Thanks to all three of you for the info. you've given me. I've done a ton of research on most things you've said and now have whole sets of letter and number combinations that get me viscerally excited without having any direct experience whatsoever (12ax7;12ad7;12dt7;5751, gold brand,jhs;caa;jan, etc.)
I'm about to begin very carefully opening my preamp and start gaining some experience.
Do I understand you correctly, that because I am using only a CD player as a source in my preamp (AR SP6A), the phono stage slots ( I think V1,2) and the cathode following tubes, V3 and V6, can have any tube as long as they draw current, and I can experiment with the V4 and V5 line stage tubes to affect sound quality? So far every question I have researched becomes much more complex as soon as I get into it, so I'm imagining this may also.
Also, without owning a tube tester, are there places to get tubes tested?
Thanks again for the info you shared.
Phil Del Prince
I'm about to begin very carefully opening my preamp and start gaining some experience.
Do I understand you correctly, that because I am using only a CD player as a source in my preamp (AR SP6A), the phono stage slots ( I think V1,2) and the cathode following tubes, V3 and V6, can have any tube as long as they draw current, and I can experiment with the V4 and V5 line stage tubes to affect sound quality? So far every question I have researched becomes much more complex as soon as I get into it, so I'm imagining this may also.
Also, without owning a tube tester, are there places to get tubes tested?
Thanks again for the info you shared.
Phil Del Prince