The possibilities are so endless! Because "upgrades" can come in different forms from isolation and power changes, mastering choices of the software material, room treatment. . . even improving one's listening skills. All of which can lead you back to . . . speculating about tubes and rolling some. . . .;)

My late wife's brain spun with endless speculation and though it did bring her benefits, I also know she hardly ever relaxed, hardly ever just let input to her senses flow over and into her without analysis and in many ways. . . anguish. Being with her definitely influenced me and pulled me in that direction and I've made a conscious effort to keep a restraint, a limit on the extent if that makes sense. Sometimes tube-rolling pushes me in the direction I'm trying to avoid.  Knowing myself, I'm glad I have the Torii in the main system and have pretty much ended my tube speculation for that component.

Listening to the system right now I say to myself "Sounds so good, don't mess with anything." Yeah, just days before my ZP3 will arrive, which I predict will be a game-changing component!

Sure, Les, agreed.  But, just imagine a relationship in which, once in a while, you want to add some spice into, by a change of scenery, a weekend out or something along those lines, just to break up the routine.  You should never over do it, just enjoy the sporadic excitement of the change itself.  

Rolling a tube or two every now and then is how this little amp can keep your interest forever, as opposed to be thinking in the newest amp models comig out all the time.

We should not get obsessed with it, but spicing things up now and then will help us all enjoy our hobby even more.  I think this platform provides the perfect means to renew our relationship with it, indefinitely.

That's right, Lon.  I also haven't gone to the moon yet, but I bet is a long journey there ...  :)

Seriously, I understand your position.  That's just fine.  I'm not the least interested in rolling tubes per se, either, just to have some additional fun, now and then.

I'm saying once I've initially settled for a few working tube sets that I enjoy the most out of a fixed (very limited) initial number of alternatives, I think it would be nice to try a few additional tubes over time, just for the thrill of it.

" ... and there other ways to alter the signature too to play with."

That's correct, and I intend to at least try most of them, in due time.  Aspiring for the best sound to enhance the music listening experience is an essential part of this hobby, in my view.  

I think there must be a critical path for an optimal, steady and gradual upgrade succession within one's own budget constraints.  I intend to get as close as possible to that efficient evolution path.  

I'm aiming at this by limiting trial-and-error experiences through some previous analytical screening.  Tube-rolling is just part of this endeavor and the Mini offers an easy introduction to it.

No obsessions, just a passion for music at its best ... I truly share your love for music, Lon, although we may go about it in different ways.  

Rolling a tube or two every now and then is how this little amp can keep your interest forever, as opposed to be thinking in the newest amp models coming out all the time.

Agreed...and reading too much into posts on the net, especially mine, can lead to insanity.  ;D

Excellent find, Les.  I wonder how come USPS takes only 10 days from China and forever down here?  Go figure!  Enjoy your new drivers.

I agree, Les.  I was afraid of this since the beginning.  I just sent you an email with some alternatives.

As a side note, I lived several years in Italy and never confronted this problem, and I really used the mail over there.  Difference is night and day.  It may not have the same standards as in the US, but at least in my experience the postal service was reliable.  The only risks there were strike-related delays (unfortunately, these may be pretty common).

Great!  Another good (though somewhat expensive) alternative.  

On a side note, I read from the Torii MKIII notes that the 6N1P-Ev that I have in the Mini Torii is 'warmish' compared to an equivalent 6922, which is also 'faster.'  Since the latter are also quite cheap (russian), they may be of help in my case, I wonder.

Of course, the ideal would be the Psvanes due to their better sonic attributes.