Where do you buy your tubes?

Ricardo
Ricardo Posts: 10,634
edited July 2009 in Electronics
I am tired of going the ebay route. Noticeable different gains, microphonics.....you name it.

I did find an excellent pair of raytheon 5687's, but still searching for a nice quad of 12AT7's.

I am not looking for recommendations on particular brands. What I'm looking for is a reliable seller, with a decent variety in stock, that will thoroughly test and stand behind his tubes.

Thanks!!!
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 9,122
    edited July 2009
    Tube World is where I got my tubes. I say got because I have a variety of the tubes I need, am done rolling and have spares. I had a 5687WB Raytheon Kuhl Tube go bad in the warranty period and Brendan replaced the pair.

    https://www.tubeworld.com/index_high.htm
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,634
    edited July 2009
    Thanks Rich; that's the kind of service I'm looking for.
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited July 2009
    I've purchased from Tube World before also, great service.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,634
    edited July 2009
    I browsed through the site. Lots of tubes at $300-$800 per pair :eek:

    There are some options at lower cost, but the site is not too friendly to look at. I'll probably just shoot an email to see what he can recommend.

    Thanks again!
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,634
    edited July 2009
    Oh great. $10 for a Miscellaneous question? I could ask for a recommendation for my preamp, given those $15 are refundable....but what if he recommends the $800 tubes? Not sure I will email this guy......

    TubeWorld.jpg
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited July 2009
    I'm sure people will want to know your budget before recommending the highest priced tube out there. I wouldn't pay for a recommendation. Too much info on the internet for that. My favorite place is www.thetubestore.com
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,498
    edited July 2009
    Ricardo, I've looked here. Never bought anything yet, because I've had good luck on e-bay except still no Telefunken's I bought from Germany like 8 weeks ago. The seller is going to send another quad.

    http://www.audiotubes.com/
    "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 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,498
    edited July 2009
    Only thing I don;t like about tube depot is for many of the non-traditional 5-8 common tubes used they rarely tell you what you're getting. Like this example:

    http://store.tubedepot.com/nos-6aq8.html

    It just states various brands......I guess one could call, but that takes the whole on-line ordering thing out of play.

    H9
    "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 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited July 2009
    Ricardo wrote: »
    Oh great. $10 for a Miscellaneous question? I could ask for a recommendation for my preamp, given those $15 are refundable....but what if he recommends the $800 tubes? Not sure I will email this guy......
    That's new, I didn't and would not pay for a question answered.

    Not a huge selection, but for free advice: http://dougstubes.com

    H9's suggestion of Tube Depot is good also.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 52,000
    edited July 2009
    I've not seen that before either.

    I've spoken with Brendan a few times, always pleasant and helpful.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited July 2009
    Call Jim McShane or Brent Jesse. Both are pretty knowledgeable and have patiently answered my questions. Brent is a little more pricey, but I've had good experience with both. I have bought several times from Tube Depot with good results.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,634
    edited July 2009
    The Tube Store is nice and I've used it in the past with good results, but they don't have a great selection, at least not in the tubes I need.

    Doug, I'll look into those. Thanks.
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • greymatter
    greymatter Posts: 35
    edited July 2009
    Ricardo wrote: »
    clear.gifThe Tube Store is nice and I've used it in the past with good results, but they don't have a great selection, at least not in the tubes I need.

    Doug, I'll look into those. Thanks.

    Tube store for me too, no complaints.
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited July 2009
    Ricardo - you might try Triode Electronics in Chicago also. If you go to Audio Asylum they're listed in the site sponsors section.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • bklynNupe
    bklynNupe Posts: 728
    edited July 2009
    Ricardo wrote: »
    I am tired of going the ebay route. Noticeable different gains, microphonics.....you name it.

    I did find an excellent pair of raytheon 5687's, but still searching for a nice quad of 12AT7's.

    I am not looking for recommendations on particular brands. What I'm looking for is a reliable seller, with a decent variety in stock, that will thoroughly test and stand behind his tubes.

    Thanks!!!

    Brent Jessee is great!
    I just purchased a NOS Mullard E88cc01 from him.
    I wanted a better tube for my Music Hall DAC. Brent personally responded to my email within a couple of hours. He answered all of my questions and provided me with detailed information. I installed the tube and thus far it is great. I was also able to reach him by phone.
    I have a 30 day guarantee. The tube can be exchanged in 30 days for 100% credit.

    emotiva xpa-2
    emotiva xpa-3
    Denon 3312ci
    Rtia9 /csia6 / FXi A6
    Samsung LN46A650
    SVS PB-12-NSD sub

    Audio Research SP-9 MKIII (GNSC mods)
    W4S ST250
    Lsi 9 (mods)
    W4S DAC-2
    Mac Mini
    Audio Aero Prima CD player
    Pro-Ject debut
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited July 2009
    I know a guy who has his own store in BC and purchase my tubes and SACD's from. I have not seen any better prices.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 9,122
    edited July 2009
    Ricardo wrote: »
    Oh great. $10 for a Miscellaneous question?


    That is new to me as well. Maybe the volume of email from folks just looking for info before buying a tube somewhere else, or learning what to look for in production codes got to him. Maybe at the cost of offending some, he thought his time was worth something.

    For the tubes I was intersted in, he had a ranking and what worked well in what brand gear posted freely under the tube description.
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,634
    edited July 2009
    His email addres is there, so I just sent him an email with some questions. We'll see.
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited July 2009
    Brent Jesse,,, and 3-4 private sellers with solid reputations and excellent service,, if interested I'll pm you their addy's,,no afil.:)
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,634
    edited July 2009
    Ok guys. I've been emailing back and forth with Brendan from Tube World, at NO CHARGE.

    He recommended a few options within my budget and I placed an order. Fast and great service.

    Thanks for all the suggestions!
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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