Concerns over tube supply?

sleepysurf

sleepysurf

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Mike, and others, who use and sell tubed gear, how are you reacting to the news that Russia has blocked all tube exports? Are there adequate Chinese versions to fill the void?

I'm due to replace the 3 year old 6N30P tubes in my C-J preamp, but the Sovtek and Electro-Harmonix supplies have been cut off (for example... www.thetubestore.com - Performing Maintenance)

I'm sure some will be available on eBay for absurd prices, but I'll pass. Fortunately, I can use my new Anthem MRX receiver as a Pre, if need be.

Also, how will manufacturers of primarily tubed gear manage this situation? I doubt there are any U.S. or European companies with the know-how, equipment, or capital, to build a new tube manufacturing facility, and this Soviet "Tube Cold War" is likely to go on for an extended time.
 
It’s a great question and there are supplies, also Chinese alternatives and of course NOS. At the moment, we are waiting to see what the manufacturers suggest and recommend and ultimately start to use. I’m curious if “revoicing” of some circuits will need to take place as these tubes all have their own unique flavor.

The iQ circuitry for VAC will help in that you can use almost any KT based tubes and that alone gives options. The input tubes shouldn’t be hard to find.


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Mike said:
It’s a great question and there are supplies, also Chinese alternatives and of course NOS. At the moment, we are waiting to see what the manufacturers suggest and recommend and ultimately start to use. I’m curious if “revoicing” of some circuits will need to take place as these tubes all have their own unique flavor.

The iQ circuitry for VAC will help in that you can use almost any KT based tubes and that alone gives options. The input tubes shouldn’t be hard to find.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
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I am reminded of Episode 2 of "When Music Matters" where Kevin Hayes talks about voicing and the process of selecting each component. Not every manufacturer will be as meticulous.

VAC - When Music Matters - 2022 episode 2: 'Voicing' an audio component - YouTube
 
sleepysurf said:
Looks like the Russian tube blockade has been resolved, to some extent, but with huge price increases coming ... Tung-Sol 5881 Power Tube | 5881 TUNGSOL | Electro-Harmonix
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Yep - KT120 have almost doubled in price to $105 each. Many other tubes show similar price increases. Sovtek 6H30 are also now over $60, ouch. It sucks, but I'll be grateful to have tube supply even at these prices! What good is a $10K stereo amp if you have to worry about replacing its tubes? Going from a $200 to $400 replacement cost is OK in that scenario. This will mostly hurt the budget tube amps makers / enjoyers, the DIY amp community, and musicians.

Dizzie said:
I am reminded of Episode 2 of "When Music Matters" where Kevin Hayes talks about voicing and the process of selecting each component. Not every manufacturer will be as meticulous.

VAC - When Music Matters - 2022 episode 2: 'Voicing' an audio component - YouTube
Click to expand...
Yes, having experimented now with various tubes and upstream components, it's clear that VAC carefully voiced the 200iQ amps for KT88. When I use a full VAC stack with 200iQ's, Master, and Renaissance phono, KT88 is the only power tube which is unconditionally enjoyable. The KT120 is almost great - but just a bit too dull, dark and sleepy. The KT150 was quite frankly awful. Stock Gold Lion KT88 are the best overall, but EH KT88 can be rollicking fun for rock & pop. It's really a matter of flavor when it comes to which KT88 you like best. But you'll only get the "complete" musical picture in this full VAC stack with KT88 types. You can also modify the flavor and make some overall improvements on the Russian Tung-Sol 6SN7GTB, but it has to be done carefully - those stock 6SN7 are really quite good sounding, and VERY strong at driving the power tubes (V2). Most vintage 6SN7 are not going to be as "stiff" when it comes to driving KT88 (or 120). I've found most success with NOS tubes in the V1 slots, so far.

Now when you change the 200iQ upstream to non-VAC, other possibilities can open up for its power tubes. I feel like the ARC Reference 6 and 200iQ's fitted to KT120 is a cute "hack" that somehow works out brilliantly! But I totally get why many VAC 200iQ owners with VAC preamps (which I imagine is most of them) didn't like the KT120. If you change from KT88 you're going against its voicing, and you'll have to compensate for this elsewhere.
 
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