Anybody try NOS tubes in a UA LA-2A?

[HockeyMike]

I picked up a used reissue LA-2A that needs new tubes and was wondering about throwing some NOS in there instead of the stock UA ones (which I believe are GE).

I know circuit design has a lot to do with how tubes affect the overall tone of any outboard unit, just wanted to see if anyone's noticed a noticeably positive difference with NOS tubes in an LA2A. If it's only gonna get me a 5% difference in tone I'll just stick with standard tubes, but if it's more like 10-20% I'll be slutty and buy some Mullards.

Thanks,
Michael

[Mike H]

You will definitely get a better sound with NOS Mullard tubes..........more euphonic, more complex, mid-emphasis.

I don't know how to respond to your "10-20%" improvement.
Nothing gives you increments like that, unless you are starting with pretty poor gear.
To me, 5% is fantastic......the difference in good and great sometimes on a vocal track.
It is more the character of the sound, which is definitely better with NOS Mullards.

I didn't even consider using it w/o NOS tubes.........the same for every other high end tube unit I've owned, for that matter, except for maybe the Massive Passive.
They will give you a very noticeable improvement, IMHO.
If you spend enough to buy a Reissue LA2A in good condition, then pay the extra to buy the NOS tubes.

Go to Upscale Audio and buy them from Kevin Deal:

Upscale Audio - Rare Tubes

You will always get good tubes here........he does a great job of testing.

[inthere]

+1 on the Mullard tubes, they are extremely warm sounding tubes. They don't seem to have a lot of headroom however; they distort some if you try to push them. This is not really a problem with the LA2A because of how it's used.

The improvement over normal tubes is very noticeable.

[Omega Arts]

+1 on Kevin Deal at Upscale Audio!!!!

[SoniA]

+1 on the Mullar tubes for this unit

[castle]

+1 for +1's!

[HockeyMike]

Thanks everybody...time to roll me some Mullards!