A: Congratulations for getting new tubes for your precious tube amp. Chances are either your stock tubes are getting aged, or you are about to experiment some different tubes hopefully to improve the system sound to the better. Either way, it is a fun and exciting experience.

Please follow the steps below to change your tubes:

Step 1.: Confirm that your amp is working fine.

Sometimes you come to the point to buy new tubes because the amp somehow isn’t working properly. The issue could be the tubes currently in the amp are getting too aged; it could also be that the amp needs a re-conditioning in case resistor / capacitor are out of spec from aging. This is a very technical process – if you are not sure and cannot make an educated assessment from experience, talk with a tube amp service technician.

Step 2: Remove old tubes from the amplifier.

At this point, you know that your amp is working fine except tubes to be changed. Power off the amp and let the tubes cool off for at least 5 minutes. Use a COTTON cloth to wrap around the tubes then gently rock / pull it one by one out of the socket. Power tubes (such as EL34 and KT88, plus driver tubes 6SN7 etc) has a guide pin in the center bottom of the tube, plus 8 other pins around the base. You should only gently rock the tubes in case excessive force will break the center guide pin. If the tubes haven’t been removed for a long time, it may feel ‘sticky’ and ‘tight’. Be patient and slowly to remove each one. Never use bare hand to remove tubes – you will leave oily (you may not see it) finger print on your tubes and that will shorten tube life. Also the tubes may still hot to touch – do NOT use bare hands. If not careful you may also break the glass enclosure of the tubes (this is very rare as you have to use lots of force to break the glass), having a cotton cloth around the tubes will protect your hand from accidentally pinched by broken glass. Sound scary yet? These are all ‘what if’s’ and do not happen often. Just use good common sense and be gentle when handling tubes. If you find yourself nervous, take a deep breath before doing it. It’s just glass tubes

Smaller signal tubes such as 12AX7, 12AU7 and 12AT7 do not have center guide pins. Just gently rock and pull it out of sockets. It is extremely difficult to break small tube glass enclosure so you are safe to handle it.

Use COTTON cloth when touching tubes – synthetic materials can easily melt with heat and leave residual and a big mess on your precious tubes. This is not very fun to clean up but it’s doable. Use pure medical alcohol (available from drug store – look for 99.9% purity) dabbed on cotton pad (also available from drug store, usually at women cosmetics department for removing make-up) to wipe the residual completely off.

Step 3:

Put your stock tubes away if they are still good and have life left for future back up use. Wrap each tube separately so that the glass won’t clunk with each other in storage. Tubes are very fragile  especially the internal structure. Treat them like eggs, except tubes are non-perishable and can last longer than us

Step 4: Get on the new toys

Take your new tubes out of the package carefully (same rules apply as you remove tubes – cotton cloth, over a SOFT surface in case you drop it – yes it does happen especially when you are nervous or overly excited, and handle it very gently).

Do a visual exam of the tubes – you should have done this when you receive your new tubes from courier or mailman. Damaged tubes should be replaced by the vendor, and I hope you are dealing with a reputable vendor who covers shipping damage, not a seek-n-hide or ‘hit-n-run’ type of vendor. If no visible damage, no loose parts floating inside the glass enclosure, chances are your tubes have survived shipping and handling by a large extent.

Hold the tube in your hand (wrap with a cotton cloth!), and GENTLY shake beside your ear. Minor tinkling is fine as there are many metal parts inside the tube, but if something sound very suspiciously loud leading you believe some structure has been damaged, you should contact your vendor to clarify and possibly seek remedy.

When tube passing both steps above, your chances of tubes survived shipping have increased to very positive.

Now install each tube to the corresponding socket. Many tubes have the same pin layout but it DOES NOT mean you can put them in any matching socket. You MUST dig out your amp manual if the tube type is not printed on the amp to make sure the right tube is going to the right socket. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT OTHERWISE YOU WILL PERMANENTLY DAMAGE YOUR AMP.

Use the guide pin of the tube to install it properly – then gently press it down to allow a secure firm contact between tube pins and socket holes.

