2. amps-preamps
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Is upgrading stock tubes standard proceedure?

I'm just wondering if I'm the last guy to realize just how enormous an improvement can be had by upgrading stock tubes to NOS. Most of my system has been in place for some time now and I've sought to improve it's performance by tweaking. Tube changes have resulted in noticeable but subtle results; most of the time involving trade-offs... until now. I just upgraded the 6922s in my cj Premier 17LS to Amperex 6DJ8s with stunning results. I can't find any trade-offs, everything desirable in audio is improved IMHO. This is the kind of improvement I would have been looking for if I bought a new preamp and spent twice the money. As much as I've read about tube rolling, based on what I'm experiencing now, there isn't enough emphasis, especially by professional reviewers.

So, I guess my purpose in writing this thread is two fold:

1) Why don't tubes receive at least the same attention as the equipment they're in.

2) Just a heads-up in case there is anyone else out there who thinks they can't justify $100 or more for a small tube.
phaelon

Showing 4 responses by phaelon

phaelon OP
1,038 posts
 
"Conrad Johnson does use good tubes and they make an effort to test and match them. There is nothing wrong with using the stock tubes."

I agree Sugarbrie, in the same way that I would agree that there is nothing wrong with the standard quality tires one finds on everyday cars. But if you own an ultra high performance car, and ever want to experience its capabilities, tire selection will be critical. The more I think about it, the more it seems to me, that the relationship between tires and race car, have a lot in common with the relationship between tubes and component.
phaelon OP
1,038 posts
 
Hi Newbee,
If my elation suggested that I believe that my first significant move to one of the classic NOS tubes resulted in the ideal selection, that was not my intention. However, the improvement from my previous Sovtek and Electro Harmonix 6922s shouldn't be trivialized by comparing it to a change in tone control. With all due respect to the subjectivity involved in tube choices, sometimes better is better and what I'm hearing is way better. I'm now hearing musical detail that was formerly obscured; instruments and voices are both more natural and nuanced. I have no doubt that more experienced guys like you, Tvad, and Mofimadness could introduce me to a dozen or more tubes that would challenge my listening skills. That said, I am encouraging people, like myself, who have a piece of equipment that retailed for $4000 and came equipped with $40 worth of tubes to investigate a change in those tubes. I think you might be surprised by the number of people, as T2232 suggested, who upgrade components to realize improvements when a change in tubes would suffice. Many audiophiles put their faith in dealers and audio publications and I've never walked into a dealership and been advised to change tubes instead of components.
phaelon OP
1,038 posts
 
Assuming that high quality tube design is not a lost art, perhaps they're just not profitable to manufacture at this time, given the current supply of NOS tubes they would be competing with. Forgive me for seeking the silver lining, but man, I don't want to go back.
phaelon OP
1,038 posts
 
Hi Jmo,
Who did your mods?
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