Buying tubes on Ebay SUCK

VR3
VR3 Posts: 28,596
edited August 2010 in The Clubhouse
This is the second time I have bought bad tubes on EBay that were said to be good.

I have one microphonic tube...

This sucks.
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
Post edited by VR3 on
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 18,996
    edited August 2010
    Pay attention to the Polk tube gurus and all will be well...


    Jeeeeeezeee. Just pay attention. Flea-Pay sucks!
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,164
    edited August 2010
    I have had excellent luck buying tubes on ebay. I had one looney try and screw me but Paypal stepped up and took care of it. I did have a couple instances where the tubes were noisy and the seller (from Germany) promptly refunded my money and I got to keep the tubes. It happens and as long as the seller takes care of you, IMO, it's worth a little risk and hassle. In the case of the German seller I was buying $125 pr of tubes retail at a high end dealer for about $40 plus shipping. To me that's a significant savings to take a chance.

    YMMV
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,596
    edited August 2010
    I just got some CBS 12au7 - highly recommended and they sound GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!

    But dammit - the one in the right channel is microphonic - it started playing me a nice little hum when nothing is going on or nothing moving in the house. Tap on the Candela case and blah blah blah

    50 bucks = WASTED
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,164
    edited August 2010
    Did you contact the seller? Have you tried a tube damper? Are those prone to microphonic?
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,596
    edited August 2010
    One tube is 100% quiet - the other is HUMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

    I guess I will contact the seller - Im just tired of buying **** tubes
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,164
    edited August 2010
    If you've had a few bad experiences with seller, it does suck.
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • HB27
    HB27 Posts: 1,518
    edited August 2010
    I tend to stay away from Ebay on tube purchases.
    I sold some tubes that I'd listened to for hundreds of hours on highly sensitive horn speakers. Packed very well, insured, yadda, yadda.
    I sold them to a friend and he told me one of the 4 started hissing about 4 minutes after he'd turned it on. Luckily I had spares to send him but anything can happen to a tube.
    He sent me PICS of the box. It's a wonder any of the tubes survived USPS.
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited August 2010
    Have you cleaned the pins? They are only 40 something years old.
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited August 2010
    i only buy tubes for the dudes here or from a reputable web site.. i'd never buy them off Ebay.. i did one time.. and that was the only time I ever did that. turned out good.. but to much can go wrong.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 18,996
    edited August 2010
    Contact Jerry12, Duufus. That's what I was getting at........
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • HB27
    HB27 Posts: 1,518
    edited August 2010
    treitz3 wrote: »
    Contact Jerry12, Duufus. That's what I was getting at........

    Jerry's got some killer tubes. Recommended Highly!
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