When I had the Super PAS 3i I tried many of the current 12AX7 tubes before finding some NOS tubes in my price range that I liked, Nuehaus. (courtesy of Mark Funk). Electro Harmonix: linear, didn't offend but we pretty boring. Tung Sol, livelier, but didn't really do it for me. EI: very dynamic, but dry and forward. For me, the worst were the Sovtek's. Bright, distorted, really fat and sloppy low end, and a hot midrange that once in awhile sounded live, reminded me of my Son of Ampzilla. (the original from the '70's).
The rich, liquid, smooth, grainless, sweet high end, dynamics, powerful very well defined low end.........of the Ultra DAC and T8 pre, with Sovtek tubes
, it really amazes me.
Just my observation for today.
Have a nice holiday all.
