RAM (Music Reference or Rodger Modjeski) buys large quanties of Russian 6922's (he has bought other types in the past, but availability is an issue when I spoke with him a couple years ago.) He then subjects them to testing procedures which cull rejects and then grades them by noise level. Roger likes the Russian tubes reliability, but they aren't the last word in sonic refinement. Many love to disparage the Sovtek 6922, but I don't think it's a horrible tube by any means. The RAM's are expensive for what they are, but you're paying for USA labor rates to screen & test them. I've had generally good luck buying 6922's & 6dj8's off of Ebay from sellers that sell lots of tubes. Yeah, once in a while one has gone microphonic or noisy, but not a big deal when you only pay $20-$30 a pair or so. Look out for relabled Amperexes & Siemens, there are plenty of those still for sale. Chucks "tubestore" suggestion is a good one, they sell decent, reliable tubes.
Tube's needed, 6922's or equal for Preamp Qty.3
Okay first question,
#1- A good source for the tubes? I do know of upscale, but would like some other options, especially if they are cheaper and fairly good.
#2- problem is the preamp uses 3 tubes so getting a matched 'Tri' might be a bit tuff compared to Quads and pairs.
#3- The sound must be sweet and have good tube character, in otherwords I don't mind lush or warmth to some extent, but they must still be capable of dynamics especially solid bass.
#4- I have heard of some type of 'Ram' Tube's? Not sure but it looks like this is just a company from Cali that takes and matches your basic russian and whoever else's tubes as sets and sells with their name stamped on them... Are they good or someone to look for? I would most likely look into still manufactured tubes, like JJ tesla kinda stuff but would like to know the options if anybody else is good, and I am not willing to pay 100.00 per tube or something for old mullard, amprex, tungsol, but would pay for these NOS if they can be had at good prices and sonically sound close to what I have explained.
They will be in a type of Hybrid preamp, not sure it matters, but will be running Digital and Analog front end sources thru it, with A solid state phono stage built in. Thanks
#1- A good source for the tubes? I do know of upscale, but would like some other options, especially if they are cheaper and fairly good.
#2- problem is the preamp uses 3 tubes so getting a matched 'Tri' might be a bit tuff compared to Quads and pairs.
#3- The sound must be sweet and have good tube character, in otherwords I don't mind lush or warmth to some extent, but they must still be capable of dynamics especially solid bass.
#4- I have heard of some type of 'Ram' Tube's? Not sure but it looks like this is just a company from Cali that takes and matches your basic russian and whoever else's tubes as sets and sells with their name stamped on them... Are they good or someone to look for? I would most likely look into still manufactured tubes, like JJ tesla kinda stuff but would like to know the options if anybody else is good, and I am not willing to pay 100.00 per tube or something for old mullard, amprex, tungsol, but would pay for these NOS if they can be had at good prices and sonically sound close to what I have explained.
They will be in a type of Hybrid preamp, not sure it matters, but will be running Digital and Analog front end sources thru it, with A solid state phono stage built in. Thanks