So, the TS v NU in VT-99. Hard to declare a winner.
The real competition in VT-99 seems to be between the TS and NU, and man are they close. Both are very holographic, great soundstage, both have excellent detail all throughout the range, both have strong bass, both extended both directions. However, the difference is, for me, in the treble/upper midrange. The NU are a bit more pronounced there, to the point where they seem slightly more engaging. After listening back and forth many times, I've decided that the TS is maybe, actually, the more accurate, and the NU is adding a slight edge, but then, maybe the TS is taking a slight (and I do mean ever so slight) edge off. I am not sure that it's a fault in the NU, but in the TS, vocals simply have more "body." At times, I almost hear through the recording, through the mic, and seem to hear what the singer really sounded like. It may be that the NU's edge hides a bit of detail in the upper midrange, I am not sure. Not much, if any. Both drive at very similar levels, and I did not hear an audible change in volume when switching, as opposed to the RCA for example.
However, if I wasn't listening back and forth between them, I doubt I'd be able to say that one was much different than the other. I am trying to find differences, and while I know that I listened enough to know that there was a slight difference, without a doubt, between the 2, it was so very slight, in the grand scheme of things. The NU is a bit in your face, and the TS is a bit laid back, again, comparatively. That is the main difference. Both supremely enjoyable. Both sound tonally "right," both have similar extension and detail. Just slightly different takes on the upper midrange/treble. And I will say this, the TS rp is not worth 500 per pair if you can get the NU for 100-200 per pair. I lucked out and managed to snag 2 pairs of TS rp for about 50 a pair, so deals are still out there. But this thread might end up driving enough traffic to affect the market, so who knows where prices will settle. It has already affected prices some.
One last thing on these 2, I am listening to these on Grado PS500s, which are slightly pronounced towards the treble, and also are very forward. On a WA6 with the Brimar. It may be that with darker headphones, the NU would actually beat out the TS, I am not sure. I will definitely try to find out at the Nashville meet. Also, the NU I bought used, tested strong. The TS are NOS with about 20 hours on them. I feel it's a fair comparison, as I've never heard anyone claim that more hours would add an edge to the TS, and enough hours that it won't change much more. If it changed at all from first listen to now, it would be a slight edge taken off. I might be making that up too, who knows. Very little change.
Afterwards, I listened to the RCA VT-99: This is much closer to the TS rp than I would have thought, reading online reviews. It is the steal of the VT-99, without a doubt. There was a guy not long ago selling matched pairs of these for 60 bucks. I took a 10 minute break after hearing the TS, and when I heard the RCA, I was like "wow, is this really any worse than the TS?" I had to switch back to the TS again, and much like the NU, the RCA are not that far off at all. I would say that of the 3, the NU is slightly on the bright, edgy side, the TS in the middle, and the RCA right under the TS. The RCA might have the slightest veil, but listening to it normally, I did not notice it. That probably contributes to its reputation as darker, with a bigger midrange. Its bass performance might be slightly less detailed, but it does not have any more or less bass presence than the TS, except maybe ever so slightly less definition/extension way down low. Separation/imaging slightly worse. Slightly more 2d. Maybe it is just slightly less detailed/bright, and that would explain everything I hear. Not that it is "dark," just a tad darker, still oodles of detail. Definitely different. Hard to really describe the difference, as well. Laid back.
By the way, the Raytheons are very good too. I'd say they were as good as any of the rest, except they are a bit sibilant. The treble is pronounced, and if only the midrange was also pronounced, that would be fine, but it's not. Vocals can definitely sound more sibilant. That said, I have less than 2 hours on these, so I need to give them more time before I say anything definitive. I think the sibilance will be tamed into something manageable. Very, very close to the RCA otherwise.
To sum it all up, knowing what I now know, I would say to first, snap up a few pairs of the RCA grey glass, and don't pay more than 35-40 per tube. They are the best value, and they will only get more and more rare. If you can find NU and TS at around 100 per tube, they are worth it. The Tung Sol is the king, in my opinion, but by a hair. I would be happy with any of the top 3, very happy.
