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Tube Choice Experience/Lesson

First off let me say I have never owned anything but solid state amps and preamps and my knowledge of tubes is zilch. I want to share what I have learned upgrading tubes for my Cary SLP-03 preamp.

I will never purchase tubes without input from the manufacturer or dealer again. When I call up the tube guy I will know beforehand what tube I want, I will not listen to his suggestions anymore. Simple reason is they are trying to unload stock onto the unwary.

I started emailing from ebay the tube guy in regards to tubes for my Cary SLP-03, that was my first mistake, then I called. I ordered Genelex platinum at his suggestion but ended up with Genelex gold and they sounded really bad. The tube guy says send them back and he'll send out some really nice tubes, Ciftes. $260 later including postage both ways I find the Ciftes no better than the stock Harmonix. I then call a dealer and Cary tech dept. The response I got was I should have called them first because the only thing that will sound good in that SLP-03 are Mullards, Ge's, and the stock Harmonix.

Grrrrrrrr....now I go back to the tube guys site and do a little research and find he sells the Cary SLP-03 but with Mullard tubes. $260 later lesson learned.

Anyways, thought some of you get a chuckle out of my lesson learned.
menageries

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mapman
21,830 posts
 
" IMO, it's F'Kin nuts. "

Tubes fascinated me as a kid. They glowed and I had no clue how they worked or what they did really back then. We were not wealthy and I had to find mostly my own toys around the house. So tubes were cool!

Still are. They make for nice toys for grown up audiophiles now. What more reason is needed? Good sound is everywhere these days, but tubes are still fun!
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