Man, the recent prices of good tubes is really putting a damper on getting the best for the Woo amps. I'm fortunate to already own most of what I want, but I shudder to imagine how much a new amp owner would have to fork out for tubes like the 5998, GZ34 metal and TS BGRP.
I guess I'll use my affordable tubes for the month of December, just like when I first got my WA22 three years ago, and see if the magic still remains. And perhaps I'll find some combinations that sound good and are affordable as compared to the madness we are witnessing.
With recent years increased demand and nos stocks decreasing, it isn't a mystery... But maybe some will discover some low price magic tube again and.share it. Then demand will rise and so will prices.
We can conclude that the glorious days of cheap nos tubes are gone. .. Unless maybe tube amp designers find new designs taking advantage of surplus stock. The new Leben CS300 F amp use tubes claimed never to have been used in audio before, JAN-6197(GE) and 17EW8. Don't know about prices, though.