2. amps-preamps
  3. 128671-18279

Why no tube loaner/testdrives--It's hard being an audiophile

I just wanted to vent for a moment. I'm going to quote my wife and file this under "It's hard being an audiophile" as there is some absurdity to the fact that I view this issue as a real life problem.

The issue: 

My Primaluna integrated amp has 6 premp tubes and 8 power tubes.  While the unit makes tube rolling a snap, it's (a) difficult to find or at reasonable prices NOS tubes in larger batches; (b) reissue or new tubes cost a bunch to experiment with. 

For example, if I want to swap in a set of Gold Lion KT77 power tubes (I've already tried the stock EL34s and Mullard re-issues), it's a small fortune to do so.  I think the GL KT77 may be the ticket, yet making another expenditure to find out seems pricey.  I wish I could borrow a set and pay a tryout fee, as opposed to spending $400 on a set. 
jbhiller

Showing 1 response by tomcy6

tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,632 posts
 

To get serious for just a minute, you probably don’t need the best preamp tubes in all 6 positions on your Primaluna. Someone can tell you which positions make the biggest difference in the sound.

For example, my Aesthetix Calypso has a voltage amplifier tube and an output tube (I think also called a driver tube) in each channel. The voltage amplifier tube has the biggest impact on the sound and Jim White (owner of Aesthetix) has told me to get the best voltage amplifier tubes I can. The output tubes can be of lesser quality.

Back to the spirit of the thread, maybe we can convince The Cable Company to put together a tube library for us.

And just be glad you didn't buy an Einstein preamp.  It's got 19 tubes in it.

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