[Papajin]

New owner of a Moscode 401HR here, and relatively new to tubed gear (I've got 2 tube preamps here, but I've done nothing more than install the tubes that came with them up to this point).  General consensus seems to indicate that while the stock tubes for this amp are good, it can still be brought to a new level by rolling tubes, so I'm looking to give it a try.

First of all, I'm not sure if all the Moscodes are coming with the same tubes or not, so just in case they don't, mine came with Sovtek 6H30Pi's for the outside pair, and Electro-Harmonix 6CG7's for the inside pair.  I guess I'm looking for some suggestions from current owners of where I might start, as I have zero experience in this area, and thus would have to pick tubes at random and hope I didn't screw up.

I also have a couple of newbie questions...

First what exactly constitutes a matched pair of tubes?  What are the purported advantages to matches vs. unmatched?

I've seen the terms "side-getter" and "top-getter" on some tubes.  Is there any difference between the two other than physical design?

Does anybody know of any good "primers" anywhere as specifically applied to audio applications, that might be beneficial for me to read?

Last, I noticed that the tubes I received (6CG7's) for the inner positions aren't actually on the list on the amp itself... Do these go by other designations, or is the list larger than what's printed on the amp?

If you have any other wisdom for a beginner, feel free to reply!

Thanks!

[warnerwh]

Before you go buying tubes you have to see what the stock tubes sound like. It's not necessarily true that the stock tubes can be beaten as it depends on your system and taste.

Matched pair means they both measure the same or very very close. In a preamp buying a matched pair usually doesn't matter much. If the tubes are for the output of a power amplifier then this could be very important.  I've never bought matched pairs for any tube pre I've had or my present AVA power amp. The AVA amp uses tubes only in the input stage though.

I don't know your amp and would not put in different tubes than specified before I investigated it myself.

Over at Audioasylum there's a place called "Joe's Tube Lore". Perfect reading to help you get your feet wet.

You should just take your time. I'd install one piece of tube gear at a time. With two preamps and a power amp you have alot of testing to do. Then after you get the combination figured out that you like best THEN you can start swapping tubes. Anytime you're not sure if a certain tube type can be inserted always contact the manufacturer. There's a few people who probably go out of the recommended zone, something I'd only do if I knew exactly what I were doing. 

Don't think you got to try a bunch of different tubes. Find the characteristics that others claim with your gear and only try them.  Tubes can get very expensive.  Be wary of tubes sold on Ebay. I get my Mullard 12at7 tubes from a seller there but have heard alot of bad about many sellers on Ebay.

Have fun.

[Papajin]

Despite what I said above, I'm not actually planning to run right out and buy tubes.  Just gathering info and doing research as it were.  I don't expect to really look into it seriously for a little while yet.  As of right now, I need to unload 2 of the 3 pre-amps I currently have on hand once I decide which one gets to stay.  Also I didn't really intend for this thread to necessarily be limited to current/past moscode amp owners either.  If anyone has any comments or advice that might be useful for a newbie just looking to understand about tubes, by all means feel free!

Also, just in case anyone else is interested, or someone else comes across this thread somewhere down the line and is having trouble finding http://www.audioasylum.com/scripts/d.pl?audio/faq/joes-tubes.html on the Asylum, there's a link for ya.