Apos Ray Tubes Review - The Beginning of Their Story & Their Sound

Thanks to Apos Audio for sending the Ray Tubes for Review!
Buy from Apos (affiliate links):
6SN7 Select: apos.audio/products/apos-ray-vacuum-tube-6sn7-select?variant=44198665060588&sca_ref=1448954.julYPU81dF
12AU7: apos.audio/products/apos-ray-tube-12au7?variant=44090522468588&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA8NKtBhBtEiwAq5aX2Kg89YXk6lbafcdIM2JSlVx3SGeJMKMnLcYhEuhOZlRWYevqCWfTZxoCQ68QAvD_BwE
Support me on...
Patreon: www.patreon.com/wavetheory1
Donate on Paypal: www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=7N7Z8WRLWQ36E
PSVane HiFi Series 6SN7 (affiliate link): amzn.to/3SeczI5
PSVane Art Series 12AU7S (affiliate link): amzn.to/3ucf8m6
Cayin HA-1AMk2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpOVmoZjYq-HrLM
Chord Hugo 2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6a2gIyge9mWrLs
Garage1217 Project Ember: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJCliWqwp72Ffqs
Headamp GS-X Mini: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmetkGatZ89gfaM
HiFiMan HE1000se (1): kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpfCYYGnms2phsk
(2): kzbin.info/www/bejne/n57Ug3Sim9F9kKc
xDuoo TA-20Plus: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gIClgqSGlq2mjpI
My Hearing Quirks: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGS5n61mZ5ibbMU
Timestamps...
00:00 Intro, Pricing, Disclaimer
01:50 Shameless Self Promotion
02:14 Table of Contents
03:52 Bottom Line Summary
06:25 The Story of Ray Tubes...So Far
17:05 Boxes
17:48 6SN7 Select Packaging & Pricing
25:43 6SN7 Select Build
30:11 6SN7 Sound & Comparisons
39:45 12AU7 Build
41:12 12AU7 Sound & Comparisons
48:14 12AU7 Value
53:38 Wrap Up

[@stevemd8947]

I believe the 12AU7 OEM is Psvane Art Series. I own the Art Series in my PS Audio Pre-amp and the sound description is very close to what I have experienced. Thanks for the honest review.

[@el_arte]

Bollocks. The specs of a 6SN7 or 12AU7 are well established, there’s no magic criteria. The only reason why they don’t want anyone to know their origin is because they do not want anyone to figure out their markup.

[@SgtMjr]

Exactly. It's pretty easy to guess that's exactly what's going on here. We have , what, three or four sources for new tubes in the whole world until the few revived tube mfg efforts in the UK and US succeed (or not). So Mr Woo, (what will you do) [sorry couldn't resist] is rebranding Gold Lions and PSVane as 'Ray'. He may be circumventing Russian sanctions importing thru China and may have a deal with JJ in Slovakia.

[@dzemoski45]

Bingo!

[@YourfriendNextDoor2]

They may get them from same place as TAD

[@stevemd8947]

I believe the 12AU7 OEM is Psvane Art Series.

[@richardatkinson4452]

Excellent review. In my Freya+ I had a very similar experience. I like these tubes a lot.

[@hiraksarma3068]

Please review more tranformer coupled tube amps like cayin ha-3a, quicksilver, tor roger, zmf pendant etc

[@YourfriendNextDoor2]

I have the better 12au7 and love them. Glad they sound this good as NOS will be gone one day.❤ using in Wells Audio V8 OTL. That’s his new amp not listed yet.

[@Nephilim-81]

My goodness. Thank you for telling us about the diameter base of the RAY in the SAGA. I Think a tube socket saver will solve that problem for taking the RAY out of the SAGA+.

[@JTB--]

Just got the Ray 6SN7 Select Tube and it really works well in my LYR3. I'm very impressed. Never swapped any Tubes before. It's definitely an improvement over the Tube Schiit includes with it. Snappier Snare Drum and more impactful drums in general. Little more Growl in the guitars. I Like it. Makes a $500 Amp sound like a $1K amp now.. Probably be a nice upgrade for the LYR+ also. btw, needed a Socket Saver for the LYR3

[@acheresh]

great review! what do you think about Genalex Gold Lion tubes (12au7) besides its brightness? Genalex spacial presentation vs. apos tubes (12au7)?

[@lxmcc]

Been debating a pair of these for my HA-3A - partially just due to the ease over a finding the right NOS tubes. The notes about their brightness is giving me some hesitation though.

[@josephvanalstyne4049]

the saga without the tube is passive. it is not solid state driven. it is just passive.

[@LakerTriangle]

Saw this video drop last night at like 2:30a while I was enjoying my brand new HE1000 Stealth's... I was like 'that can wait - this music is too good' 😅

[@wavetheorysound]

Lol. Good call. After all I do send you off with "Enjoy the music."

[@jeffbrooke4892]

Glad to hear you reinforce the correct idea that tube amps just represent another form amplification with a varied range of presentation and not some form of "boutique" amplification with a specific type of presentation. Tube amplification is highly misunderstood these days.

[@mariodrv]

Please don't touch the pins with your fingers. :S

[@chuckmatses6803]

Ya, exactly. I could not get over this. I've been telling everyone. 🧔🏽‍♂️

[@aceofspades6667]

The obfuscation around tubes, pricing, specs, matching, and lineage is maddening. It’s a real turn off thinking I could be buying a gold lion tube priced like a takatsuki with apos badge on it. I understand this likely isn’t the case just making a point.

[@ceylonmooney]

that kind of transparency would make the price gouging just a little bit more obvious but a lot more scandelous.

[@jaybrodnax]

Everything I read says not to touch tubes with bare hands...

[@j-rod6420]

Psvane

[@frankgeeraerts6243]

You DON'T need matched tubes in every circuit.................for real close matching one may need to calibrate testing of 20 up to 50 tubes to match ONE perfect pair , there are balanced matched tubes and matched sections tubes ..........price will be different . a matched pair is not necesary a perfect pair of tubes , inferior tubes can also be perfectly matched . there's a lot of confusion, incompetence or fraud / malpractice on the tube market especialy with so called nos tubes .

[@ohyesitsme]

If they didn't have all the BS they could sell these Chinese tubes for a lot less. and who wants RAY plastered on the bottle especially if you called your tubes Frank

[@ceylonmooney]

they can sell them for a lot less as is.