I was hoping somebody might have tried these in the BHK300 (or BHK250). I’ve read loads of throwaway comments about how great these tubes are for use in a PreAmp, as if to imply that they would be less stellar when used elsewhere.
I’ve had a pair in my 250 for about six months. Preferable to me over the Tungsram. Richer sound reminiscent of Mullard’s.
@dawkinsj
Thanks for that. I am thinking about getting a set. So far I have gone JAN-Phillips, Tungsram, Golden Lion, and have preferred the first and last over the Tungsram. On the face of it, the Nationals would appear to have all the attributes I would be valuing the most, but then again that’s what I thought when I bought the Tungsrams, and it didn’t work out that way. … 
I should also mention that I bought my Tungsrams from Parts Connexion, not Upscale Audio, and there is the possibility that the two stocks are not totally comparable.
Let me ask you … if your Nationals reached end-of-life tomorrow (assuming they’d actually seen a good year’s service life), would you buy another pair?
I already have a back-up pair. I don’t think the Tungsram’s from the same time period are all that different. I have as much faith in Chris’s tubes as I do Kevin’s.
Agree on the Nationals- really nice tubes in the BHK amps
Interesting how many posts where BHK amp owners don’t seem to appreciate the Tungsram’s when those seemed to be the tube of choice by both Bascom and Arnie Nudell for the BHK amps. I guess tubes really are a personal choice based on your specific system and overall tonal preferences. Thanks to everyone for posting their experiences to help a total tube newb. This forum is certainly more help than some tube venders.
Nothing wrong with the Tungsrams if you want a “detail” tube I used them for a while and just decided to try the other direction. But that’s just in the amp. Not recommended by me for the preamp at all.
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What do you recommend for preamp? I’m using tungsram in both amp and preamp and loving it but I don’t mind experimenting.
I tried close to twenty pair of NOS 6 and seven volt tubes plus a pair of gain matched Gold Lions like the ones that came with the amp but although I liked the tone of several pairs like the Matsushita and Mullard 6DJ8’s I though they were all too noisy but my speakers are 93 db. I ended settling on a pair of mid-50’s military Raytheon Black Plate 5814’s. On Ron’s recommendation I bought a pair of triode gain matched 1944 GE Triple Mica Black Plate GE 12AU7’s from his dealer on Ebay that I will try when I swap the BHK preamp back in the system. If your speakers are less efficient then the noise from the six and seven volt tubes may not bother you.
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@SudS: Yes, in the pursuit of good audio there’s a tendency to think there’s going to be an ultimate solution or a “best” answer to some issue with our system. The longer you listen and the more equipment you experience, the more one learns that what we hear in the end is the result of complex interactions between interdependent component parts. A good example of this is my evolving impression of RCA 12au7 clear tops in my BHK. At first, I thought they were shrill and exaggerated the treble region. Then, I replaced my Shunyata AC-12a power conditioner with a PSA Stellar P3 and added a High Fidelity Cables MC1-Pro power conditioner as well. These so transformed the sound of my system that almost all previously bothersome evidence of excess sibilance disappeared and as a result RCA clear top 12au7’s were now marvelously open and beautifully detailed without going over the edge into excessive brightness. The mantra about system synergy is repeated ad nauseam but we can never forget that all we hear is the result of system interactions.
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Thank you, and I agree. While I am a total tube newb, I have been into high end audio for quite a few years. It just surprised me, I haven’t recalled seeing a single post praising the Tungsram tubes that BHK himself spoke highly of and preferred them in his amps.
@dawkinsj
Last question
Do you need adapters to install the National 7DJ8 in the BHK300? It looked like it from your photo.
Amen to that 
No they fit fine in the 250 and the tube compartment should be the same.
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I have the tungsrams in both pre amp and amp. I love them!
You should not need any adapter with the 7DJ8 the tungsrams work and the Matushita’s do too.
Ok, good to know, thank you. Also, system interaction includes the effect of the listening room. I have Infinity Epsilon’s, so maybe I will have better results using speaker technology closer to what Bascom and Arnie may have been using for speakers. I asked Upscale Audio for a couple of tube suggestions but they don’t do that.
I’m using Harbeth 30.2 anniversaries
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I had to go look them up, very impressive. Reminds me of some of the old school high end type of speakers.
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Thanks! I like them a lot. My only gripe was lack of bass (an issue with most stand mounts) so I added two Rel T9is. I’m in bliss.
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