While we can driver ourselves crazy trying to find the “best” tubes for our amps, being able to run a wide variety of output tubes has a number of advantages. One advantage is that it offers a relatively inexpensive way to experiment with “new” tube gear in our systems. Another is that it offers opportunity for both system and music matching. A KT77 might be a great way to add a little rock and roll drive to an Altec two way monitor, which is a little laid back. Conversely, a smoother tube (6F6? I ordered a quad to try them out) might be a better match with Omega Alnico speakers, whose whizzed cone can get a little bit of an edge if you’re not careful.
Or we can swap tubes based on music or recordings. A more forgiving output tube may make a lot of late 70’s vinyl actually sound good.
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