Repeat this with all tubes that you are replacing, until your amp is equipped with your new tubes. Congratulations.. you are almost done

Step 4: Bias your new tubes…

Some amps are of manual bias – i.e. you can adjust bias settings based on amp manufacturer’s suggestions. Always follow these ‘suggestions’ – treat it as ‘orders’, not ‘suggestions’ if you want your amp run at optimal condition and sound the best. You can set bias about 10% below the suggested settings to extend tube useful life, but you may lose a tiny bit of power / punch. It’s a trade off that you need to negotiate between your ears and your wallet and see which one wins

Now turn on your amp with new tubes all installed – turn the volume to ZERO. Keep a very close eye to any sudden loud noise (this usually indicate an open plate in tubes with heat – tube needs to be replaced if this happens), strong flash of light (if this happens on small signal tube such as 12AX7/ 12AU7/ 12AT7 etc. and flash disappear right away, it is fine. But flash usually is NOT a good sign for large power tubes such as EL34 / KT88 and 300B etc.). If you hear loud noise from speakers, turn off the amp immediately and switch tubes from left channel to right channel – if same noise moves to the opposite channel, you know you have a problematic tube. Contact your vendor to arrange replacement.

If all good quiet and no big flash, gradually turn up volume to hear if the amp is playing normal. Do not bother with critical listening – this is just to confirm new electronics parts are working as they are designed to function in a live circuit. Give it 2-3 minutes for tubes to warm up, then turn OFF your source signal, turn amp volume to zero, check your tube bias now. If too high, bring it down to close to the suggested bias value. If too low, bring it up to close to the suggested value. In most cases when replacing aged tubes with new ones, you will need to turn down bias value. It doesn’t have to be dead accurate at this step, as with warm-up, tubes will change and bias will drift too. This is not tube defects – it is just warming up process.

Leave the amp on for about 10-20 minutes and play music. I strongly suggest you NOT to leave the room at this time just in case some tubes go south from heating up. Tube damages from shipping could be invisible by eyes, but audible by ears when playing in a live circuit. Do not get overly frustrated if some mishaps happen – these are all parts of the ritual of playing with tube amps. With a positive attitude and good faith in your vendor providing your solid after-sale support, your experience with a problematic tube will become a valuable learning experience then you earn the bragging right to be a tube ‘guru’ among your tube amp owner friends Take it EASY

After 20-30 mins, turn off source signal, turn volume to zero, check bias again and adjust. This time more accurate please. Repeat the steps above – check it in about 1 hr again and 2-3 hours after. During this time, you can do things around the house without locking yourself in the listening room for every minute. But keep your mind alert about the amp going on and check it often.

Once you are done biasing for the first day, when you turn on your amp next day after playing music for about 10 minutes, check bias again and adjust… then check in a few hours to adjust. New tubes tend to drift a bit but with burn-in they will settle down to fairly stable. Check your amp bias every week or so to maintain your amp in top notch working condition.

That’s all – sounds very complicated but it will come to you as 2nd nature in no time.

If I can do it (yes, I do bias my showroom amp , so can all of you! It is a fun interactive experience with your music playback equipment – enjoy it and be intimate with it. Music will sound better to your ears after you have invested time, care and love to your equipment. The journey of creating playback system is as enjoyable as passive listening, especially when you have your mind in the right gear

Happy listening.

Rachel @ Grant Fidelity

1) Expedited Shipping Upgrade for flat $25.00 per order:

We have been offering worldwide free airmail shipping for tube orders for a few years. Typical international airmail shipping could be 8-20 business days but courier can deliver a parcel in 5-7 business days in many cases.

In respond to buyer’s demand, now we are offering a flat fee expedited shipping option for all orders – the bigger order you place, the more saving you have as the expedited shipping is flat fee $25.00 only no matter how many tubes you order.  After placing / completing payment for your tube order on our site, simply use the ‘pay now’ button below to purchase your expedited shipping upgrade.

Expedited Shipping Upgrade for flat $25.00 per order:

We use DHL/Fedex/EMS solely at our choice depending on backlog of each courier to allow buyer to receive your order faster. (Please note this is not a guarantee for order arriving on certain date – shipping and customs speed is entirely out of our control, especially during holiday peak season.)

2) Shipping from Centralized Hong Kong tube warehouse – same quality as if you receive from Grant Fidelity in Canada:

There is no quality difference for tubes shipped from our centralized Hong Kong tube warehouse or from Canada. Grant Fidelity in Canada receive tube inventory from the same centralized warehouse with exact same quality. Centralized warehousing allows us to reduce shipping and handling damages and pass on savings to buyers.

