Yes

Yes

Posted by Paul_A (A) on August 13, 2010 at 18:18:43

In Reply to: Replacing factory tubes with NOS tubes posted by GOS on August 13, 2010 at 04:15:35:

According to the Stereophile review, which of course also tells you that it compares favorably to units costing three times as much and may be the best preamplifier ever made, "Because of the circuit's simplicity, tube quality has a greater-than-usual effect on the sound. I've been told by Modulus aficionados that certain brands of NOS (new old stock) tubes improve the sonic performance."

My own experience with NOS tubes in an Audio Research preamp is that in the gain stage they have a huge impact, but in the cathode follower position, their impact is negligible. The ARC preamp has one gain tube per channel and one cathode follower. Unfortunately for you, the Modulus 3A has two gain tubes per channel and no cathode follower. That means twice the expense, and good NOS tubes have become very rare and expensive.

One great thing about rolling tubes is that you can adjust the sound of your system. For example, Seimens tubes tend to have a lot of treble, Mullard tends to have very little, and Amperex is somewhere in between. Joe's Tube Lore is an excellent resource for learning about tubes, but Joe isn't infallible, and nothing can replace personal experience. Here are a few of my personal observations:

Tubes from the sixties rock.

Tubes from the seventies and beyond (generally) do not (rock).

Good brands: Amperex, Seimens, Telefunken, Valvo, Muillard.

Bad brands: anything from Russia or Eastern Europe. I've tried quite a few and none of them were any good to my ears, but there are many that I haven't heard, so I may well be wrong.

I think that Bugle Boys are pretty crappy, but they do have a following for some reason, and they are relatively inexpensive.

Some of the best tubes I've ever heard are Mullards E188CC from the eighties, so snobbery about sixties tubes is not always warranted. By the way, an E188CC is compatible with a 6DJ8, as are these: ECC88, E88CC, 6922, 7308, CCa. Joe's Tube Lore will give you the details.

Telefunkens are great, but they cost a fortune, and most being sold now are "pulls" i.e. used.

Finally, here are some honest tube dealers who won't sell pulls as new:

http://www.audiotubes.com/6dj8.htm
https://www.tubeworld.com/index_high.htm
http://www.micronetics-trading.com/page3.html

Stereophile's (predictably) ecstatic review (Open in New Window)

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Replacing factory tubes with NOS tubes - GOS 04:15:35 08/13/10 (31)

It's not just the M3 it's the M2x all the way through.. - wheezer 14:09:53 08/14/10 (1)

RE: It's not just the M3 it's the M2x all the way through.. - freetowor@yahoo.com 19:08:54 08/14/10 (0)

RE: Replacing factory tubes with NOS tubes - Rick58 23:14:29 08/13/10 (23)

Whoops, see you have an Audible Illusion Modulus 3A - Rick58 23:17:41 08/13/10 (22)

Audible Illusion Modulus preamplifiers- 6DJ8 family ratings and AI tube recomendations - Bambi B 11:26:31 08/14/10 (18)

RE: Audible Illusion Modulus preamplifiers- 6DJ8 family ratings and AI tube recomendations - Michael Samra 14:45:54 08/15/10 (2)

The infuriating 6DJ8 - Bambi B 15:49:16 08/15/10 (1)

RE: The infuriating 6DJ8 - Michael Samra 17:16:23 08/15/10 (0)

Do you know what the operating points are of the AR's tubes?... - wheezer 21:43:03 08/14/10 (12)

Well, I know that 300 is more than 130 ! - Bambi B 07:01:31 08/15/10 (11)

I'm not trying, in no way to start a flame war... - wheezer 08:16:09 08/15/10 (10)

My understanding of the Audio Research SP10 tubes' function - Bambi B 13:59:55 08/15/10 (9)

RE: My understanding of the Audio Research SP10 tubes' function - wheezer 15:49:48 08/15/10 (8)

You are not reading my posts! - Bambi B 20:45:58 08/15/10 (7)

You need to go to sleep; you're very confused. - wheezer 21:01:24 08/15/10 (6)

" You need to consider voluntary euthanasia; you have no functional sensory apparatus." - Bambi B 13:49:24 08/16/10 (5)

Enjoy your TUBE EATER!!! (nt) - wheezer 15:20:22 08/16/10 (4)

Thanks! But, I don't have a "TUBE-EATER" to "enjoy" ! Now- an epic tale of 19 years and counting from Amperex 7308's ! - Bambi B 21:33:11 08/17/10 (3)

RE: Thanks! But, I don't have a "TUBE-EATER" to "enjoy" ! Now- an epic tale of 19 years and counting from Amperex 7308' - daveyf 09:20:32 08/18/10 (2)

The 6FQ7 / 6CG7 in the Audio Research D70 - Bambi B 10:07:37 08/18/10 (1)

RE: The 6FQ7 / 6CG7 in the Audio Research D70 - daveyf 22:41:18 08/18/10 (0)

RE: Audible Illusion Modulus preamplifiers- 6DJ8 family ratings and AI tube recomendations - Rick58 13:38:00 08/14/10 (1)

RE: Audible Illusion Modulus preamplifiers- Tesla 6922? - Bambi B 18:56:49 08/14/10 (0)

INteresting: Tesla NOS 6922s - Rick58 23:29:00 08/13/10 (2)

RE: INteresting: Tesla NOS 6922s - Paul_A 06:08:11 08/14/10 (1)

RE: INteresting: Tesla NOS 6922s - Rick58 08:38:53 08/14/10 (0)

Yes - Paul_A 08/13/1018:18:43 08/13/10 (1)

Follow up from Kevin Deal - Paul_A 09:17:01 08/14/10 (0)

RE: Replacing factory tubes with NOS tubes - jea48 07:35:47 08/13/10 (0)

You need to do some research.......... - rgurney 05:06:06 08/13/10 (0)

That depends on the gear, the tubes, and your ears. (nt) - Jack G 04:53:40 08/13/10 (0)

Follow Ups

Yes - Paul_A 08/13/1018:18:43 08/13/10 (1)

Follow up from Kevin Deal - Paul_A 09:17:01 08/14/10 (0)

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