Favorite tube amp/tube make/model combo

[Myles B. Astor]

The hifi audio hobby hosts plenty of tire-kickers, wafflers, and users. So I don't blame any dealer for exercising their discretion in identifying such "customers" to unceremoniously cut off, even if that gets used against me -- though it rarely does, as I'm not a time waster. Before you call, perhaps ask yourself "how am I going to distinguish myself in this call from the time-wasters?" -- which may include prior research and due diligence to answer questions that can be readily resolved via google/forums.

Though from what I've seen listed of Upscale's tube stock for the past several years, there's really no high-end/unobtanium esoterica to be had. Just long-warehouse'd leftovers from once very HIGH production (mostly) European tube models. There's still some good stuff mixed in there, but nothing that really excites me as a tube fanatic.

That's not quite true. There are a few gems still in Kevin's stock. OTOH, there are very few dealers with REAL NOS tubes any more.

 

[puroagave]

Your friend was lucky he got 5 minutes of his time before he was asked. Do you know how many customers were holding on other lines that were waiting to talk to Kevin in order to buy something? You have to separate dreamers, time wasters, and people who are just using you for your knowledge just to go and buy somewhere else from real customers.

i've been wanting to retube the CAT since i got it, so I put my money where my mouth is and placed a phone order with Kevin yesterday. I arranged the pick up today and the grand poohbah himself gave me the nickel tour. I got to see the bunker (garage) where the 'trophies' reside. he had a few racks with about 4 dozen kt120s cooking ("burning 'em in"). As advertised there's a live human tube tester - a woman actually - sitting there wearing Senns grading small signal tubes one at a time - impressive. we didn't exactly kiss and make up, a handshake was good enough. okay, so he's not the grinch but small talk isn't his forte either. I'll be back.

 

[c1ferrari]

Atma-Sphere MA-1 Silver Edition, Mk. 3.1
BAT VK-150SE
VAC 300.1

 

[Myles B. Astor]

ZZ

i've been wanting to retube the CAT since i got it, so I put my money where my mouth is and placed a phone order with Kevin yesterday. I arranged the pick up today and the grand poohbah himself gave me the nickel tour. I got to see the bunker (garage) where the 'trophies' reside. he had a few racks with about 4 dozen kt120s cooking ("burning 'em in"). As advertised there's a live human tube tester - a woman actually - sitting there wearing Senns grading small signal tubes one at a time - impressive. we didn't exactly kiss and make up, a handshake was good enough. okay, so he's not the grinch but small talk isn't his forte either. I'll be back.

No pics? Kevin also has a select stash of tubes set aside specifically for customers who buy gear from him.

 

[puroagave]

ZZ

No pics? Kevin also has a select stash of tubes set aside specifically for customers who buy gear from him.

nah, maybe next time. he did show me two large boxes he just got stuffed with NOS small signal tubes from India of all places. between the triumph bikes and racks to the rafters stuffed with tubes, his garage doubles as his tube burning lab. the living room is the sound room, other living quarters act as his war room, add'l tube testing, shipping, etc. i'm sure if you flashed enough benjamins he'd open the vault for anyone - kevy's a wheeler dealer.

 

[jbtrio]

Here's my favorite tube combination that matches my system the best.

Coincident Frankenstein Mk.2 monos: Takatisuki TA-300b, Mullard CV378, RCA 6em7
Supratek Sauvingon: Sylvania 52' (bad boys) 6sn7 GT, Sylvania 6F6g, Genelex Gold Lion (cryo) GZ34
K&K Audio Premium Maxxed-out Phonostage: Amperex white label SQ 6922

 

[atmasphere]

I like my amps with Russian power tubes (6H13Cs) and almost any 6SN7s, as long as they are good, except for the newer Russian-made ones.

 

[Mechnutt]

I like my amps with Russian power tubes (6H13Cs) and almost any 6SN7s, as long as they are good, except for the newer Russian-made ones.

I would love to hear one of your Atma-Sphere amps. I almost bought an MP-3 preamp from Audio Perfection. It sounded better than a Mac 2300 and an ARC LS 27 when I auditioned them there. I ended up going with a BAT but could have been perfectly happy with the MP-3

 

[Bruce]

Here's my favorite tube combination that matches my system the best.

Coincident Frankenstein Mk.2 monos: Takatisuki TA-300b, Mullard CV378, RCA 6em7

Agree on the Takatsuki's-- superb tubes--the detail recovery is astonishing

I luv mine with Brimars+ Mullard drivers!

Bruce