What will you do when NOS tubes run out?

organ

OK, tube heads. None of us want this to happen but eventually it will. What will you do?

I voted for new production. They're getting much better with new designs coming out.

Maurice

dragon1952

I would say these NOS are going to be around for quite awhile because they last so freakin long. Maybe the NIB will dry up but I don't think we have to worry a hell of a lot but having said that if I found something I really liked then I'd probably buy an extra set. But then again, I'm almost 53 . If I was 25 I might stock up on several sets. NOS/NIB tubes are probably a pretty good investment right now.

dorokusai

I'm not worried about it as their is vintage gear floating around all the time with rare and super rare tubes....whether it's NOS makes no difference to me.

Tour2ma

Just something about polls like this that invite trashing by including one or more variations of "This is stupid"...

organ

Dragon,
You're absolutely right. Imagine coming across a storage room or warehouse full of these? It's like winning the lottery http://www.tubedepot.com/pa-ecc803s-tele.html

Doro,
Good point. Some sellers just find some old "junk" in the attic and put it up for sale cheap without knowing their real value.

organ

Tour,
lol. I picked 6 options but couldn't think of anything for the 6th one so I just added that in. I guess the members who hate this organ creature that's always lurking in the 2ch forum will vote there:).

nadams

Okay, so I'm not into tubes... haven't had any tube gear, ever... but I have to ask.. why can't they make new ones that sound as good as the old? Tubes don't seem to be very complicated devices (but again, I know nothing about them). I do think that the demand has gone back up for tubes. They went out of style in the 70's, 80's, and most of the 90's, but it seems like a few manufacturers are putting out new tube gear, which means the demand for tubes is going to increase. This should lead to manufacturers making good-sounding tubes to satisfy the market...

organ

Nadams,
Tube production is a VERY complicated process. Everything from raw materials to the strength of the vacuum. Not to mention the tiny parts that must be put together. Back in the days, and I'm sure even today, these companies keep their formulas secret.

Things are really improving with current production. Some tube types sound just as good, if not better than NOS while some sound a lot worse than NOS.

madmax

I'm very happy with some of the latest production stuff. Right now my TungSol 6550's have grown into the best power tubes I've had so far. Also, the newer EH pre tubes are the best to date. These new tube manufacturers have it down.
madmax

faster100

aside from fancy new tubes, or vintage old tubes.. I just like the nostalgia (sp) of the old tubes.. the print, some coming from cool places like holland or germany, knowing its still working from the 40's or 50's.. the smell of old tubes that have alittle old dust on them.. the sound although new tubes sound great!! Old tubes have been in some of the worlds sought after gear and burned in with years of listening from god only knows who... It's just my 0.02 cents.. but that's my reasons.. People have the attitude, "ah i don't give a crap" are the same people who are buying vintage tubes now while they are still plentiful I won't stock pile, and may be to old to worry once they are gone..

Good post maurice

Early B.

Today's tubes will become tomorrow's NOS, so we'll never run out.

SCompRacer

madmax wrote:

I'm very happy with some of the latest production stuff.

IMO 12AX7LPS Sovteks fall into that category too.

BlueMDPicker

As long as there's a madmax and upgrade bug, no worries!

beardog03

I have to agree with Madmax...

and Early B..!!

reeltrouble1

Hmmm........I will wake my bod from the dirt nap, smile at the Polkies and then turn back to my truly "heavenly" rig.

RT1

landry_p2000

Since ND13 told me about how much a tube amp would cost, :eek: I decided that it would be best for me to go solid state. I wouldn't mind listening to a tube amp just to experience it though.

madmax

landry_p2000 wrote:

Since ND13 told me about how much a tube amp would cost, :eek: I decided that it would be best for me to go solid state. I wouldn't mind listening to a tube amp just to experience it though.

So how much does a tube amp cost?
madmax

ND13

I believe he must be talking about how much a NEW ASL AQ1001DT would cost when I was looking at them, $1100-1400 depending on the retailer, which imo is still a bargain for the performance and SQ that will be had.

W WALDECKER

I think that it is a good idea to buy a supply of some of the classic NOS tubes because the price will always keep going up .I am buying Quads of 6DJ8/6922 and 7308 twin triodes. i am really digging the Amperex 7308s and would like to get a matched and balanced Quad of the Siemens 7308s. i also want to get a Quad of matched and balanced Amperex A-frame orange Globe 6922s. if anyone knows of a Great modern day manufactured tube in this catagory i am willing to buy a Quad of them also. i talked to Bruce Wenger at BWS consulting in Arlington Va and i am considering mods to the Anthem Pre 1L including high performance diodes and paper and oil capacitors. thanks....WCW III

dragon1952

Here's some really nice NIB Amperex 6DJ8's
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?accstube&1137993906

W WALDECKER

dragon1952 wrote:

Here's some really nice NIB Amperex 6DJ8's
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?accstube&1137993906

the guy i am getting tubes from has both NOS types that are shown in your link and tells me that the A-frames sound better than the bugle boys so i will buy a Quad of both to see which ones i prefer in my setup. ND13/Noel prefers the Bugle Boys over the A-frames so who knows ?thanks...WCW III

danger boy

I have a friend who is paying his way thru college by selling and buying tubes on Ebay. He's doing quite well. Plus he owns all tube gear himself.

organ

It will take a long time before they run out but before then, the price will really turn us off. Glad the new stuff are sounding really good. All the new companies have good and bad tubes depending on tube type.

