It almost sounds like you'd like a neutral, detailed tube- one that presents music closely accurate to the recording. How much you're comfortable spending is something to consider. Telefunken are known for their neutrality and detail. Many Amperex are detailed and quite far from boring, but the best Amperex are expensive- same is true for Siemens. That's not to say to you have to spend a lot to get great sound though.
Absolutely. The tubes that sound great in my audio chain may not necessarily sound the best in yours. Too many variables.
With that said, please don't become discouraged. It will all be worth it when you find the tubes that provide that perfect synergy.
Take it from a longtime Bottlehead - you'll eventually find the right tubes - that present that magical combination. It's kinda of like the combination to a lock - you'll know when you've found it - it just clicks! Sometimes it's an intial infatuation, it's when you find that longterm love that's great. You'll find you're just completely satified. But if you get a bit bored you can always try something else. Good thing about the Lyr you don't have to unscrew the cover to swap tubes. My damn amps have 8 screws on the lids!
Just to clarify from my previous post - on the Russian 6n23p the getter is that little disc near the top that looks like an inverted flying saucer(I always found that kinda cool). The getter post is what holds it up in mid-air. On some rare Reflektors and some rare Voskhods it is a thin curved wire - those are very good. Depending on year they can be excellent. Other Reflecktors have two dimpled plates holding the getter - these are more common and not as good sounding. On most Voskhods there is a flat plate that is intregral with the shield. The shield in kinda on the outside between the plates. It's actually an electrostatic shield. There is one both sides, one side with getter post. The shields can be either gray or silver. The Reflektors have these shields as well. The same applies to Seimens CCas - at least the shield coloring. Hope that clears up any confusion. My experience with the new production EV and EB is they are ok, nothng special - even the cryod ones I bought from Cryoset. Good luck! n
Here's a fun read for y'all.
Firebottles FTW!!!
Oh, and it's totally worth getting to the end. We've all heard it before, just not in the author's hilariously outlandish language. You'll know it when you read it. Sniffing getter gas indeed
