Why haven't the tube makers hit a homerun in decades?

[candyliquor35m]

Don't get me wrong. The current production tubes do the job but so far when I've replaced them with old stock tubes, I shake my head and think "that's the kind of tube sound I'm looking for".

I know it's all about personal taste as well but why is it so hard to duplicate a old stock mullard or siemens or telefunken or the others? Is it materials, workmanship, know how, luck or all of the above.

Edit: I forgot the time the telefunkens didn't work out in my Jolida JD100 cdp so I guess some of it is synergy as well but I still ended up putting the telefunkens in the amp to offset the groove tubes in the Jolida.

[dragon1952]

I know it's all about personal taste as well but why is it so hard to duplicate a old stock mullard or siemens or telefunken or the others? Is it materials, workmanship, know how, luck or all of the above.



Yeah, materials and workmanship. Evidently the tube making countries that made them for so long passed the trade along between generations. The infrastructure no longer exists although I guess some of the machinery has been re-utilized or recreated.
Most of the tube equipment now days is optimized or designed for todays tubes. I'm sure, the telefunkens would be better in the vintage gear but not necessarily better in todays. I guess there are always exceptions. Personally I think a lot of it is hype and/or lore. The vintage tubes can definitely sound different but that doesn't always make them better. It's probably more to do with a particular tube matching someone's tastes....I don't know. Regardless, the workmanship, materials and infrastructure were no doubt better back then.

[F1nut]

Personally, I think Ei hit a few homers with their 12AX7's and 6CA7's. Too bad they were run out of business.

[W WALDECKER]

Personally, I think Ei hit a few homers with their 12AX7's and 6CA7's. Too bad they were run out of business.I agree,i would also add thier Elite 6DJ8s and the earlier KT90s to the list as well. thanks....WCW III

[george daniel]

So what was the final story on EH? Government shut it down,or strong armed to sell?

[Early B.]

I think "vintage" tubes are tremendously overhyped. Although my tube experience is limited, the handful of vintage tubes I tried didn't sound "better" than the newer tubes.

[SolidSqual]

I bought a bunch of Chinese and Russian New 6NS7 Tubes for comparison with my NOS. So far nothing can beat the NOS Sylvania 6SN7GTA. The tubes may be $80 a pair vs $20 - $40 a pair, but the sound is a hundred times better. The New tubes are often muddy sounding across the board. However, the new tubes are extrmely quiet. I have to use Rothwell Inline Attenuators to eliminate audible hiss with my NOS.

[madmax]

The EH tubes were a homerun for sure!
madmax

[F1nut]

So what was the final story on EH? Government shut it down,or strong armed to sell?

EH is still in business as far as I know. Ei was run out of business by the government.

[halo]

Ei was aquired recently by Westinghouse, no?

[W WALDECKER]

Ei was aquired recently by Westinghouse, no?Yes!

[mhardy6647]

I am quite happy, dollar for dollar, with JJ EL84's in my EICO HF-81.

[reeltrouble1]

I am going with Antony from MF, I think tube rolliing is overrated, actually, he despises tube rolling so MF hard wires their stuff. Not to say I do not have my favorites, but the differences are subtle, maybe one is just a bit smoother or deeper digging, at least that is my experience. I would think there must be some junk tubes made somewhere but I have never really heard one in my tube gear. Oh yea, Tubes Rule.

RT1

[TroyD]

I tend to agree....I view tube rolling sort of like swapping gear in and out. It has it's cool factor (and I've done more than my share of it) but after awhile it's counterproductive. Plug it in, listen to the music.

BDT

[dorokusai]

Tube rolling is predominately for newbies, and there is nothing wrong with it. Once you have established a baseline, its not rocket science. You should roll, what you know sounds good on your rig.

[hearingimpared]

The only thing I can roll in my rig are sorbothane globes!!!:D :p

[285exp]

Probably for the same reason that Stanley Steamer hasn't made any new model steam cars.

[Orbie]

I am a HUGE McIntosh fanboy. I went to college in Binghamton, NY (where McIntosh's are built), and have toured their facility a few times. The level of craftsmanship, engineering, and quality that go into those amps is incredible.

Granted...you'll pay for them. But if it's worth it to you...McIntosh won't disappoint.