Personally I can't afford to buy a bunch of different amplifiers. Having said that, my amp uses EL34 output tubes and 12AX7 / AT7 small signal tubes. I've used the original Chinese EL34's that came in the amp, the re issue Gold Lion KT77's, 1980's era Tesla, and Holland made EL34's. I take the Holland made over all the others. For the small tubes, it's been the original Chinese tubes, the new Gold Lions, standard Telefunken smooth plate, Telefunken ECC801S and vintage Tesla ECC803S, the latter two being my preference.
What is your favorite tube type?
With so many tubes that do different things and have different sound profiles, what is your favorite? EL34s wonderful PRaT, KT88/6550s smooth and dimensional sound, lush mids of a 300B, detail of a 2A3 or the huge soundstage of an 845? I am curious which is your favorite. What do you like about it?