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Good idea to swap McIntosh amp stock tubes?

Having experienced a blinking red light issue with a Macintosh amplifier, I replaced the small tubes and for now seems to be fine

I have heard that mac stock tubes are used as part of the design process of the amplifier and the recommendation is not to swap the tubes with something else. The rationale is the amplifiers don't need tube modifications to alter the sound which has already been optimized.  Tube amplifiers that reflect sound changes when tube swapping occurs may not be designed very well. you shouldn't need to change out the tubes to improve sound of your amplifier.

Further because McIntosh amplifiers are so sensitive with all their built-in circuits that sense all kinds of voltage irregularities and power irregularities and tube irregularities, it may be risky to use tubes not designed for the amp.  McIntosh does not support using any tubes other than those that were designed for the amplifier.  

Interested in what people think about swapping out tubes for McIntosh amplifier and I'm talking about small tubes primarily right now. Do you really note changes that enhance the amplifier if you do swap out tubes? Is it a good idea to not use stock tubes?

emergingsoul
westcoastaudiophile
819 posts
 

"do they improve the sound as good as they probably should the answer probably is no"

how do you know? Are you fella analog design expert, specializing on tubes? 

westcoastaudiophile
819 posts
 

"It's a shame manufacturers with this very expensive gear do not do a better job furnishing their amplifiers and they probably do it because most people just don't care"

-data please, or else! 

emergingsoul OP
1,537 posts
 

@westcoastaudiophile 

Read through commentary on this esteemed website and you’ll see JJ tubes are not well regarded. Further stock tubes generally are not seeing as of quality to keep in amplifiers so many people choose to swap them.

Again it’s troubling that manufacturers do not provide a higher quality of tube in their extremely expensive amplifiers.

These are my opinions and are shared by many on this esteemed forum

westcoastaudiophile
819 posts
 

"troubling that manufacturers do not provide a higher quality of tube"

I would love to respect your opinion if actual tube performance data, showing JJ tubes are inferior, is provided!

facten
3,124 posts
 

@emergingsoul "

"troubling that manufacturers do not provide a higher quality of tube"

I view tube quality in the context of reliability and meeting specs, I don't view tube quality in the context of sound. The latter to me is largely a matter of personal taste. I think manufacturers understand that many owners of tube amplifiers whether they be power, preamp, or integrated may want to roll tubes to achieve a sound preference they prefer therefore the manufacturers provide cost effective, reliable tubes ,  that don't hinder the sound and leave the owner to tailor as they see fit or not. 

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