My only apprehension about tubes is their availability in the future. Only a few companies make them (see below - from Amplified Parts). I also wish there were more rack-based preamps available. That ENGL E530 looks nice.
JJ/Tesla
The Tesla factory in Czechoslovakia was one of the oldest factories in the world producing vacuum tubes since the mid 1920s. In 1994, after relocating Tesla factory equipment and many of its experienced engineers to the Slovak Republic, JJ Electronic began development and production of vacuum tubes. Since that time, JJ has successfully introduced many tube types into production and today produces more tube types than any other factory. All these products have been safety certified for use around the world and are well known throughout. We carefully match these tubes ourselves; they can be purchased as pairs, quads and in some types as sextets.
Winged C
JSC Svetlana is a Russian company that owns and operates the Svetlana factory in St. Petersburg, Russia, which has been making vacuum tubes for almost 100 years. This factory's tubes are sold under the brand names Winged C and SED in the U.S. This factory produces the highest quality vacuum tubes made today. See www.wingedc.com for more information. We carefully match these tubes ourselves; they can be purchased as pairs, quads and in some types as sextets.
Xpo-pul / Saratov, Russia
The Xpo-pul factory (formerly part of Reflector) in Saratov, Russia is an entirely different Russian company that makes vacuum tubes for an American corporation that controls the Sovtek, and Electro-Harmonix names. In addition to the Svetlana brand tubes sold in the United States, current production Tung-Sol and Mullard brands are also made in this factory. (For more information, see www.wingedc.com.) We carefully match these tubes ourselves; they can be purchased as pairs, quads and in some types as sextets.
Shuguang, China
The Shuguang factory in China is officially known as Shuguang Electron Group Co., Ltd, a well known large-scale enterprise of the electron industry in China, founded in 1958. Valve Art and Golden Dragon brands are produced in the Shuguang factory as well as generic Chinese/Sino tubes. In the past Chinese tubes were thought to be of low quality, but today the quality of Chinese tubes is greatly improved and they are frequently found in large manufacturers' amplifiers. We carefully match these tubes ourselves; they can be purchased as pairs, quads and in some types as sextets.
I never tried the SS11, but from the video I better like the SS20 and its grinding mids. And I like I can use both normal out and emu cab out at the same time.
