Tubes for Mcintosh C500T

[wakkz]

Hi all, just gonna check with you all what tubes to get for my new C500T

I know the most of you says Gold Lions, the dealer I got contact with here in Sweden doesn't have them. He do have however alot more, mostly NOS. Before I decide to order Gold Lions from abroad I thought about asking you all about these ones he offer first.

Telefunken Badged Ei tubes from 1980, 30euro a piece.

Brimar CV4004/ECC83 from 1962, 50euro a piece.

Philips ECC83, Siemens, Mullard, Tungsram.

Anything ring a bell?

[jdandy]

Hendrik.......All the tubes you listed as available from you local dealer have proved to be excellent sounding tubes. You can never go wrong with Telefunken. As a matter of fact, the Telefunken tubes and the Gold Lion tubes sound very similar. Check the bottom of the Telefunken tubes. If the are authentic Telefunken there will be a diamond shape <> cast in the glass between the tube's pins.

I have also had experience with the military grade Philips tubes (JAN12AX7), and NOS Mullard. The Philips tubes were very musical, and ultra quiet. The NOS Mullard tubes were just a bit on the bright side for my taste in the preamp I used them with. Don't let that dissuade you from trying the Mallard tubes. They are highly regarded.

Tube rolling can get addictive. Each tube manufacturer has their own specific sound, and sampling these different sounds is lots of fun.

[wakkz]

Dan Ive seen you mention Telefunken alot of times, if the sound very similair I almost might aswell get those instead, have you tried the reissued ones? He said that real telefunken smooth plates are super expensive..

Ever heard anything about that Brimar one? Sound strange that a tube thats 50 years old would sound good and last better than reissued gold lions (His words).

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by wakkz

Dan Ive seen you mention Telefunken alot of times, if the sound very similair I almost might aswell get those instead, have you tried the reissued ones? He said that real telefunken smooth plates are super expensive..

Ever heard anything about that Brimar one? Sound strange that a tube thats 50 years old would sound good and last better than reissued gold lions (His words).

Hendrik.......One of biggest reasons that old stock tubes command such a high price is their shrinking availability. They are no longer being produced. In the peak time of tube use manufacturers competed for the market and military business. They put much time and resources into developing proprietary metals for the emitter and collector plates. These metallurgy formulas were secret and guarded by each company. Today's reissued tubes don't always have the same metals inside, in fact they often do not, so their sound and life expectancy is not the same as the old stock tubes.

Genuine new old stock (NOS) tubes are difficult to come by. Since there is a renewed demand for vacuum tubes in the audio market, there are many dealers who are less than honest when it comes to selling tubes, and will sell used tubes as NOS for the increased profit margin. If you deal with trusted reputable dealers the possibility of getting used or fake tubes generally disappears.

I have not had the opportunity to listen to a Telefunken reissue. I did not know there was such a thing, but if true I would probably give them a try. I am presently using NOS Telefunken 12AX7 tubes in my new C2300 preamplifier, and my ears are telling me they sound quite similar to the Gold Lion tubes. By this weekend I may swap the Teles for the Gold Lions to test what difference I hear, and which I prefer in the C2300.

Brimar tubes were made in England. There is still a supply of Brimar NOS tubes that run about $200 for a matched pair. I have never heard them, so I can't give you any addition information about them.

[wakkz]

He said that those telefunkenbadged Ei tubes from the 80s are telefunken reissues, manufactured with real telefunken machines and resembless the smooth plate.

Guess I wait and see what you think about the change to gold lions from telefunken :P Can't wait!

Man choosing tubes is tough stuff!