The only NOS that I MUST have are Mullard 5AR4/GZ34 and RCA or Sylvania 7199.

organ

W WALDECKER wrote:

if anyone knows of a Great modern day manufactured tube in this catagory i am willing to buy a Quad of them also. i talked to Bruce Wenger at BWS consulting in Arlington Va and i am considering mods to the Anthem Pre 1L including high performance diodes and paper and oil capacitors. thanks....WCW III

My favorite current production 6922 is JJ. Amazing sound from those little gems. I like it more than a few NOS I have.

Also, the current Ei 6DJ8 is copy of Ampex A-frame.

dorokusai

W WALDECKER wrote:

I think that it is a good idea to buy a supply of some of the classic NOS tubes because the price will always keep going up .I am buying Quads of 6DJ8/6922 and 7308 twin triodes. i am really digging the Amperex 7308s and would like to get a matched and balanced Quad of the Siemens 7308s. i also want to get a Quad of matched and balanced Amperex A-frame orange Globe 6922s. if anyone knows of a Great modern day manufactured tube in this catagory i am willing to buy a Quad of them also. i talked to Bruce Wenger at BWS consulting in Arlington Va and i am considering mods to the Anthem Pre 1L including high performance diodes and paper and oil capacitors. thanks....WCW III

I've run all those tubes thru the Anthem PreXL's, and my favorite is the Mullard, but I keep forgetting to get them back from Emlyn. He's found another tube he enjoys, so there's the change in perspective.

Why are you replacing 6922 with 7308? It's not a direct replacement.

The only way to find out what you like, is to try it out. The quad theory also changes with other changes in your rig, so don't get caught up and try to have everything at one time, you'll just ruin the whole experience with placebo effect.

My pre-amp requirements have changed over the years so I have spent more money in re-tube than is neccesary.

In regards to the Bruce Wenger upgrades....it's overkill and a waste of money. It's an above average unit to begin with, worry about the output stage only....and that's two PCB components. Easy, CHEAP, upgrade.

beardog03

I thought 7308`s were a direct replacement for the 6922/6dj8..

I have learned to let them break in longer, and not roll them in and out so fast, or so many times...otherwise they all start to sound the same..!!

W WALDECKER

beardog03 wrote:

I thought 7308`s were a direct replacement for the 6922/6dj8..

I have learned to let them break in longer, and not roll them in and out so fast, or so many times...otherwise they all start to sound the same..!!

maybe doro was thinking of the 7DJ8 i dont know? they will still work also although they run a slightly higher heater voltage. from everything that i have read the 7308 is the premium grade version of the 6DJ8 and it works Great in my Anthem preamp so i want to try the Siemens 7308 next to see which one i like better.i am considering mods to the Anthem and i also want to talk to the folks at the Parts Connection because they used to build the Sonic Frontiers/Anthem gear and may know a thing or two about the best way to approach Hot Rodding the Anthem Pre 1L.thanks....WCW III

W WALDECKER

dorokusai wrote:

I've run all those tubes thru the Anthem PreXL's, and my favorite is the Mullard, but I keep forgetting to get them back from Emlyn. He's found another tube he enjoys, so there's the change in perspective.

Why are you replacing 6922 with 7308? It's not a direct replacement.

The only way to find out what you like, is to try it out. The quad theory also changes with other changes in your rig, so don't get caught up and try to have everything at one time, you'll just ruin the whole experience with placebo effect.

My pre-amp requirements have changed over the years so I have spent more money in re-tube than is neccesary.

In regards to the Bruce Wenger upgrades....it's overkill and a waste of money. It's an above average unit to begin with, worry about the output stage only....and that's two PCB components. Easy, CHEAP, upgrade.

Hey doro ,i do understand that the Pre 1L is an above average preamplifier and i thought it was the best bang for the buck in its respective used price range vs some of the new entry level tube preamplifiers on the market.i will try the Mullards as soon as i find a Quad of nice ones. i have Quads of 6922s that are still new in the box and i am in no hurry to roll the tubes in and out of the Anthem.it is my understanding that the 7308 is at the top of the 6DJ8 ladder and that this twin triode is built to tighter tolerances and is supposed to be the most linear of the 6DJ8 family. i dont know what mods i will have done to the Anthem Pre 1L yet because i am still looking. thanks....WCW III

dorokusai

I roll tubes according to an actual, printed tube replacement manual, not an internet link....feel free to roll what you want. Happy Listening!

faster100

So gary dodd is telling people the wrong thing to use in place of a 6dj8/6922 that the elp uses? Just curious..

W WALDECKER

faster100 wrote:

So gary dodd is telling people the wrong thing to use in place of a 6dj8/6922 that the elp uses? Just curious..

i would pose this question to Gary Dodd himself and find out what his opinion is. i just looked at the Audible Illusions Website and one of the NOS tubes that is on thier reccomended list is the Siemens 7308.Tube Guru Kevin Deale of Upscale Audio also reccomends this tube and the Amperex 7308 for the Anthem Pre 1L that i am using.it may depend on the specific Preamplifier design but i have never heard any issues raised before regarding the compatability of the 6DJ8,6922 and 7308. can anyone else chime in on this compatabilty issue ? thanks....WCW III