Metropoulos Forum

Can anybody describe how much of a difference NOS make in the power tube section???

I can easily hear the difference between tube types in the power section (6L6/EL34/etc.).

Is the sonic difference between modern production tubes and NOS tubes as large as the differing sonic characteristics of tube types (given that the current production tubes are a quality brand and not lo-grade super cheapos)???

Ive never bought many NOS tubes but Ill put it this way. Why should the power tubes be any different the the preamp tubes? Different brands of current production can make a big difference so... goes to reason.

I have compared chinese 6l6's with the nos ge6l6's i currently have in bandmaster and can say that there was a huge difference. I agree with Billy Batz that if it makes a difference with preamp tubes, which it does, so it will do the same with power tubes. My opinion at least.

But not all NOS tubes are greated equal, just like current production. NOS Mullards are THE tube for Marshalls. Current production is very good, but the Mullards are better. But at current prices I can afford to stick with SED or JJ!

rjgtr wrote:But not all NOS tubes are greated equal, just like current production. NOS Mullards are THE tube for Marshalls. Current production is very good, but the Mullards are better. But at current prices I can afford to stick with SED or JJ!

Yeah, $300-400 for a matched quad is a good reason to stick with my JJ's.

Jeff