[carusoracer]

Trying to get some more options on the tube front other than NOS

How has your expierence been with New Sensor's Re Issue tubes? I'm looking at the KT88 Gold Lion, Mullard 12AT7 and Tung Sol 12AX7

Tubes would be for Modded 302b Jolida

Anyone have a pair of 10M Gold pin Mullard 12At7's

Thanks for looking

[DaveC113]

Good... I have the new Tung Sol 6550 and El34. Both are impressive. I liked the TS 6550s better than the GL KT88, I thought it was more neutral and holographic.

 

[carusoracer]

What was the Application?

Thanks for the reply.

[DaveC113]

The Simple SE SET amp in my avatar. It uses a JJ ecc99 driver and I'm using the amp with Omega XRS speakers.

[cruz123]

The Genelex KT88 reissues are excellent.   I've compared them to EH's, SED, and Shuguangs (chinese) and - in my system - the Genelex reissues are easily the best.    They have great bass response and clarity.    As with all tubes, I suggest getting them from a reputable dealer that tests and matches them in house.  Although I understand that they have been very reliable, I've been told the factory matching is not terribly accurate.

[carusoracer]

Good to hear, I will check about the matching and order from one of the bigger name tube vendors.

Any word on the small tubes?

[richidoo]

order from one of the bigger name tube vendors.

Try Jim McShane He is notoriously fussy tube expert and has been positive about the Gold Lions, meticulous matching. I have never used him myself, but many ACers have. I plan to try him next round.

I bet he can give you advice on the signal tubes too.  Of New sensor small tubes I have used only Sovtek and EH, but they are reliable and quiet.
Good luck Mark.

[mjosef]

In my amp, Response Audio 3205 Signature, I have tried the LPS, the Chinese ones everyonewasravingabout, EH, TungSol and Mullard reissues...I liked the Mullard reissue 12AX7's the best. Of course my other electronics are different from yours so YMMV. And I am too poor to afford NOS.   
As for power tubes...I tried Sovtek 6550, TUngSol 6550 (reissue), JJEL34L, and EH6CA7. I liked the TS6550, before one of them went south, or north and blew out the fuse. Same deal with the JJs...so far the 6CA7 has been the most reliable, and longest serving. I think I liked the TungSol6550 the best, but its been a while, and 40% of my system components has changed.

[Macezeke]

I, too, have a Response Audio 3205 Signature and the NS Mullard 12AX7 is excellent in the first gain stage. I've tried the Chinese and Sovtek 12AX7s that came with the amp along with Ei Eleite 12AT7EGs that I had on hand and the Mullards handily bested them all. I've been considering the TS 6550s to replace the 6550EH straight bottles that shipped with the amp, but the EHs have been rock solid from jump and not as sterile sounding as I expected from various comments around the 'Net.

For context, the rest of my systems consists of an AES AE-3 mk 2 preamp, an EE MiniMax CDP, a Rega P25 w/ Dyna 10x5 cartridge, an Anthem Pre-1P phono stage, and Sonus Faber Concerto Home speakers. Cabling is TG Audio ICs throughout with SLVR PCs on the preamp and CDP, a 688 on the 3205, and Luminous Audio Synchestra Signature speaker cables.

Mac

[DaveC113]

Not so good news...

My TS 6550s have started glowing blue around the bottom divider, and there has been some getter wear. They have been used heavily for 6 months and I already bought the TS EL34s to try out so no big deal... except now one of the EL34s is losing it's getter after a very short time.  So it looks like 3 out of 4 seem to have a vacuum leak, but I'm no expert and the amp is DIY so take it fwiw. The amp does sound really, really good with either tube in it, although its biased more for EL34s at this point. I am going to convert the NFB switch to add in a resistor to the circuit to go between kt88/el34 types so they are both biased optimally.

For now I bought a MP of SED EL34s to try out. I'm also tempted to try the new issue Genalex kt77, but they are the same price as the kt88, which is $$$. I can get a pair of NOS Mullard EL34s for that price...

Dave 

[Jon L]

I, too, have a Response Audio 3205 Signature and the NS Mullard 12AX7 is excellent in the first gain stage. I've tried the Chinese and Sovtek 12AX7s that came with the amp along with Ei Eleite 12AT7EGs that I had on hand and the Mullards handily bested them all.

By, Sovtek 12AX7, do you mean 12AX7WA/WB or LPS?  Hard to imagine *any* tube, even NOS, "handily" besting Sovtek 12AX7LPS because even my NOS tubes can't do that handily.  In what sonic direction does Mullard reissue lean compared to Sovtek?  I already tried the reissue Tungsol 12AX7 and preferred LPS, but if Mullard is better, I may need to try that..

[Macezeke]

Jon,

They were Sovtek 12AX7WAs. I have not yet taken the opportunity to compare the 12AX7LPS to the NS Mullard 12AX7. Whether or not the Mullard would "best" the Sovtek LPS would, IMHO, depend on the circuit it's used in and the particular taste of the listener. Given that I'm still running 6550EH power tubes, I surmise that the end result would be somewhat hotter up top than I'd normally prefer.

Mac

[Jon L]

Jon,

They were Sovtek 12AX7WAs.
Mac

I see.  Sovtek 12AX7WA is one of my least favorite 12AX7 while 12AX7LPS is one of my favorites, but it still is of the "extended, detailed" school rather than warm, round school.

[carusoracer]

Any word on the 12At7's