Tube Question - Significance of Tube Noise at Listening Position

Yes, as ghdprentice said, it does matter. With tube noise you don’t hear many details in recordings, you may not even know they could be there until you upgrade to higher resolution very low noise tubes.

I only tried a few vintage tubes. I tried 12AX7 Brimar military from 1970s, I think. 12AU7 Brimar may or may not sound similar, probably depending on when it was made. Usually, but not always, the older the better. I didn’t like those Brimar but they were very quiet and clear, problem was recessed midrange. I use Sylvania long black plates 12AU7 from 1950s in driver stage of power amplifier, which of course is not the same as in line amplifier where quiet tubes are even more important. So I can’t say how they would perform in your preamp. The same with RCA black plates from 1950s, very quiet in my VAC integrated.

I think, you could talk to Brent Jesse, Audiotubes, perhaps he has exactly what you are looking for. Maybe Mullard long plates from 1950s or Amperex or GE military.

He is a fan of Telefunken tubes, generally speaking, so maybe them too.

Andy at Vintage Tube Services in Michigan. Real NOS tubes, have patience :-) 

616-454-3467

https://vintagetubeservices.com/

Matt M

First thing to do gently clean the tube pins with cotton and rubbing alcohol. Don’t use sand paper or emery cloth. Obviously check the fit. Just maybe this will rectify (no pun intended).

At some point investing in a tube tester (and learning how to use one) can tell you about tube health. Often tubes need to be close in their measurements for optimal performance and if they “drift” then at some point they will be too far away form spec and if pairs, each other.…well then.  Yet ironically often they are useable with good sound.   

Buying tubes from reputable dealers will most often have tubes tested and sold as marched pairs or quads. 

Here’s a recent test showing significant drifting (the 42.8) away from the new benchmark of 60. 

LINLAI 300B test 1.29.26

R AMP

Tubes

R 49.8  L 42.8

L AMP

Tubes

R 58.6  L 50.8

New tubes are inbound. 

op

andy bauman is a good seller, as is brent j

i also have lots of old stock 12au7 pairs and quads collected over the decades, us made and european makes, been at this since the 80’s, happy to help, just pm me if you’d like

I am not sure you can do private messaging now, at least I don't know how.