Hi,
I was considering upgrading from my VK-60 until a local tube dealer recommended that I change the 6SN7 input tubes to RCA 5692 Red Base (new-old-stock tubes). If you havent tried this upgrade, you dont know what youre missing. More resolution, more low level dynamics, less glare as compared to the factory tubes. As Im writing this letter to you, Im listening to Sonny Rollins / Way Out West on SACD. The disk has been in repeat mode for the last 2.5 hrs and I have no desire to stop it. With the VK-60 and the N.O.S. tubes, there is an incredibly life-like reproduction to music in general and especially individual instruments.
The cost to replace all eight input tubes is $600. You can sample the upgrade benefit by just replacing the two forward most input tubes for $150 ($75 ea).
Happy Listening,
Vic