[cjmustang69]

I've recently purchased a used ARC SP16 preamp to use with a Cary CAD-280SA V12 amp.  I have the Cary amp being "gone over" by Cary Audio Design (I live 20 miles away) to ensure all is up to spec with the amp.  I'm looking for suggestions for replacement tubes in the ARC preamp which I should consider when I'm ready to try other tubes..  If anyone has experience/suggestions - I would welcome them.

[threshold t-50]

The Electro Harmonix 12AX7 EH Gold are nice will give you good dynamics w/nice gain, also very quiet. They run about $18 ea. If you want to move up the line Genlex Gold lion ECC/B759 $43 ea or the Jan GE 12AX7WA $60 ea. The stock tubes ARC uses are the standard Electro Harmonix 12AX7 EH's which I use and am happy with. You can call ARC and order tubes through them too.

[DTB300]

Last time I got tubes for the SP16 from ARC, they were JJ's and not EH's.

I have tried NOS, new production Mullards, JJ's, TJ Full Music, & EH.  Recently I have used/tried the new production Genalex and Psvane which I like the best out of all the new production tubes.  Both the Genalex and Psvane offer a great new production tube so you can stop chasing the NOS train.  For my tastes and my rig, I prefer the Psvane tubes.  You can get them from Grant Audio.

[cjmustang69]

Thank you for replies and suggestions.  I'm quite new to tubes as I had been strictly solid state amps/preamps until I purchased a Dared SL 2000A preamp (low cost) to see what tubes sounded like.  After replacing stock tubes - I was very impressed with the impact the little Dared had on my system.  Based on this experience, I've purchased a Cary tube amp (280SA V12) and the ARC preamp.  I will be getting my amp back from Cary Audio tomorrow(I live 20 miles from them) after asking them to go over the amp and make certain everything is up to spec with it.  So tomorrow will be first opportunity for me to hear my system with both the Cary and ARC.  I'm anxious to hear how they sound.  In the meantime, I would like to be researching what tubes I should consider once I'm ready to make changes to the Cary and ARC.  The suggestions above give me tubes to consider