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Early this week I ordered two spare vacuum tubes for my Project Tubebox II. Not that I actually needed to replace the exisiting tubes (it's only a month old), but of course you never know when one might die and I don't want to be caught short if and when that happens.
Since I am 100% satisifed with the sound coming out of this phono stage (I love it) I wanted the exact same type of tube it originally came with. Unfortunately these tubes are simply branded as "Project", and other than knowing they are a 12AX7, there is nothing really to say exactly who makes them, etc.
I contacted the Australian distributer and asked if they could verify with Project that the "Project" branded tubes they stock are the exact ones that Project use in the Tubeboxes they are currently making. The service guy emailed Project that morning and by close of business he rang me to confirm they were indeed the exact ones they use.
So this parcel arrives on my doorstep this morning. I did not even think it was the tubes, because it was bigger than a housebrick and weighed just as much. When I saw that this parcel had actually come from the parts department, I thought they had made a monumental picking error and had accidentally sent me a couple of phono stages instead of just the tubes.
I set about opening the package and a couple of hours later I had finally undone the wrapping
to reveal two very substantial and heavy white cardboard boxes.
To give you an idea of the size, you could probably fit a dozen 12AX7 tubes in this white box.
After opening the white, box my jaw dropped as I slid this out:
And that clear slider on top of the box is glass - not plastic! So do Project source their tubes from Grado? (just kidding).
On top of the wooden box was also what appears to be a printed noise floor test datasheet specific to this particular tube
I have to say I am greatly impressed, though my amazement is somewhat tempered by the fact that I could buy a 12AX7 for around half the price of these (then again some 12AX7s are also pretty expensive)...but then again Project have been cunning in branding the tubes with their name with no way for a tube-layman like me to know the precise origin.
Anyway, I have not removed the tubes from their velvet coffins and truth be known they look so cute in there it will be a sad day when I do finally have to use them. I summary this has to be the most stunning packaging for any audio related component I have ever bought. I can't believe a single, humble tube deserves packaging royalty like this, but clearly Project does! Very impressive!
Since I am 100% satisifed with the sound coming out of this phono stage (I love it) I wanted the exact same type of tube it originally came with. Unfortunately these tubes are simply branded as "Project", and other than knowing they are a 12AX7, there is nothing really to say exactly who makes them, etc.
I contacted the Australian distributer and asked if they could verify with Project that the "Project" branded tubes they stock are the exact ones that Project use in the Tubeboxes they are currently making. The service guy emailed Project that morning and by close of business he rang me to confirm they were indeed the exact ones they use.
So this parcel arrives on my doorstep this morning. I did not even think it was the tubes, because it was bigger than a housebrick and weighed just as much. When I saw that this parcel had actually come from the parts department, I thought they had made a monumental picking error and had accidentally sent me a couple of phono stages instead of just the tubes.
I set about opening the package and a couple of hours later I had finally undone the wrapping
To give you an idea of the size, you could probably fit a dozen 12AX7 tubes in this white box.
After opening the white, box my jaw dropped as I slid this out:
And that clear slider on top of the box is glass - not plastic! So do Project source their tubes from Grado? (just kidding).
On top of the wooden box was also what appears to be a printed noise floor test datasheet specific to this particular tube
I have to say I am greatly impressed, though my amazement is somewhat tempered by the fact that I could buy a 12AX7 for around half the price of these (then again some 12AX7s are also pretty expensive)...but then again Project have been cunning in branding the tubes with their name with no way for a tube-layman like me to know the precise origin.
Anyway, I have not removed the tubes from their velvet coffins and truth be known they look so cute in there it will be a sad day when I do finally have to use them. I summary this has to be the most stunning packaging for any audio related component I have ever bought. I can't believe a single, humble tube deserves packaging royalty like this, but clearly Project does! Very impressive!
