Just bought a NOS Mullard 6201/12AT7 from Upscale for a pre I just picked up . I selected "Kevin's Stash" and it was worth it. Matched triodes , super quiet and big open sound .
Bought a few NOS from Brent Jessee in the past and they were the premium tubes described...
I think its wise to buy power tubes from a place that burns them in and matches. I did this with the KT88 Gold Lions in my mono amps. I can't even tell you how old they are.... they were in use a few years, then became the "back up" set . I had a matched quad of EL 34 where one failed, the KT 88 back in, eventually got KT 77 quad , one red plated . Then the KT went back in... have been in a few months and still sound great, match pretty tight still. The 34 and 77 were "matched" at time of mfg.
Bought a few NOS from Brent Jessee in the past and they were the premium tubes described...
I think its wise to buy power tubes from a place that burns them in and matches. I did this with the KT88 Gold Lions in my mono amps. I can't even tell you how old they are.... they were in use a few years, then became the "back up" set . I had a matched quad of EL 34 where one failed, the KT 88 back in, eventually got KT 77 quad , one red plated . Then the KT went back in... have been in a few months and still sound great, match pretty tight still. The 34 and 77 were "matched" at time of mfg.