Why Can't Modern Tube Manufacturers Make a Proper Tube?

Current tube manufacturers, at least the ones I have tried should be utterly ashamed at their ineptness, apathy, ignorance, or whatever it is that makes them seemingly unable to make a tube properly.

And I never knew what I was missing before I tried reclaimed tubes from the 1950's, an era where people build things instead of ruining things.

The present manufactures are said to have the actual machinery to make tubes for which they have examples in hand and schematics on file, but they just can't do it.

Is this a case of Idiocracy? Are people just stupid today? The world and all creation do follow the 2nd rule of thermodynamics so I guess this is the case.

Listening to Black Plate RCA’s and Mullards in my system, even for a short time made it glaringly obvious that modern manufactures are embarrassingly inadequate. There is absolutely no comparison.

Why can't modern tube manufacturers make a proper tube?

1. lack of IQ?

2. Apathy?

3. Lack of Materials?

4. Lost knowledge?

tonydennison08-20-2023 5:44pm

Showing 4 responses by decooney

decooney Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,906 posts 08-21-2023 at 04:19am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @tonydennison ..Listening to Black Plate RCA’s and Mullards in my system, even for a short time made it glaringly obvious that modern manufactures are embarrassingly inadequate. There is absolutely no comparison. I have 1950s & 1960 vintage curve-tracer matched RCAs Black plates, and 1965 Blackburn plant Mullard tubes, along with various new production tubes for my own Quicksilver amps. Some of the new tubes compare favorably, or better. What "modern manufacturers" and "embarrassingly inadequate tubes" have you tried?
decooney Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,906 posts 08-22-2023 at 04:01am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @macg19 AG is nothing compared to the Harbeth user group. Try posting anything about a tube amp there. They’ll rip your head off and stake it. The proud new owner of my former modded Cary V12R tube amp, and his Conrad Johnson mono tube amps - runs his Harbeth 40.2s amazingly well. I also heard his 40.2s with his very best CJ Mosfet solid state amp too. Nice, but the more special tube amps performed at an entirely different level of sound and engagement in his particular setup. Some tube amps are more capable than others. Not every tube or amp works well with some speakers. When you find a great match, results can be truly rewarding.
decooney Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,906 posts 08-22-2023 at 04:26am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @jtcf decooney I am thinking the same about how many people have actually tried several new production tubes before dismissing them as sounding horrible... Yep. I’ve not let go of my best Mullard, Sylvania, RCA, Tungsram vintage tubes yet (keeping them hoarded away for no good reason), my preamp and mono tube amps now run all current new-production tubes. Tubes from Psvane, TJ Full Music, and Tung Sol too. With patience, i’ve found some (not all) new production tubes can benefit from letting them burn in for 100+hrs. It can make a nice difference. True for my 6SN7s, 12Au7s, 12At7s input/driver tubes, and, KT120, KT150 output tubes. As many of us have learned through experience, buying new tubes from a trusted seller who actually tests and ranks their tubes matters too.
decooney Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,906 posts 08-23-2023 at 01:47pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Several here stated having true success with new production tubes, and compared to their vintage tubes. Inventory is starting to pick up again for the new big bottles. It’s worth noting where Sophia Electric and some of these tubes are actually OEM manufactured and labeled. That info is usually found on other forums. As long as there is some performance guarantee, and we deal with reputable tube resellers, it should keep tube amp fans going for a while longer. Happy Listening!

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