Tube Change Thoughts

[gearaddict]

HI..I just recieved my art pro vla ll and I have a art mpa gold pre comeing....Just want to know what tubes you all have put in the two...

[Weasel9992]

I have two MPA Gold preams...Amperex 12AX7's in one, Telefunken 12AX7's in the other. I have a pair of Mullards in my Pro VLA. $60-$80 for each matched pair.

Frank

[gearaddict]

Originally Posted by Weasel9992

I have two MPA Gold preams...Amperex 12AX7's in one, Telefunken 12AX7's in the other. I have a pair of Mullards in my Pro VLA. $60-$80 for each matched pair.

Frank

O.K. cool thanks..I will try them...I gotta start with something might as well be what you prefer!!

[gearaddict]

Originally Posted by Weasel9992

I have two MPA Gold preams...Amperex 12AX7's in one, Telefunken 12AX7's in the other. I have a pair of Mullards in my Pro VLA. $60-$80 for each matched pair.

Frank

Oh ya..withe do you like better in the mpa...Amperex or Telefunken?

[doncaparker]

I think you can do some shopping and find some deals on NOS tubes without breaking the bank. I found a pair of NOS RCA tubes for a reasonable price (I can't remember how much) and put them in my ART MPA Gold. I'm happy with them.

I have heard that, due to differences in manufacturing techniques, new old stock tubes are higher quality than newly manufactured tubes. I would focus on dealers that sell NOS.

[gearaddict]

Originally Posted by doncaparker

I think you can do some shopping and find some deals on NOS tubes without breaking the bank. I found a pair of NOS RCA tubes for a reasonable price (I can't remember how much) and put them in my ART MPA Gold. I'm happy with them.

I have heard that, due to differences in manufacturing techniques, new old stock tubes are higher quality than newly manufactured tubes. I would focus on dealers that sell NOS.

Ok Im not all that hip on tubes..so now for a dumb question...What is the difference between "regular tubes" and NOS..

[doncaparker]

Not the Gospel, but here are the basics:

NOS stands for New Old Stock. These are tubes that were manufactured back when all audio components (including consumer, military, etc.) needed vacuum tubes. The tubes have basically been in storage since then, or have been harvested out of obsolete components.

The developed world had lots of manufacturing plants that made tubes back then. Until very recently, good quality vacuum tube manafacturing had been almost a thing of the past, due to the almost universal adoption of the transistor in place of vacuum tube technology. Compared to transistors, good tubes are a bitch to make.

Russia and China never stopped making tubes, but their quality control is not great. I'm not sure if domestic production ever completely stopped, but it sure went downhill to the point of not being a major source of tubes. That's why you saw companies like Groove Tubes make their money buying lots of foreign tubes and sorting through to find the good ones.

Nowadays, I heard that there is some higher quality domestic manufacturing going on, but I still hear that the old tubes are better.

I'm sure someone smarter than me has more accurate info.

[gearaddict]

Originally Posted by doncaparker

Not the Gospel, but here are the basics:

NOS stands for New Old Stock. These are tubes that were manufactured back when all audio components (including consumer, military, etc.) needed vacuum tubes. The tubes have basically been in storage since then, or have been harvested out of obsolete components.

The developed world had lots of manufacturing plants that made tubes back then. Until very recently, good quality vacuum tube manafacturing had been almost a thing of the past, due to the almost universal adoption of the transistor in place of vacuum tube technology. Compared to transistors, good tubes are a bitch to make.

Russia and China never stopped making tubes, but their quality control is not great. I'm not sure if domestic production ever completely stopped, but it sure went downhill to the point of not being a major source of tubes. That's why you saw companies like Groove Tubes make their money buying lots of foreign tubes and sorting through to find the good ones.

Nowadays, I heard that there is some higher quality domestic manufacturing going on, but I still hear that the old tubes are better.

I'm sure someone smarter than me has more accurate info.

No need..I get it..I just did'nt know what NOS stood for...and I have also herd that the older tubes are better than new ones...I guess thats why everyone changes their stook tubes out aee!!! Thanks Alot for the help...AND ALL THAT TYPEING...I do appreciate it!!!