Tube questions

AsSiMiLaTeD

1 - Where is a good place to buy tubes online?

2 - I'm looking for a decent set of EL84, any thoughts? I'm not looking to spend much on these because they really don't color the sound all that much, wanting to spend more on the preamp tube.

3 - I'm looking for a good 12az7 / 5751 tube for my new headphone amp. I'm looking specifically at a couple options, a Sylvania blackplate 5751 or a Raytheon 5751 - but damn those things are a bit pricey. I just need one, not a pair, and that's about the only way i can find them online. If anyone has one of these or another good option laying around, I'm all ears...

cmy330go

http://www.upscaleaudio.com/

EDIT: This (Quest for Sound) would actually be my first stop. Just give Stephen a call. You won't find a more helpful guy.

Midnite Mick

I find this one to be good and helpful as well.

http://www.thetubestore.com/

JimBRICK

lots on ebay too

mhardy6647

Jim McShane
http://pages.prodigy.net/jimmcshane/

Dick Bergeron
http://members.aol.com/etetubes/index.html

Kevin Deal (Upscale) is OK but he is expensive...

mulveling

Upscale audio is ludicrously expensive and should only be used as a last resort, not for finding your sound or building a stockpile. He used to have a limited access "cookie jar" stockpile to keep from running out of stock on rare tubes; well now that system's gone and instead he's raised the prices so bloody high he never has to worry about running out!

You also try looking on audiogon; less risky than ebay but then you mostly give up the chance of finding jewels for pennies. Trusted sellers on forums like this one are your best bet for getting quality slightly used tubes at a great price.

F1nut

http://www.kcanostubes.com/content/

http://www.upscaleaudio.com/

http://dougstubes.com/

http://www.tubedepot.com/

http://www.thetubestore.com/

https://secure.tubesandmore.com/

http://www.triodeelectronics.com/

http://www.vintagetubeservices.com/Default.htm

http://www.tubesdirect.com/

http://home.att.net/~chimeraone/tubesaleslist.html

www.tubeseller.com

http://www.electron-tubes.com/

http://www.house-of-tubes.com/home/hot_home.asp

http://www.tubeworld.com/indexv_high.htm

http://www.starkelectronic.com/tubes.htm

http://www.tube-shop.com/

http://www.vacuumtube.com/

http://www.valves.uk.com/ [UK site]

http://www.vacuumtubesinc.com/

http://www.vacuumtubes.com/price7.html

http://www.r-vac.com/tubes.htm



And tube tweak links:

http://herbiesaudiolab.home.att.net/

http://www.thetubestore.com/tuberings.html

http://www.partsconnexion.com/audiog...AGES/PEARL.htm [Pearl Tube Coolers]

http://www.vintagetubeservices.com/Dampers.htm

http://www.jenalabs.com/ [Tube Cryo-ing service - JenaLabs]

http://tubeman.com/ [Tube Cryo-ing service]



BTW, if you think Uncle Kevin's prices are high, you haven't been tube shopping much. He also tests the hell out of any tube he sells and he stands behind them 100%. Really not bad for all you get in return.

danger boy

tubes can get expensive no doubt.. but think about it.. they last a long damn time.. i thought i read somewhere that the average tube life was like 20,000 hours?

why skimp on the tubes? we all spent so much on our speakers and amps, etc.. don't buy a $7 tube in your $3000 system :eek:

AsSiMiLaTeD

Thanks for the links. That Kcanos tube website has a very good selection of tubes, but every single one I looked at is out of stock. I may shoot them an email with what I'm looking for and see if they can help...