Comparison review by Gary S. – received by email:

Psvane KT88-TII vs. Shugang Treasure KT88-Z vs. original British Mullard comparison 

Recently I had the opportunity to compare two very interesting Chinese quads with a quad of vintage Mullard KT88. I have no vested interest in Psvane, Shugang or Grant Fidelity nor were any of these tubes given to me. I bought a matched quad of Psvane kt88-TII and a matched quad of Shugang KT88-Z was also available so I made this comparison and thought I would tell Grant Fidelity of my evaluation.

The preamp used is a McIntosh C2500 using vintage Tesla E83CC in place of the stock 12AX7A. The amplifier is a McIntosh MC275 V6 using Tesla E83CC and vintage Siemens ECC801S replacing the stock 12AT7. Vintage British Mullard KT88 is what I normally use and am familiar with. The speakers are a pair of Klipsch Forte II in parallel with Klipsch Chorus I running 4 ohms per channel to the MC275. The speakers have recent Crites crossovers and diaphragms. I have not had the opportunity to try the Shugang or Psvane 12AX7 or 12AT7 equivalents therefore those tubes are not included in this review.

I was not pleased with the Russian tubes that McIntosh uses and have stored the originals away for when I someday sell or trade my amplifier and preamplifier and they will go with them. The best way I can describe them is they are adequate but muddy and they did not faithfully reproduce the overtones that I knew are present in the music I listen to.

As sound is very subjective, it took a lot of trial and error to find the tubes that I liked best, the ones that give me the sound that I believe reproduces the stringed instruments I play. I have played professionally for years and feel I have a good ear for quality in sound reproduction.

I prefer the sound of stringed instruments and this evaluation is confined to this music. I have selected the Tesla, Siemens and Mullard tubes for certain qualities I appreciate in depth and separation. With my audio system, they work in harmony. The first tubes of these new output tubes I tried were the Shugang Treasure KT88-Z. When I first put the tubes in I thought they sounded a little bit thin which is to be expected with new tubes. I left the amplifier on at a low volume for five days and during that time I listened to several of the same tunes, the most familiar to the general public was Norah Jones performing cold, cold heart. I focused on the overtones of the piano and the sibilance in her voice. As expected, the burn in made a positive difference and I found the sound reproduction at lower levels to be quite similar to that of the vintage Mullard. I think these tubes would be ideal for an easy listening environment as one would find in most homes where rock is not the mainstay.

I then tried the Psvane KT88-TII and was pleasantly surprised from the outset; they sounded like a mature tube right from the box. I did the exact same procedure as with the Shugang Treasure KT88-Z, allowing the same burn in and listening at various times to the exact same tunes and songs. Throughout the burn in period I felt the Psvane were very similar in quality to the British Mullards. They reproduce sound well at all volumes. There was an improvement in quality at the end of the burn in but less so than observed with the Shugang treasure. However, the Psvane sounded magnificent from the beginning and the Shugang required burn in to show maturity. In the end, the Psvane were arguably the more mature and desirable sounding of the two, this should be expected for they are a more refined tube.

My final impression of the Shugang vs. Psvane:

The Shugang KT88-Z is a highly worthy tube for someone who listens to quiet-medium volume music and wants a sound that is highly reminiscent of the warmth of the classic British tube. It is quite affordable and if it’s not stressed to its upper limits will satisfy most listeners. It will not satisfy the person who pressures their amplifier to higher sound pressure levels.

The Psvane KT88-TII is in a separate class of its own and I’m glad that I bought the quad I have because they are so close to the vintage Mullard in sound quality that the difference is incredibly difficult to hear. These tubes reproduce accurately through the driving range of my equipment with no noticeable distortion, just like the Vintage Mullards do.

The vintage Mullard arguably reproduce sound in a magnificent way and they have the mystique of historic desirability which no current tube can claim but with such tubes as the Psvane KT88-TII sounding so incredibly good and being currently in production, I can not justify spending the price of a NOS Mullard as the Psvane is available at a far more realistic price.

