) and bottom(very solid). I've been using them for years in ARC gear(had an SP9 and SP14), and now in my BAT VK-D5(6 NOS CCa's). Liquid midrange, very transparent(very quiet, nothing phoney, sweet, or extra warm, etc.) They just let all the music through, with an accurate sound stage. YES: The Tele's are good(of course), I've owned some of them too. Don't buy any CCa's with shiny metal under the getter support(regardless of the seller's claims): They will singe your ear hairs.

This may come as somewhat of a shock, but tubes(like anything else) are worth whatever people will pay for them. If you want the best, you have to be willing to pay for it. NOTHING that is manufactured now can compare to the musicality of the select Siemens and Telefunken tubes. They last an average of 10,000 hrs, and that much musical enjoyment is hard for me to place a valuation on. I'm also using a pair of NOS TungSol round plate 6SN7GT's and a pair of NOS Sylvania 6SN7W tall boys(all from the 40's), in my Cary monoblocks. Check the prices on those if you think CCa's are expensive. People aren't going to stop buying them, because when those that are available now are gone- there won't be any more. I will admit the people that sell them on AudiogoN are awfully proud of them. I buy most of mine(the Siemens anyway) from Germany.

Polk432- Funny you should mention that: I bought my gold in 1999, when it was $275.00 an ounce. Gold (like platinum, oil, real estate, and NOS vacuum tubes) is a limited commodity. What is in the ground is going to run out eventually, and God isn't making any more(Siemens, Telefunken, Valvo, Amperex, Mullard, etc. aren't in business now, and won't be ever again)!! That's why the price of all of those things keeps going up. What's being manufactured today, as far as tubes, is done so as quickly and cheaply as possible and will never perform sonically as well as the quality tubes of yesterday. The exception to that statement would be KR Enterprises, Western Electric and EAT. Have you checked their tube prices lately? (http://www.musicdirect.com/product/73403) (http://www.westernelectric.com/pricing.asp)

I've been trying to remember where I hid it myself. If I could: I'd pay off my mortgage!!