@ gochurchgo. Very easy solution. Go Here http://tubeaudiostore.com/ ,
and look up your tubes. There will be three grades. Standard, Low Noise and Super Low noise. the SLN tubes are one in ten. Each tube is individual tested and a label with the important specification is placed on the side of the box. The SLN tubes are expensive but the SLN 6922 I got were an easy 10 dB quieter than the one ARC supplied with the phonostage. I am on my second set now and they are just as quiet as the first. Basically you now exactly what you are getting and pay for it. Roger Modjesky created this process. He passed not long ago but his business soldiers one probably in the hand of his employees who really liked him alot. Several are contributors on this site.
Everything else, all the NOS stuff included is a crapshoot. IMHO these people with their NOS tubes and Tube rolling are insane. Perhaps it is the tube rolling that made them insane. Many give up in frustration and switch to SS if they have any money left.
and look up your tubes. There will be three grades. Standard, Low Noise and Super Low noise. the SLN tubes are one in ten. Each tube is individual tested and a label with the important specification is placed on the side of the box. The SLN tubes are expensive but the SLN 6922 I got were an easy 10 dB quieter than the one ARC supplied with the phonostage. I am on my second set now and they are just as quiet as the first. Basically you now exactly what you are getting and pay for it. Roger Modjesky created this process. He passed not long ago but his business soldiers one probably in the hand of his employees who really liked him alot. Several are contributors on this site.
Everything else, all the NOS stuff included is a crapshoot. IMHO these people with their NOS tubes and Tube rolling are insane. Perhaps it is the tube rolling that made them insane. Many give up in frustration and switch to SS if they have any money left.