Wayne Parham Messages: 18787 Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)
I hate this, Bruce. But I feared it might happen too.
I think it's a two-fold problem. One problem is the materials needed. Some aren't as readily available, and are expensive. So I would expect the temptation to substitute for cheaper materials might come into play. And a second problem is modern tube manufacturers aren't as likely to even try to be as concerned with quality as they were decades earlier. Their market is smaller, and I think the companies themselves are smaller. I have a hunch they feel less "visible" and more likely to cut corners.
Tube loving audiophiles will naturally suggest NOS tubes. That's awesome where you can find them. But new equipment manufacturers need to be able to find consistent quality new production tubes. So I'm with you on this: I hope the current tube manufacturers understand that they are visible, and that their products are used by sophisticated customers. They can't slack on quality without losing their place in the market.
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