My Conclusion:

Price does not equal value. The vintage tubes are marvelous and offer a more pleasant sound than most of the modern day options do, but I feel much of the price of these vintage tubes is solely paying for collector status, not function. I have not yet returned the vintage Mullards to my amplifier and I may not; the KT88-TII have been in the amplifier for several months now and I am totally satisfied with their audio characteristics. I do not feel I hear more or “better” with the vintage Mullard and with that, the Mullards are stored in their boxes at present for a rainy day. I’ve had the good fortune to try several different KT88 in this system and I have not found any of the contemporary tubes I’ve tried to be as good as the Psvane KT88-TII.

Again, I have no connection with any tube manufacturer or Grant Fidelity: I am a Doctor and a musician who is freely offering my opinion to Grant Fidelity in the comparison of these tubes.

Wall of Sound comparison review of Psvane 845-TII and Psvane WE845 Replica tubes by Tim Smith:

“Both the T-II and the WE Replica will instantly shock you with the way the make music seem louder, fuller, more complete, less thin (as if an 845 tube could be accused of thinness!) than the stock Psvane tubes that come with many high-end 845-based amps. Both tubes impart a sense of muscularity, bounciness, ease of musical flow. Jazz trios will flow like a smooth stream, especially with the T-II. Electric guitars will jump out at you with verve, bite. Cymbals will be better defined than with any other tube I have used. Strings are rich, deep, woody, ravishing. Drums will startle you. These are fast tubes. These are simply perfect tubes. They are clean, powerful, deep, holographic, warm and punchy. Highly recommended.” 

“The WE Replica is clearly a better all-around tube. It reduces noise and hum to the lowest possible level. Most people will love its deep, deep bass, its iron fisted grip on the music, its remarkable speed and boogie factor. It has bite with Bill Frisell’s electric guitar. This tube is like a Sanken solid state speed demon with the holography of a 300B. As I said, each tube is brilliant and a testament to Psvane’s engineering prowess, but this one has that little extra bit of bite, depth and speed. Who needs overpriced and warranty-less ‘NOS’ or OS RCA tubes when Psvane is making such fine products at a fraction of the price and with a warranty?”

Read full review at the link here: http://www.wallofsound.ca/uncategorized/psvane-845-vacuum-tubes-t-ii-and-we-replica-from-grant-fidelity/

Feedback from customer Carlos via email:

“Whoa!!  My tubes arrived from Hong kong.  I swapped out the stock 6SN7s with the CV181-TIIs and let them warm up. Immediately the soundstage and imaging opened up without even being broken in.  I can’t believe the difference they made.  Most certainly worth the price.  Thanks. ”

“ I don’t know all the ins and outs if all the tube rolling and technology. I do trust my ears and these tubes have really changed the sound for the better especially in the lower frequencies” - Carlos

Feedback received from Todd via email:

Rachel, I have had a couple of weeks to play with the Psvane 12AX7 Tubes. Very good! I own 10-12 sets of very good NOS 12AX7 tubes, some costing as much as $200 each. It is too early to say for certain, but at this point I feel like the Psvane is on par with the best. I have a lot of friends who are as nutty about tubes as me, and it is looking like I will be recommending Psvane from Grant Fidelity….

They are very quiet as well, which is a big deal since these are being used in a phono stage. The only ax7 tubes that I own that are quieter are  Telefunken tubes selected for use in medical equipment. - Todd”

Review from Dawid from Poland in related to Lukasz Fikus devices:

“I hope that I was able to put it bluntly enough what Psvane WE101D-L are and why they outperformed their competition. It is what it is, at least for now. I’ve compared four sets of tubes for many days, each bulb had many hours of usage, so mechanical factors have no meaning here. Each was burned in long enough. Sure, it can always be said that you match tubes to your rig; speakers, amplifier and so on. Well, I’ve used the best stereo power amplifier I had, and three very different speakers. On top of that there was very various music list. But even despite that, final outcome of my small valve battle was exceptionally unequivocal. There’s nothing more to add here. I can only recommend WE101D-L to every DHT based source from Łukasz Fikus. That particular set of bulbs will make you go bonkers, really. Who has heard them, knows. Those are THE ones.

