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***Is It Me Or Have Todays Modern Tubes Gotten REALLY REALLY Good***

About 3 years ago it was the Quad VA-One EL-84 amp that won my ears & heart.Almost 3 years I ran that amp night and day and never felt the urge to roll any of the tubes,which I believe were E.H...A user interface problem forced it’s sale and now it is the magical Cayin CS-55a with factory KT88’s,AU7 & AX7 small signal tubes..Once again I find absolutely no reason to start rolling tubes.Maybe,maaayyybbbeee I could squeeze a drop more liquidity outta the upper mids and possibly a hint more shimmer on top but at what expense?I hate gambling.Anyone else noting the quality of today’s new issue tubes?
freediver
tablejockey
3,798 posts
 
Your wallet is thankful.

As a hobby, I get the obsession some have with tubes. 

Like everything audio, it's subjective. Some have the luxury to drop more in tubes than the value of the gear. 

To each his own.
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,545 posts
 
I'm happy to pay more for the qualities you mention. There are certainly some great new tubes being made. Inexperience with old tubes can be expensive.
displayname
81 posts
 
I'm fairly new to tubes, but I'm REALLY happy with the stock tubes that came in my Mastersound. I've heard plenty of amps with rolled tubes as well. But at this point I'm not sure what I would even want to roll in to replace the current sound. Like they say, if it ain't broke... 
wolf_garcia
6,631 posts
 
Often tubes get rolled merely for fun and to satisfy a curiosity regarding tube differences, and that's a large part of the tube thing...
sfar's avatar
sfar
1,756 posts
 
Who made a tube and where isn’t nearly as important as how the tubes perform right now and the gear they’re matched with. Unless you have the money and the inclination to try all the possibilities yourself doing business with a great vendor is the best way to spend the money you do have.

I do agree with your premise, though, the new productions tubes I've tried lately don't give up much if anything to the vintage tubes I have.
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