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If I replace the 4 12AT7s, do they need to be matched?
Thanks.
Follow Ups:
Berning designed the EA-230 so tubes should last a long, long time, i.e. 10,000 hours or more. He also voiced the amp using the tubes supplied. Honestly, unless a tube is actually bad, I wouldn't replace or tube roll. Stop neurosing, just plug and play. Enjoy.
Not really obsessing. The previous owner had it checked out by Berning with some different tubes installed which he said sounded better. Then he put the set that's in there (not matched by brand, or anything else, for all I know, but used two owners ago) back in when he sold it.Thought it might be a good idea to start anew.
If I do, do they need to be matched?
Fishfood, hi. 12AT7 NOS are plentiful and not expensive. I think most of the EA-230 I have seen had Yugo (E Europe) 12AT7 tubes in them - heater flash and all. You could put in 6201. Like I mentioned before - the 6SN7 is specified as 6SN7GTB. It has to be the GTB version (higher dissipation). The output tubes (6JN6) are being run as conservatively as possible in Class B where there is minimal current in the tube during no-signal conditions. Do the 12AT7 need to be matched? It wouldn't hurt. Is it really necessary? Probably not. If this is an initial foray into "tube world" I would recommend learning as much as possible about how tubes operate and the characteristics of the tubes in your amp. I always recommend learning from the schematic as well. This kind of knowledge has a good effect on jitters which may be partially caused by not knowing.
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