I’m aware that this review will be somewhat interesting only to handful of people, but that’s more than enough. Who already is or plans to be happy owner of Fikus Sevens or Golden Gate, already knows what to search, from where to start. Yet, the topic will be evolving. I hadn’t had valves from Emission Labs on hand, or KR Audio, Fullmusic, Sophia. But we’ll get there, the same story goes with rectifiers. Yes, glass bulbs are as drawing as walking in the swamps, and my person serves as a good evidence here. And flagships from Fikus, well, the better tubes they’ll get, the wider will they smile. The investment is worth the effort.”

Feedback received via email from Alberta W.:

“I’d like to say that, it is by far the best sounding KT88s I’ve heard to date. I’ve tried Gold Lions and Penta KT88s but the Psvane Treasures leave them in the dust. Everything across the entire frequency range sounds better and more realistic. Clarity is also improved. Thank you!

Best Regards,

Albert

Feedback via email from Hans @ Musical Affairs in Netherlands – Musical Affairs is an European high end audio design house in Netherlands: http://www.musicalaffairs.com/

“We just finished a first listening test and here are some impressions:

WE274B – very impressive rectifier tube; by far the best we tried until now; a real good copy of the original WE tube!

WE205D – My friend Cees owns a nice collection of WE 205 vintage tubes; the oldest is from 1925 and further he owns the 1938 and 1947 versions; we compared them with your replica; to our impression the 1925 version was the best followed by your version.

WR2A3 – the real original WE sound; we are very much impressed by this tube.”

On WE101D-L:

“Dear Rachel,

As I promised you; here is a short review about the 101-D tube; my friend Cees wrote it;

Cees is a designer, specialized in the design and building tube gear and he has a experience of more than 35 years in this field.

It is a joy for me to send you this message!

Best regards,

Hans”

We have just expanded the Treasure line to include 6SL7. This is a model frequently used in many preamps and power amps. It can replace Chinese 6N9P and are more warm / musical sounding by Russian 6SL7 to many Asian music lovers. Not it’s time for your ear to judge…To find out more details and place an order, please click here.

The 2nd addition is a special edition globe shaped 6SN7 SE designed and produced by the Treasure team distributed exclusively by Grant Fidelity. Could this be the BEST current 6SN7 on the market as intended by the design team? We wait for worldwide audiophile to provide us feedback…With Grant Fidelity’s ultra tight selection criteria, this model is only available in very limited quantity. Check out details and place order here.

Feedback received via email from Darren in Australia:

“Hello Rachel,

I just wanted to let you know the (KT88-Z, CV181-Z and 6SL7-Z) arrived yesterday.

I fitted the CV181-Z and 6SL7-Z first and listened to a significantly improved openness …

I should have done more  listening to get a better appreciation of the difference, but could not wait to add in the KT88 treasures

Again the sound was improved – less bass slam – tighter

I look forward to a longer burn in period to get the full appreciation, but first impression is that they are very nice.”

Read the review by Dagogo.com reviewer Kevin Fiske – he compared the Psvane WE300B replica to the original WE300B ’78, ’88 and the re-issue ’98′:

On Sovtek 300B – “‘powerful bass, dry midrange, restricted top end – rather grey and dead sounding.’

On Psvane WE300B 1:1 replica: “We then changed to the Psvane WE Replicas, played the same tracks and were rewarded by a much more enhanced sense of dynamic flow, of micro dynamics and openness. My notes say: Voices comparatively glowing’, strings have a better sense of wood and gut.’ It was clear to all of us that the Psvanes were in a different league to the Sovteks.”

On Western Electric 300B ’98 re-issue: “the 98s sounded very different to the Psvane 300B replicas. The WEs struck all of us as being smoother and less granular, with a richer tonality in the midband but with less bite to the leading edge of notes, and less top end, too, than the Psvanes.”

On Western Electric 300B ’88: “I felt they were different to the ‘98s, but the differences were less so than those between the 98s and the Psvanes. I heard a slightly richer and more fleshed out midband than delivered by the ‘98s, but voices were smaller, as if the sonic picture had been through a too-hot wash cycle. They were very smooth and a bit recessed.”

On Western Electric 300B ’78 originals: ”

‘78s. Air! Attack! Bigger voice! Bottom end weight and lovely top. Really quite wonderfully lovely. Much more like the Psvanes than the other two WEs” (my original underlining).

Yes. You read it right. The Psvanes were most like the ’78 WEs. At least that’s what I thought.”

