Matching tubes, how major factor?

[sinisterm]

I'm gonna get LDIII, my first tube-amp ever, soon and rolling EF95's on it as soon as I get my hands on em. So what I was wondering is: how big is the difference in SQ with matched and not-so-much matched tubes? It seems like a mission impossible to find these Mullards matched.

Could you even break something if the tubes are way off each other?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Negatron]

There should be no problems as long as the tubes are of the same manufacture, that is to say the labelings are the same and the internal construction is the same. As long as the tube is working properly nothing will be harmed by a mis-match. If you can hear a slight volume difference, swap inputs or outputs from side to side since the outputs won't likely be a perfect match either.

And don't worry about the first 30 or so hours, the amp is not going to sound that good until it settles in some. After that you'll enjoy listening to it break-in.
BTW, tube rolling in the first 100 hours is a complete waste of time. The amp will change too much as it breaks in. You will drive yourself crazy.

 

[sinisterm]

Ok about that burn-in, gonna burn it with original tubes for at least 100h. Then trying the EF95's. Tho, could be that they won't even arrive in many weeks, so no hurry on that.

Thanks for the help!