Hello,
expect a Nos but modern sound, at least that's what I can say about the 6SN7 Ray Select from Apos Audio.
This tube has a lot of great, good features. I have not found anything negative about it.
In my review of the Select I wrote that it beats the Linlai Elite and some good Nos tubes.
Firstly, the bass range of the Linlai is a bit spongy, the second is Linlai plays a bit more neutral and has a slight depth in the upper end.
With the 6SN7 Ray Select, the bass range is nice and clean and firm, offering a slightly warmer sound.
I also wrote in Review that you shouldn't choose a combination that is too warm, otherwise it will start to mask, which is typical if you listen too warm.
As far as the 6SN7 Ray Reserve is concerned, I think you can expect something similar and perhaps you can immerse yourself even deeper in the music here.
What you should also consider here is that there can be structural changes between Select and Reserve.
Examples of this are black instead of grey plates, a different arrangement of the upper grille as well as plate shape and things like that,
A material selection can also be affected here - copper bars, for example.
Coated not coated.
It should be clear that this is reflected in the price.
In the end, quality tubes have their price.
The comparison between Nos "Holy Grail" vs New Stock.
Here's a question for you: what is Holy Grail supposed to be?
Again, this can be very subjective and is ultimately down to the judgement of the listener.
As a Feliks Euforia owner, I can say that I have tried various 6SN7s and Holy Grails too, but not everyone has to like them.
Personally, I have a hard time with the Brimar GTY where a pair can cost $1200 and can also pass for a CV1988.
Now I have strong reservations about the Euforia as far as the tube is concerned.
In my 2nd amplifier this tube strangely does a better job.
But is it really worth $1200? Not for me, I get many other good tubes for that.
Also for this amp I got an ECC35 Mullard (which passes as Holy Grail) very cheaply.
I asked the seller why he was selling them, they are new.
His answer was that he was not convinced by the Eddie Current Zana deus and preferred other less good tubes.
As you can see it's 50% subjectivity (your ears) & 50% amp thing (setup, amp typical things).
The latter we divide again by 50% because here Dac,speakers,headphones play into it,as well as various software like Roon,Audirvana ect and of course other certain synergies that are hardware related.
What you should understand here and what you should understand is amplifier design, as you can see with the Brimar Gty I mentioned I am not very happy with it on an OTL amplifier, but on a Tc amplifier I am.
Amplifiers also work very differently depending on the design.
Things like operating point of the tube, plate current, is only part of getting the tube to its optimum point. Here it has advantages as well as disadvantages like life cycle ect.
The choice of components in an amplifier is just as important as the transformer winding itself, the construction of the transformer and the choice of transformer material are just some of the other things that make a good amplifier.
Is your amplifier bad now?
Well, judge for yourself.
Personally, I think that commercial amplifiers do not reach their limits.
There are other reasons for this, such as longevity, competition on the market, for example, as well as costs in the procurement of materials, labour costs and manufacturing costs.
Very few people are prepared to wait 3 months for this.
These are things that also influence the life cycle of a tube, as I wrote above.
That's why you can't criticise the quality of the tubes here.
As I have already tested 12AU7 and 6SN7 Select, I can tell you that you don't need to worry here.
The quality is right here and compares favourably with other new stocks where there is still something to learn.
Apart from that, you will learn to understand how your tube amplifier works to get an optimal and satisfying result.
Things like what is the Mu gain of the tubes is something that is important, power output of the amplifier.
What combinations can you run with this amplifier in terms of driver/output tubes.
Rectifier tubes, if provided, can influence the amplifier, albeit subtly in most cases.
As far as the warranty of Apos Audio tubes is concerned, they can't guarantee absolute quality, but you should know that they do their best to offer you a tube that is made in America, regardless of where the tubes are manufactured.
And it's also a kind of trademark in that respect, at least that's how I feel.
3 months is actually a cycle where the tubes report failure.
However, I will tell you that 90% of the time these things are noticeable right at the beginning and in the first few hours.
I have already explained everything else above.
At this point I must also tell you that the human factor also plays a role, listen a lot, let the amplifier run unnecessarily.
Storage of the tubes can be bad, direct sunlight when not in use.
As far as Sophia Electric is concerned, I think it is a pity that it is not mentioned here that they offer different tubes that are categorised in ABC and also in price. Apart from that, you pay for an extended warranty yourself.
Otherwise, the warranty period is only 30 days.
And Apos Audio's offer of 3 months is very generous in comparison.