“Let me be clear about this as I wind towards the conclusion of this review: I am not saying that we four thought the Psvanes to be as good as the ’78 WEs, but, and my word, for the money the replicas made a damned good fist of getting close. We all thought the Psvanes to be more granular and lacking, too, in the WEs’ nth degree of glorious tonality. But in many other respects, and given the price differential, they came commendably close.

My own view is that the Psvane WE 300B 1:1 Replicas might be classified as more ‘modern’ sounding than the WEs. They don’t deliver the dry, bright and pushy sound of the current crop of eastern European tubes, but at the same time neither do they have quite the midrange lushness and sophistication of the real deals that we compared them with on that warm afternoon in Hove.

If you can afford to own original vintage Western Electric 300Bs, then may I be allowed to salute you for your hard work and for your good taste? The WEs are what I would buy, if I had the money.

Alas I do not. If you, too, have a similar cost-conscious relationship with the 300B – loving it for its sometimes sublime musicality but hating it for the damage it can do to the household budget – then the Psvane 300B 1:1 Replicas may suit you very well. In my view, the Psvanes give those of us in the cheap seats a much more affordable alternative to the Western Electric 300B, and one that, within its limitations, is still eminently musically satisfying.”

Read the entire review at this link: http://www.dagogo.com/psvane-we-11-replica-300b-review

It is even too new to have a picture to post yet!…

Grant Fidelity has just sourced this new addition KT120-Z to the Treasure “black bottle” series with our Select quality grade in response to the many requests from worldwide audiophile and music lovers.

With more and more KT120 based amplifiers available on the market, many audiophiles and music lovers are looking for an alternative to TungSol KT120 (which was the only KT120 available until now) – to get a higher end, warmer, richer and lush sound. If you have a brand name KT120 amplifier and have been active on audio forums with a proven record of posting detailed tube reviews, we will be happy working with you to receive product review feedback!

First batch is being shipped to our warehouse – very limited quantity. Order now and claim yours as the world’s first group of customers!!

If you have been waiting for the best deal / right time to order your tubes, NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME. Why?

• Avoid ordering your tubes during the holiday peak shipping season at the last minute… the chances of shipping damages are 30% higher than regular shipping time according to our past records.
• We have put on our best deals of all time – check out if your desired tube models are one of the best deals on for this holiday season. There is no need to wait further for better deals. This is it!
• Order early – you save not only shipping damages, but also have your order delivered on time even without expedited shipping surcharge.  Holiday peak shipping season can cause serious delay or even forever loss of the parcel.  Insurance claim is a lengthy process and can be big disappointment for the shopping experience.

So, why wait? Order now – we will ship in 2 business days to your home with worldwide free airmail shipping Happy shopping and happy listening!

Treasure is still a treasure 7 years after launched originally in Dec 2008. This is another addition to the series and quality carefully selected by Grant Fidelity for worldwide audiophiles and music lovers. Reviewer Mark Wheeler from TNT-Audio said:

“I have not heard a better current production 6SL7 from any manufacturer. NOS samples are too inconsistent to recommend. The 6SL7 double triode has always been one of the best choices for the tiny signals handled by phono-preamplifiers, typically achieving a low-noise transparency with a lush mid-band perfect for handling the human voice. The extra bass extension and bass definition of the Shuguang Treasure Series GF select (what a mouthful) would be enough to justify just over 200 bucks a pair in any phono-preamplifier over a grand. These 6SL7 samples add sharper transient-snap and timing too. The extra transparency and linearity that offers the greater scale and dynamics ices the cake sufficiently to justify two pairs, where possible, in a phono-preamplifier costing over 2000 Dollars or Euros. With valve equipment, the first tuning priority must be vibration isolation and the second tuning priority must be valve choice. With the tiny signals from phono cartridges, avoiding hum is an additional challenge, through careful earthing (grounding) arrangements and careful cable dressing. In a phono or microphone preamplifier, the 6SL7 is a great choice of amplifying device and the Shuguang Treasure 6SL7 may be the best of modern production.” Read full review here.

Feedback received from Dan via email:

“Comparing the Psvane T-ll to Penta Lab, generic “good” Shuguang and the

great Gold Lion the Psvane KT88-ll is clearly the better tube. New right
out of the box the T-ll sounds good but at about 200+ hours they best any
KT88 made today that I know of. T-ll provides a large soundstage is
extended with honest midrange but very balanced, the way the Psvane truly
shines is in it’s ability to convey emotion. The T-ll is one very musical
vacuum tube.

