Tube Rolling w/Crack

[kylescholten]

Hey just wondering what the most loved 12au7 is for my Crack w/ SB. I have a Western Electric 421A for power tube and use HD600s. I've been looking everywhere for Amperex 7316 long plates but no luck, only expensive short plates which I've been told are not nearly as praised? I just heard of the Mullard CV4003 but found conflicting reviews on the musicality of it and don't know which year/plates to look for with it. Please let me know what the most sought after pairings are assuming money is no object. I know its subjective but I like to know the general consensus.

 

[Tom-s]

For good sound I don’t recommend the most expensive or rare ones. In my experience these very old long plate D getters have worn cathodes that easily give hissing noises.
For good sound a properly tested normal ecc82 from the Philips Heerlen factory is recommended.
These can be found for cheap. If you pm ill look for you to see what ecc82 I can spare.

 

[atul.mehta6]

Hey just wondering what the most loved 12au7 is for my Crack w/ SB.

I like the Brimar 13D5 paired with the TS 5998... Sound is very accurate.. a bit less holographic compared to a good 6SN7 but well worth it..

 

[DitchTrilogy]

Is there a standard grading system or reference for used tubes? I'm seeing grades like the below from some stockists but don't know what it means.

GRADE 1 TESTED 70% PLUS

 

[Paul Birkeland]

No, there is no standard grading scale, and what 70 means will depend quite a bit on the particular tester used.

 

[Colonl_Charisma]

Does anyone have a recommendation for a modern power tube?

I was astonished to see prices for TS 5998 and TS 6AS7G tubes. When I bought mine a few years ago, they were nowhere near as expensive.

 

[atul.mehta6]

Does anyone have a recommendation for a modern power tube?

https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/bottlehead-crack.120/page-3

 

[Colonl_Charisma]

Very familiar with the SBAF forum. Jeb’s reviews of the tubes are fantastic.

I was thinking more along the lines of a modern tube like PSVANE. For instance, with an adapter, I use their CV181 as my input tube.

I was wondering if there are any modern tubes that people enjoy.

 

[Paul Birkeland]

I was thinking more along the lines of a modern tube like PSVANE.

The old stock tubes are about the same price as what's being offered from China.  There isn't really any comparison between the two... (for now at least)