Hi all,
first off - yes, I've carefully read the experiences shared in Joe's Tube Lore which many refer to (http://www.audioasylum.com/scripts/d.pl?audio/faq/joes-tubes.html#6DJ8) so I'm not starting from scratch here. Over time I will be trying to get hold of some of the more hard-to-find tubes to test in my Copland CSA 303 pre-amp (no, not for headphone use) which stock comes with the built-to-last Sovtek 6922 that I don't think anyone likes other than for the longevity of them...
For now, I'm particularly interested in two things:
- Positive experiences with current production tubes (general comments, compared with a NOS tube or my old Sovtek 6922, or whatever) including for instance the German designed and (as far as I understand) Chinese built TAD (Tube Amp Doctor) that at least in some Swedish forums is getting quite positive comments. The TAD are supposedly bright out of the box but after a few days of constant playing has had some prefer it over the NOS tubes that they compared with. It was unspecified which NOS tubes were compared with, so please take that part FWIW and not as a serious claim.
- Good European suppliers of NOS tubes that are trustworthy and helpful. Shipping and taxes into the EU is a major buzz killer for me and heck... most of the tubes are European to start with so why should they have to get shipped to the US first and then back?
I'm not restricted to 6922 tubes, as I don't believe my pre-amp pushes the tubes into any extremes or such. That means all 7308, CCa, 6DJ8, ECC88, E88CC, CV2493, CV5358, E188CC and 7DJ8 should be ok too. I believe this also goes for 6H23N, and some others - you know the drill.
