Will,
It's ok to feel the way you do the difference here is that you have change all or most of your tubes in the amp. Where I have only changed the rectifier tube, that in itself makes a huge difference in what we hear and describe to other. One day I may decide to try other tubes but, for now I am pretty darn happy with just changing the rectifier tube.

At Will,
As I said before my amp is only driving the two mid drivers between 400 hz and 6000 hz everything above and below is driven by different amps.
It kind of makes it easier to roll the tubes as any changes are very noticeable...

Let me see if I can revive this thread.  I've been a cronic tube roller.  It's a bit of a problem, and step 1 is admitting it right?!  

That said - I've bought some tubes from ebay with varied results. Yup, I indeed check the reviews and the outfit itself, as well as review exactly how they are testing tubes & how they consider them 'matched pairs'. All in hopes to try and vet as much as possible before buying.  Ebay has been fine overall but I always hold my breath a bit. I've also bought tubes from Brent Jessee, which has been an excellent experience every time. He simply doesn't always have the tubes in stock I'm looking for.

Which brings me to my question:  Where else should I look to find a matched pair of RCA globe 80's? . I also want to play this game with my very soon coming back from repair from Steve SE84UFO3 monos.

Quote:


That is a pretty specific order. There are probably a dozen or more "tube stores" similar to Brent Jessee (although he would be at or near the top of the list) that might be able to help you. My advice would be to google e.g. "nos tubes" and just email a bunch of places and see if they have what you are looking for.

There are some comments to this effect from Will and I and I think a few others in the forum.

My impression: the coke bottle shaped Type 80 I have used are quite nice and sound to me very similar to the tube type that followed them, the 5Y3 in that shape. And they have a warmer, less open and expansive sound. The Type 80 Globe present in my systems as less warm, noticeably more "holographic," and a bit more dynamic.

I have a few pair of earlier small straight Type 80 that are interesting. They present a condensed and focused sound that is really well-suited for solo instruments, chamber music, small jazz combos, Bossa nova, etc.

1954 RCA 5u4G's on the way as the baseline for NOS rectifiers.  It seems like a common starting point, and often an ending as well.  

I also have some 0D3s on the way.  Seeing if they add a touch of warmth and low end to the sound. (Reading folk's impressions seem to lean this way.)

Converters for the type 80 (and other potential rectifiers) on the way.  I'm searching from a good testing pair of RCA's globes to buy.  No luck yet.  

In general, seems like NOS tubes of all types are going up in price!  Supply and demand in full effect. Even over just the past few years I've seen large price increases.

I'll read up on the AZ1's.  Thanks for introducing yet another option to review.  Love that they are reasonably priced too.

Waving the magic wand - I'd like to hear more warmth, and perhaps a larger soundstage and some more instrument separation.  That said, the monos sound excellent already.

My Tekton Perfect Sets with the SE85UFO3's w/ poly cap upgrade is a transient-fest.  So fast and detailed already.