No More Russian Tubes

Got an email from the distributor of the Psvane tubes I ordered that they will be delayed as their city in China (did not mention which one) is shut down for 7 days due to Omicron. Not a big deal as I'm in no rush, but anyone who needs Chinese tubes more quickly might want to find someone who stocks them locally.

Last time I ordered tubes direct from China was in 2020, and the same thing happened LOL. I have great timing.

 

I slacked on getting some tubes from viva tubes going and was greeted by a message on their website today that they had to shut down all orders until tomorrow because they had such an influx of orders. Guess I will officially be panic buying some sets when they open their shop back up.

 

Vacuum tubes are the new toilet paper. Who knew?

 

Here i am, wishing I both had more and less tubes. While also wishing for other tube types to be used.

I would kill for a Val1+

 

I have a drawer full of NOS 5670/396A/2C51 tubes.....most are Western Electric...some are 5 Star GE and Tung Sol and Tesla with the waist in the glass.

New KT88 tubes for my amp are getting hard to find. I just bought some Gold Lions from Upscale Audio even though I like other tubes much more.

I have not figured out what 6SN7 tubes I will end up getting when I need them as both my preamp and amp use them.

 

Maybe we should launch a dedicated tubes to trade/ sell/ wanted thread in the Club Room.

 

I was just gonna say I have a bunch of 6DJ8(6922) that I got in a bulk sale, most of which I won't end up using.

 

News likes to be alarmist, gets more clicks.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/chip-m...ad-of-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-11647167582

 

^^^ thanks for that.

 

I don't know how they "resolved" the situation, but I received this e-mail a short while ago:

 

Wondering if they can sell to another country where there isn't an export restriction (like China), which then gets re-sold to other vendors

 

I've only just started watching, it's covering a lot of other stuff. (Hold on to your Modi Multibit's. Also Modi Multibit 2 delayed, and announced?)

EDIT: There's only a bit of commentary on the tube shortage at the beginning

The End of The Tube World As We Know It?

 

From the YT...Basically:

• AD DSP chips got pushed back again until November, so Modi MB and MB cards on hold until then or until DSP chips come in.
• Wanted to announce Modi MB 2 and MB cards w/Unison, but DSP chips needed for DAC not going to be in and no drop-in replacement
• Mike is looking into a possible TI replacement processor chip, but that requires a circuit re-design
• BF2, Yiggy, and Gungnir will continue for now
• Reiterated problem w/tube inventory, but problem w/tube inventory was an issue before now
• Tube inventory right now w/Schiit is in good and working on alternatives, eg. octal LISST
• Standby switch likely coming to Vidar at some point w/small bump in price
• AD parts shortages contribute to transport delays as well
• AKM is shipping samples of 4490 and 4493 in Q2 and they will check them out
• Possibly Austin Schiit Show later this year
• Dongle DAC might be a possibility!
• Tube phono pre would be for MM only and would throw things off if you used a different tube, so don't think so.
• Never had to use something like octopart.com, but now have to use often for design decisions
• Speaker amps like to focus on high quality, not so much power
• Jason likes to play around with discrete designs.
• No Schiit speakers
• With NFB (negative feedback), prefer to use as little as possible.
• Silver has production problems, and added cost. Black is selling more.
• No gold because of issues, but joked about random gold plated Magni Willy Wonka style.

Fin

 

I'd be happy to stick with this one indefinitely. I wish there was a new production tube like it.

Ukraine could be the anvil they break themselves upon, unless they can find an out.

 

Haven't checked other retailers, but saw Viva Tubes is taking orders again. The price increases are BONKERS though, even on non-Russian tubes. Needless to say, don't buy tubes right now unless you have to I guess. Personally, I ended up getting some quad-matched Sylvania 6SN7 from a guy on USAM and they are superb after a few hours listening today, so working with him to snag some other NOS stuff. Luckily he didn't jack up his prices, some good ones out there.