Thanks guys for the suggestions.  I got the tubes from a reputable dealer (tc tubes)  I'll check to see if there maybe a problem with the tubes because I don't know if it should be able to come on 98% seated.  If the tubes are fine, I may have to shave the edges.

As a result of having to change my el34's from jj's to some cryo'd mullards i wasn't crazy how my telefunken 7dj8's sounded with them. Too bright and up front.  Changed to a pair of national's 7dj8's also cryo'd and the sound is off the charts...always a good thing to have tubes to roll.  I'm becoming fascinated with tube interaction, the synergy or lack of between them.  This is the first time I've had cyro'd tubes in the power and input positions and wonder how much it helps cuz it sounds so damn good.

PS: those JJs...both sets had lots of hours on them before I compared. Can't recall how many, but I remember thinking the JJ6CA7 need 200-250 to come in.

i agree i think with the right tubes the telefunken 7dj8's would be benign.  i need to come to the realization that any tube needs  time... a lot of time.   patience is a virtue i have yet to attain.  I freakin love the cryo'd set of input (nationals 7dj8) and power tubes(mullard el34) with raytheon ob3a recs, stock oa3's with nos rca's.  found something special that i'm gonna try to stick with...ha ha

Will,

Had no inclination of taking out the jj6ca7's until I had a volume issue in one channel(that Lon helped me fix), loved the sound.  When I had first tried out the cryo'd mullards a couple months ago they seemed way too harsh for me with my telefunken 7dj8's and took them out after a few hours (10).  With no other option but my mullards i put them in and they still seemed a little harsh.  I switched to the national's and the sound was tremendous out of the gate, only thing i adjusted on the torii was the treble...now 50+ hours in it's sensational.  I just listened to the new Iris DeMent, Bob Dylan and Van Morrison cd's first with another set of jj 6ca7's and then with my mullards.  I can unequivocally say that it's the Mullards hands down.  The instruments are clearer, from the vibration of the cymbals to the guitar riffs, a much fuller and complete sound.  I can feel the emotion in the artists voice, the painful truth in Iris, the gruffness of Bob and the beautiful arrangements of Van's tunes.Everything seems to float yet stay tethered  to the original representation meant by the artist...as Steve said in his description of the Torii you don't listen to the music you float in it...I am truly getting that!
I think the cryo'd synergy between the two really helps as well.
just my two cents.

jd

Drat, lost one of my beloved 'fifties RCA 5U5G rectifiers in the Torii, mainly I think because that socket seems to have issues. So I popped in a pair of Sylvanias that are very good . . . but not quite the same.

Poop. At some point I have to send the amp back to have it looked at. But I can't bear to part with it! And I no longer have an extra Decware amp to pop into my second system while the Mk II would be in my main system and the Mk III on the way to Decware, at Decware and on the way back.

Poop.

:)

I lose power to the socket, have to jiggle to find a connection, which is harder and harder. I leave it on as long as I can as each time I have to power up it gets a bit more difficult. I really need to send it back, though I may look for a local repairperson.

Yes. It's not that.

I spoke too quickly, the rectifier is not gone. I just won't light up on either side of the Torii. It will light up in the CSP2 in my second system. It's mate works on either side of the Torii. I think it's because the lip of the base of the tube hits the mounting screws and this one is not going down deep enough to make the connection below, which is problematic on this side in comparison to the others. I'm sure it's a simple fix for the amp.

The rectifiers in now are fine. Just love the sound of the other pair. Can use them in the Mk II.