Tubes - How close to be a 'matched' pair?


I'm considering buying some NOS 12AX7s or 12AU7s. How close do the mA ratings have to be to be considered matched? I've seen some 12AX7s with overlapping ranges and the lower limit being within .08 mA of each other. For example: Tube1 .18-.28 mA and Tube2 .26-.34 mA. Does this qualify as a matched pair?
bigamp

Showing 1 response by marakanetz

For small signal tubes it doesn't matter. I've seen rarely that small signal tubes would operate in Push-Pull mode where the lowest bias current limit is important to match.

Otherwise mostly, small signal tubes operate at their medium output characteristic grid(the most linear and distortion free) that would never touch the lowest or the highest bias current.