Matching tubes to amps

[jeeem]

Although I have several "valve" amps, I'm only beginning to discover TubeWorld. I don't even know what tubes are inside some of my vintage equipment because I've never looked and wouldn't understand the significance of what I find.

Now, with a fair amount of time on my hands, I want to learn about what I have and decide if I should try some upgrades.

Do you know of a good source online for identifying which tubes are required, and which kinds/brands work best, in various amps? I replaced some tubes in my Dynakit ST-70 a while back, but that's about it. Here's what I have:

Vintage:
Dynakit ST-70
The Fisher 500C
Sansui 1000A
Kenwood KW-60 (got it for cheap just because I dig its retro look)

New-ish:
Jolida Glass FX-10
Boyuurange A50 MKIII 300B
Reisong A20 KT88
Rockville Blu-Tube

Where should I start?

- - - - - - - - - -

The old and the new:

 

[Allison3]

Yikes! Doesn't your Fisher get a bit, um, warm under your Thorens?

 

[jeeem]

I thought about that, too. But the Fisher is open on the back (and halfway on the top) so it hasn't been an issue. I have some feet to put under the wood block the Thorens is sitting on to raise it up a little more.

 

[Allison3]

I thought about that, too. But the Fisher is open on the back (and halfway on the top) so it hasn't been an issue. I have some feet to put under the wood block the Thorens is sitting on to raise it up a little more.

Phew. I'm a new 500-C (and tube) owner, so I probably don't know what the baseline of "too hot" is.

 

[cademan]

Everything's available on the web. Just look up "tube amplifiers and how they work".

 

[FlaCharlie]

Although I have several "valve" amps, I'm only beginning to discover TubeWorld. I don't even know what tubes are inside some of my vintage equipment because I've never looked and wouldn't understand the significance of what I find.

Now, with a fair amount of time on my hands, I want to learn about what I have and decide if I should try some upgrades.

Do you know of a good source online for identifying which tubes are required, and which kinds/brands work best, in various amps? I replaced some tubes in my Dynakit ST-70 a while back, but that's about it. Here's what I have:

Vintage:
Dynakit ST-70
The Fisher 500C
Sansui 1000A
Kenwood KW-60 (got it for cheap just because I dig its retro look)

New-ish:
Jolida Glass FX-10
Boyuurange A50 MKIII 300B
Reisong A20 KT88
Rockville Blu-Tube

Where should I start?

Vintage amps generally have the tube type printed on the chassis next to the socket. Just take a look. Newer amps, especially Chinese, may not but the tubes themselves are labelled.

Need more info? Google is your friend. And search this forum.

Take tube rolling (replacement) recommendations with a grain of salt. There are so many variables between different setups, not to mention each individual's hearing, that you'll likely waste a lot of money.

Take tube rolling recommendations from tube dealers, especially the "boutique" dealers, with a cup of salt. The "magic" tubes are always the ones they are selling at the moment. Don't fall for the hype.

Tubes can get very expensive. I usually check the prices at a major dealer, who happens to be a short drive from me, and compare them to others. Sometimes they're cheaper, sometimes not. They are mostly all new old stock. The big dealers have warehouses full of tubes - literally millions of them.

https://vacuumtubes.net/prices.htm

New production tubes often have famous brands from the past printed on them but they are not the same at all. Somebody just bought the rights to use the name. So be aware. That doesn't mean they're not good tubes but many people, myself included, prefer old production. YMMV.

Also, there's nothing wrong with strong testing used tubes. You will pay a premium for new old stock (NOS). I often buy tubes on eBay and I've rarely had problems. Spend some time and educate yourself first and then shop around - carefully.

Re: your 500C setup. That has got to be creating too much heat for the amp and maybe even for the TT. Excess heat will affect overall reliability and tube life. I wouldn't even do that with a SS amp and tube amps need much better ventilation. I'd find another place for the TT immediately.

 

[Dswankey]

...I have several "valve" amps... I don't even know what tubes are inside some of my vintage equipment... I want to learn about what I have and decide if I should try some upgrades.

Where should I start?

Wanting to learn is a great first step, kudo's to you for taking it. Too many times on this forum folks just want someone to do the research for them, hold their hand etc which is quite annoying.

I would start by searching here on the AK database, so for example "Fisher 500C" Look for the service manual which will have the compliment of tubes and or tube layout in that particular unit. The rest of the vintage ones should be there as well.

As for the "new-ish" ones a simple internet search of that brand & model should point you to what you're looking for and if not you could always contact the manufacturer via their website.

http://akdatabase.com/AKview/

https://www.musicdirect.com/integrated-amp/jolida-fx10-integrated-tube-amp

 

[Dswankey]

Also there are some great stickies here in the Tube section that discuss basics and beyond

 

[jeeem]

As for the "new-ish" ones a simple internet search of that brand & model should point you to what you're looking for and if not you could always contact the manufacturer via their website.

I guess I got discouraged when the Rockville manual didn't even mention the tubes and I couldn't read what was on the tubes themselves. But I'd forgotten I have downloaded manuals for just about everything I've accumulated over the years! (Bless you, hifiengine.)

 

[Palustris]

Take tube rolling (replacement) recommendations with a grain of salt. There are so many variables between different setups, not to mention each individual's hearing, that you'll likely waste a lot of money.

Take tube rolling recommendations from tube dealers, especially the "boutique" dealers, with a cup of salt. The "magic" tubes are always the ones they are selling at the moment. Don't fall for the hype.

Well said. There seems to be some notion perpetuated by those new to tubes, that there is some kind of magic secret to finding just the right tube manufacturer or tube for each type of equipment. I have been using tubes since about 1970 and the entire "tube rolling" phenomenon didn't start until about the 1990s.

Yes, it is possible that some tube types may sound different from another, but those with experience building and designing tube equipment understand that it is simple to change the "sound" of a tube by changing the operating point. That's precisely why the the "boutique" dealers' florid descriptions of some random tube, like those of a fine wine, are total bullshit: you can change the sound from etched and dry to romantic and liquid simply by changing the operating point!

 

[gadget73]

The big problem with asking opinions about what tube sounds best is that its very subjective. Thats like asking what color is best. What you like may not be what others like, and you may be lucky enough that they all sound about the same. I'm one of those people, which I consider to be a good thing but other people find infuriating. For me it means I don't need to drive myself nuts and buy bucketloads of tubes to try and find the magic sauce that makes it all sound just so.


and yes I tend to echo @Palustris thoughts about a lot of it being marketing wank. Replacing a bad tube with a good one is going to sound different, but it has far less to do with the brand/date code/getter shape/plate color than the fact that one is bad and one is not.