About tubes rolling, I've done some other test yesterday.
At the moment, the couple I love more in my MP-1 is a TAD 7025 HG in V1 and an original chinese 12AX7A in V2.
I've tested the following combinations:
-1 V1 = TAD 7025s HG V2 = TAD 7025 HG
-2 V1 = TAD 7025 HG V2 = TAD 7025s HG
-3 V1 = TungSol 12AX7 V2 = TAD 7025 HG
-4 V1 = TAD 7025 HG V2 = TungSol 12AX7
-5 V1 = TungSol 12AX7 V2 = TAD 7025 HG
-6 V1 = TAD 7025 HG V2 = TungSol 12AX7
-7 V1 = TAD 7025s HG V2 = original chinese 12AX7A
-8 V1 = TAD 7025 HG V2 = original chinese 12AX7A
Results:
-1 nice combination, good gain, typical MP-1 tone but a little bit noisy and with slighlty gummy basses
-2 better than the above, same gain, less noise and with firm and thick basses
-3 not so exciting...I don't like the TungSol 12AX7 in rack units...they tend to be flat and harsh, a little less gain
-4 not so exciting...I don't like the TungSol 12AX7 in rack units...they tend to be flat and harsh, a little less gain
-5 not so exciting...I don't like the TungSol 12AX7 in rack units...they tend to be flat and harsh, a little less gain
-6 not so exciting...I don't like the TungSol 12AX7 in rack units...they tend to be flat and harsh, a little less gain
-7 very good combination...very good gain...but with slighlty gummy basses (I assume this is the TAD 7025s with high gain)
-8 the best combination: very good gain, low noise, firm and thick basses, articulated cleans
Since original tubes have more than 20 years and I don't know how much they have been used, I'm not sure I can rely on them.
I will buy a couple of TAD 12AX7A-C (RT001) to be tested in V1 and V2 as SC suggested and for V2 , to be combined with the TAD 7025 in V1.
TAD suggests this combination as well:
http://www.tubeampdoctor.com/en/shop_TAD_Premium_Tubes_TAD_Pre_Amp_Tubes_SELECTED/12AX7A_C_ECC83_TAD_Premium_Selected_7025_12AX7WA_E83CC_391
But I will buy tubes from Banzai, since they cost a lot less...
http://www.banzaimusic.com/TAD-12AX7A-C-ECC83.html
I will buy Ruby's JJs from Banzai as well:
http://www.banzaimusic.com/Ruby-Tubes-12AX7ACZ-H.G.-TESLA-JJ.html
I want to try them!
@rnolan: did you tested Mullard RI LPs on your MP-1 yet? Do you love them there as in MP-2? I would love to test them, buy they would cost 50 to 64 euros for a couple...and I would be sure that it really worth a try in MP-1...