Regards Dan”

Feedback received from Nick B. in UK about Treasure 6SL7-Z:

“Hi Rachel,

I just thought I would drop you a note having put the 6SL7-Z tubes into my monobloc amps.

The only word I can think of to use is WOW!

I have never heard bass like that from ANY amp, never mind a valve amp. What a difference it has made to the music.”

A feed back from (Thomas S.) a Norwegian with 55 years in the high fidelity hobby with almost no cost and effort spared in search to enjoy recorded music:

“Hi Rachel, Grant Fidelity.

I just wanted to give you a feedback on the tubes you just sold me.

I used to have Cary 211 AD, with  their  211 and 845  tube possibilities for amplifying. But, after serious trouble with one of the tubes, that caused me a dangerous repair ( done by myself – guided by Cary on the phone) – I gave them up. I thought  of the tube future
expenses  and problems  of a similar kind.

The last 10 years I have had the scaled down Cary 805 AD with the Cary SLP – 05 preamp. In the meanwhile I scaled up with Golden Dragon Premiere tubes all the way – as I thought they were good enough for me. This matched with Cary SACD player. Focal Speakers. Mundorf AMTs - from 5000 Hz and up. Backed up with Lyngdorf Millennium digital amp
and ProAc satellites behind the main speakers.

A few weeks ago I decided to have all the tubes  changed to what I lately have read to be  top notch tubes made by Psvane and Shuguang - best sold by you ! – I chose the second most expensive in the 805′s with  Psvane 211 T II and Shuguan 300b-z. – Psvane  CV-181- TII  tubes for the preamp. – I expected some 5% increase in sound quality at the
best!

What I got from the tubes, right out of the boxes, was almost the feel of power given by  the Cary 211 AD;- but with a gripping  realistic 3D sound and sense of being there I never have heard on any stereo equipment before. Only experienced  better at a real concert at row
10. I could not be more happy that I took the chance on these  tubes. - And;- what more can I say? – Just follow me, all music lovers, if you are close to can afford it !

The service from, Rachel, and Grant Fidelity made the deal very simple, too to say it short! Thank you very much, indeed.

You may use this e-mail feed back as you like. You can shorten it, or better my English;-  or what ever. I look forward also to order  the Psvane 845 T II when time comes.

Best”

This Psvane HiFi series 5U4G is claimed by factory as ‘the most reliable and affordable rectifier tube ever made’. It is a replica of NOS Phico black plate 5U4G rectifier, but maintained a very friendly price tag.

Rectifier tube is probably the most ‘consumed’ tube on a tube rectified amplifier. It will need to be replaced more frequently than a power tube over time, so reliability and price are both sensitive factors for tube amp owners. Now Psvane is offering a new option for tube amp owners who are not only cost conscious, but also sound driven. Click here to order yours.

It is official! The Treasure KT120-Z has been reviewed by Stereotimes and here is what the reviewer said – “I could live with this tube for a long time.”… “It is a steal!”

The review was done with a high end Ayon integrated tube amp which uses KT88 and KT120 type tubes.

“On various cuts the Shuguang Treasure KT-120 tubes sounded more interconnected across the entire frequency spectrum. The Ayon Audio tubes seemed less controlled and transparent by comparison almost lacking in headroom and while the Shuguang Treasure KT-120 tubes were more illuminated in the midrange and high frequencies displaying a more live sound. I clearly preferred Shuguangs it to the Ayons.

Over the course of this review, some cable and system grounding changes were evaluated and based on the transparency of the Shuguang Treasure KT-120 tube, it was always easy to hear even the subtle differences each system change displayed.  You know what I really like about this tube in this application?  It’s the reliability.  I’ve power cycled my Ayon Audio Triton MKIII many times over the course of this review and have never once had a tube failure but I have almost a dozen tube failures with the stock tube.

Conclusion

After hearing the Shuguang Treasure KT-120 tube I can declare my search for the best KT-88/120 tube is over.  I have no desire to reinstall the Ayon Audio KT-88SX tubes if that tells you something.  I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend these tubes and at the price of $349 a quad they’re a steal. ” Read full review here.