[Les Lammers]

Yes, keeping track of the reissue tubes can be an issue.  The New Sensor Mullards are not Sovteks and the New Sensor long plate Mullard 12Ax7 is not a LPS. It is nice and has a bit of warmth. I am glad to see decent new production small signal tubes.

Jon, I'm kinda surprised that NOS EL84's don't sing in the Almarro.  That is an amp I am interested in.

Here is another rather unique EL84 amp: http://www.vaughnaudio.com/index.html

[Jon L]

Jon, I'm kinda surprised that NOS EL84's don't sing in the Almarro.  That is an amp I am interested in.

It's not that NOS EL84's don't "sing."  I just prefer a vivid, immediate, super-clear yet dense type of sound, which is how I'm tuning my Almarro, using VCap Teflons, vivid tubes, cord, IC's. 

If I feel a bit more laid back, expansive, smoldering, yet still clear in more a silky way, I hook up my 2A3 SET, which has been tuned toward that goal, using Jupiter coupling caps with Mundorf silver/oil caps, etc. 

[Les Lammers]

In the end it is personal preference. I tried OIMP V caps as out put couplers in a DAC and do not like them. We all hear differently.

[ebag4]

Guys,
An update.  I have received a quad of the Russian 6p14p-EV as well as a NOS Sylvania black plate triple mica 5751, I am really digging the sounds these put out.  Thanks for all of the excellent recommendations.

Best,
Ed