Tube Question - Significance of Tube Noise at Listening Position


Hello all.  I need some advice on tubes.  I use a BHK preamp that has a tube input stage (12AU7).  I recently replaced the PSvane tubes that came with it with some GoldLion gold pins.  The sound is much better, more holographic, warmer.  However, after 6 months, I started to get tube noise with my ear near the speaker.  I put back in the PSvane tubes and the noise was reduced in half so it is the tubes, but with the old tubes, the sound quality of course dropped. 

I am thinking about buying some new tubes, either Ray Select tubes, which are considered to be very low noise, or NOS Brimars. 

My question is: does the tube noise matter at the listening position if it can't be heard where I sit?  Although I don't think I can hear the noise at my listening position, I am still bothered by it because, well, its there.  We work so hard to get black backgrounds and I would never use a cable, power cord, streamer or conditioner, that adds hiss.  We would never accept that, so even if I don't hear it at the listening position, I just feel like it must have some detrimental effect and why should we accept that from a tube if I won't accept it from any other component?  

I am looking for advice on this topic and if I should get the Ray Select tubes to hopefully remove the noise, or go with the good sounding GoldLions even though I know they are adding noise/hiss/garbage to the sound near the speaker. 

Finally, anyone have any comments on the Ray Select 12AU7.  I don't want bright or hard, and the competition is the GoldLion gold pins. 

Thanks everyone.

12many

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

I would add that the small signal tubes in a preamp tend to last a long, long time if they test strong from the beginning.
 A reputable tube dealer like the ones mentioned above or my favorite, Brent Jesse, will be able to recommend excellent tubes for your pre and ones with your goals in mind. You should then be to return to listening to music and loving the sound. Good luck!

12au7 vintage tubes are often half the price of 12ax7, so you might be able to get great tubes for not so much, maybe $200-$300 for a matched pair, and I mean true NOS not just test NOS.

@12many 

It may just be that the Gold Lion is not right for the circuit. If you bought new as a PS Audio product the 12au7 it came with was chosen specifically for that design.

Small signal tubes as someone here mention have a very long useful life, may even outlast you! So perhaps be prudent and trust what the engineers at PS Audio decided to do and enjoy your music and your preamp.