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 21 responses by tonydennison

tonydennison OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 382 posts 08-20-2023 at 06:06pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I think back in the day, Americans and Europeans had the attitude "Do it right, or don't bother. And I think thats a good view to take.
tonydennison OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 382 posts 08-20-2023 at 07:41pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Luckily I live in a 50's house. Built to last. Made by actual craftsmen that cared.
tonydennison OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 382 posts 08-20-2023 at 10:57pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @ghdprentice ""The rest have performed flawlessly for there entire life or are still in use."" The issue is not failing tubes, but other tubes from the 50's that sound 70 times better than any modern tube.
tonydennison OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 382 posts 08-20-2023 at 11:02pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @oddiofyl ""If you want close to zero maintenance then a Solid State amp is best. "" If I knew of a SS that was as good as my QS's and I could afford them, I would switch tomorrow.
tonydennison OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 382 posts 08-20-2023 at 11:05pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @invalid ""The lumber was way heavier and stronger back then, definitely not put together better compared to today.""" Our best wood has been sent to China for years. All we have access to is the stuff they don't want.
tonydennison OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 382 posts 08-20-2023 at 10:59pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @oddiofyl "" Western Electric has acquired a lot of tooling to make small signal tubes. I heard that they bought a bunch of the old Ei factory tooling and machinery. Hopefully they will be producing quality tubes in the near future. "" lets us hope so...
tonydennison OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 382 posts 08-20-2023 at 11:00pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @jond ""Noromance nailed it lots of the materials and processes used to make tubes back in the day are illegal now and horrible for the environment. "" Maybe some ......Innovation is in order.
tonydennison OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 382 posts 08-20-2023 at 11:07pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @gs5556 ""Back in the 40's, 50's and 60's tubes were in everything and were literally a dime a dozen. So maybe the tubes that are around today were just heartier than the rest and the vast majority weren't so great. "" interesting idea, but far from corroborated.
tonydennison OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 382 posts 08-21-2023 at 01:50am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @audioman58 Where can I find these modern General Electric tubes? Thank you in advance T
tonydennison OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 382 posts 08-21-2023 at 03:34am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete ""Where can I find these modern General Electric tubes?"" Whhops, I meant Western Electric.
tonydennison OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 382 posts 08-21-2023 at 03:35am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @nonoise I looked at the Tak's and they were over $1K a piece....No way Im doing that.
tonydennison OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 382 posts 08-21-2023 at 05:04pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @yesiam_a_pirate Agree... How about Idiocrates as well for a patron?
tonydennison OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 382 posts 08-21-2023 at 05:06pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @glennewdick Fair enough
tonydennison OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 382 posts 08-21-2023 at 05:01pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @pennfootball71 ""Sophia Electric makes the best production tubes."" Yeah, they look beautiful. I would love to hear those without throwing down $700.
tonydennison OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 382 posts 08-21-2023 at 04:36pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @ps Oh...Are they?
tonydennison OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 382 posts 08-21-2023 at 06:26pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @mulveling If mastering social media controls was a sign of intelligence, JJ tubes would sound amazing and the world wouldn't be a toilet of moronitude.
tonydennison OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 382 posts 08-21-2023 at 08:32pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @mulveling The guys were wrong about you, you're a genius. I can tell.
tonydennison OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 382 posts 08-22-2023 at 01:03am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @ricmci I replaced modern GL AT7s and AXs with old RCA and MULLARD and the difference was night and day. I currently am using modern GL KT77s and I have no idea what original tubes will sound like.
tonydennison OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 382 posts 08-24-2023 at 04:44am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @speedthrills In my case, I'm not talking about "issues" I'm talking about how I never tried NOS until very recently. I've never had and issues w/ Gold Lion, but the sound difference was remarkable when I used some RCA pre tubes and some Mullard input tubes. I am still running Gold Lion Power tubes and really dont see myself changing. Four KT77's cost me under $400 and will last me 2-3 years. I dont see myself spending 3 times that amount for the same time. Thats just me. But, its not about issues, its about much better sound. My question in the beginning was, why the difference in sound quality and I think we've had some fine explanations from the gallery.
tonydennison OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 382 posts 08-24-2023 at 04:46am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @emergingsoul Silly.....that's where the leprechauns frolic.....in the tubes.
tonydennison OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 382 posts 08-25-2023 at 04:54pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @realgoodsound ""Perhaps you should not obsess over your tubes quite so much and get out and meet some younger folk?""" 🤣 I don't think I obsess over anything. That's funny...a bit peculiar, but funny. Thanks for the advice. I'm going to do that right now. 🙂 I imagine myself sitting in a dark machine shop stroking my tubes never stepping outside but to take parcels from the youngerish mailman then sleeking back into the shop.

More to discover