Tube suppliers and favourite tubes

[tony]

Ok this is just to try and gather peoples experiences from using various suppliers in one thread.
I have purchased off ebay from spurious suppliers 12ax7 etc. Not big money and being honest haven't a clue if they were worth the money or not.
At some stage I will tube roll (It sounds so difficult when I heard it first I was wondering what course I would need to attend to be able to do this). KT88 and KT90's. I see that prices for these pieces of glass are a lot juicer than the small valves hence a desire to have a good idea of where are the 'safest' or maybe most reliable suppliers to consider.

There seems to be a huge amount of stuff on the net a lot of which are contradicting each other.

Jim Mcshane seems to be regarded as one of the better shops but when hit with postage and possible taxes makes him expensive.

Has anybody used watford valves which I think look ok. Some reports of grumpiness but sure that doesnt bother me as most men are born with that condition or catch it in later life.

Hotrox's is another uk site that gets ok reviews but it looks a bit radionics like to me. I prefer the watford valve barely working internet site that suggests the business is run from a garage down a lane.

I still believe the general area of the site should be reorganised into a number of sub folders or threads i.e. hifiracks, ss amps, tubes, cables, speakers. It might encourage people to post more about particular areas and build up a knowledge base in one area. i.e if a person is interested in speakers they know that most speaker related stuff will be posted below the speaker subject thread.

[sdiesel77]

Hey Tony,
I am usually buying my tubes on eBay as I am currently finding what I need there.
ie: Shuguang Treasure

[Ken Moreland]

Tony,
I'd agree with Steph on the Shuguang Black Treasure KT-88's and you might pick some up on Audiogon or Canuck Audio Mart (use USPS or Canada Post).
For the smaller tubes try http://audiotubes.com/ or http://www.triplemaudioshop.nl/ and torture yourself with the options.
KM

[tony]

Tony,
I'd agree with Steph on the Shuguang Black Treasure KT-88's and you might pick some up on Audiogon or Canuck Audio Mart (use USPS or Canada Post).
For the smaller tubes try http://audiotubes.com/ or http://www.triplemaudioshop.nl/ and torture yourself with the options.
KM

Thanks Ken but would need a more effusive dialogue about the virtues and sonic soundscapes magically produced by those treasures before moving away from preferred gold lion route.

[Ken Moreland]

Try this http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/e ... 7_kt88.htm but take a look at the prices first.
KM

[Ivor]

In my limited experience I've found price is no guarantee of quality. It's that old synergy thing again where particular tubes will work best with a particular amp or system and it's often trial and error. I'd have quite a few of the smaller tubes knocking around if you want to experiment. It can be a long and maddening process though. Try and enjoy the system as it is for a while so you'll fully appreciate any changes.

[sdiesel77]

Tony,
I'd agree with Steph on the Shuguang Black Treasure KT-88's and you might pick some up on Audiogon or Canuck Audio Mart (use USPS or Canada Post).
For the smaller tubes try http://audiotubes.com/ or http://www.triplemaudioshop.nl/ and torture yourself with the options.
KM

Thanks Ken but would need a more effusive dialogue about the virtues and sonic soundscapes magically produced by those treasures before moving away from preferred golden lion route.

Are you speaking about the NOS ones or the re-edition ?

Because, it's very personal but according to me Golden Lion re-edition are not worth a penny :(
In this case, the move to Shuguang Treasure will be a HUGE step up :p

[jadarin]

In my limited experience I've found price is no guarantee of quality. It's that old synergy thing again where particular tubes will work best with a particular amp or system and it's often trial and error.

I few weeks ago i gave a friend of mine some tubes to try out,all different price ranges.1 set stood out a mile to him,a pair of Sovtek 6922's which i bought on ebay for under €20.

[tony]

I'd have quite a few of the smaller tubes knocking around if you want to experiment. It can be a long and maddening process though. Try and enjoy the system as it is for a while so you'll fully appreciate any changes.[/quote]

Thanks Ivor will talk to you. As you say above the idea is to listen away to what is installed and enjoy it for what it is. I hopefully intend to do that. I know now I am doing what I have done with most hifi parts since my initial foray back into hifi land, I am trying to seek out the various options and listen to the advice offered before blindly jumping in.

[tony]

Tony,
I'd agree with Steph on the Shuguang Black Treasure KT-88's and you might pick some up on Audiogon or Canuck Audio Mart (use USPS or Canada Post).

Are you speaking about the NOS ones or the re-edition ?

Because, it's very personal but according to me Golden Lion re-edition are not worth a penny :(
In this case, the move to Shuguang Treasure will be a HUGE step up :p

Talking about re-edition simply because they are at the extreme of what I would consider paying.
This is the whole problem with tubes. Gold lion reissues dismissed as very poor compared to shugang black treasure(I dont know there price will check). But I have read numerous glowing reviews of ge gold lion reissue. When I asked Jim Mcshane for recommendations for my amp. He listed off various options but feels gold lion are the best on offer before going for nos whatever.

Getting back to Ivors suggestion about try and see thats the big problem. You cant pop out to cloneys and even commit to buy something but then get to try the various options before selecting. Stephane could be very right and if I go off and get gold lion it will be money down the drain. I wonder in your case stephane is it the supplier of the tube or does it just not work with your amp?
Now I understand Ivor's comment about the road to madness!