Tube Flavor


Whats the best way to get a true taste of different tubes?  Should I change all preamp and power tubes with the same manufacturer?  For instance, I think the best way to truly understand a certain cable companies flavor is to have an entire spool of the same cables, ie all Analysis Plus Solo Crystal Oval 8’s...

I feel like cables, tubes, even equipment each has its own flavor or house sound.  
So, now that Im going to swap some power tubes should I get a matching set of pre amp tubes too?  I feel like if I have 3 or 4 complete sets, i can get a feel for each and THEN start mixing and matching accordingly,

Anyways, this tube stuff is fun and it sounds so dang good to these ears that I wont go back if I can help it.
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@performance_series,

thanks for your heatfelt comment: our’s is a beautiful hobby and ignoring spoilsports isn‘t always easy. All the more credit to you for trying to put them in their place.

Enjoy the music
Hello,
I think you should do other things first unless you have to change your tubes. There is another thread on Townshend isolation gear. If you have not done this yet or bought a Puritan PSM156 then do thee things first. It doesn’t matter what the tubes sound like if your system is not as good as it can be. After you do the major things like that then have some fun rolling tubes. Unwanted noise and controlling the bass is the most important thing to work on. 
I would reach out Raven for tube rolling.

Odds are what is OEM will be fine.
+2 on what @jtcf said.

Start with preamp tubes if a separate preamp is used.

Then small signal input / driver tubes in the amp.

NOS tubes if possible for these, or try PSVANE "art series" where applicable [better than 50% of my better NOS tube collection]. Allows one to hoard the NOS stuff a bit too.  

Buy tubes from a reputable seller with a guarantee, it will pay off and many times end up with better tubes.  

And, yes, some tubes and interconnects can compliment -or- detract from each other.

You kinda need to know what type of sound you are going for to get "there" or its hit-and-miss and trial-and-error til you do.

Sometimes it’s helpful to lean on the amp designer to share what works, if you trust them and they have proven experience on what sounds good and what does not. Good amp/circuit designers know enough to help guide you some.


I too have to agree with Millercarbon. How tubes interact with your specific amp/preamp, speakers and room acoustics can be in my case a expensive crap shoot without some guidance/knowledge. My first tube amp. I've been dealing with Dave Thompson for the past 2 months on Power/Preamp tube combinations that would work best with my Knighthawk and Klipsch Heresy IV's. Even sent him pictures and dimensions of my room. Dave spent another hour on the phone with me just the other night answering my uneducated questions. Very nice professor for my new Hobby. I can't comment on other tube amp manufacturers, no experience, but what I will say is that Dave Thompson, owner of Raven says you become part of the Raven family when you purchase. I feel that with Dave! His knowledge is Priceless.