when buying valves set's

[colin.hepburn]

I guess I should know this but when buying valves both pre and power most of you guys here will buy matched Quad for your KT88 or El84 amps pretty clear really
As it would be for me with my JE. Labs Single-ended KT66 would be to buy matched pairs but my question is really but what if buying two sets i.e a spare set would you go for 2x matched pairs or 1x matched Quad set
Colin

[John Caswell]

Hi Colin,
As it is a SE amplifier type really doesn't matter too much, even if the gain is slightly different in each valve it would have to be quite a lot before you would actually notice it.
That having been said it certainly wouldn't harm if you buy matched pairs/quads, and HotRox do not charge extra for matched pairs/quads.

John

[colin.hepburn]

Hi John/all
Thanks for the reply john
yep, I have used EL34s And 6L6s with unknown gain in the amp and have not been aware of any differences. I was just wondering about the best way of buying them just because I am considering a rebuild of the JE labs KT66 to Mono Blocks and maybe using the KT88s or 6550 or I may just stay with my stash of EL34/6L6/6p3s/KT66/5881. I dont need more valves really but just thinking single-ended KT88s or 6550 mono block’s maybe a nice way to upgrade my JE Labs amp.
I just received 2x matched pair sets of JJ 6SN7s from hot rox today and all seemed to match up by all the labels as if a quad set.
Colin