Even if you are just browsing, feel free to drop us a note on anything involving music, gear or tube stuff. We enjoy talking to people who share our enthusiasm.

BOI AudioWorks
P.O. Box 26394
San Diego, CA 92196-0394
Tel 858-578-5432
Fax 858-693-7999
info@boiaudioworks.com

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ) about the products we sell. You can also find more information on Shipping & Returns and Privacy Notice

How do I order?
It's very simple, and it works like any other online shops. First, browse our catalog pages. If you see something you want, add it to your shopping cart. Modify quantity if necessary. When you are ready, go to checkout and enter your shipping address and credit card information. Please refer to Shipping & Returns for shipping and handling charges.

You sell new tubes, right?
Unless otherwise specified, we sell new tubes. Used tubes, if any, are clearly indicated as such on our site. We purchase new tubes in quantity straight from Electro-Harmonix/Sovtek/Svetlana, S.E.D., JJ/Tesla and Ei. Power tubes are burned-in, tested and matched by our suppliers or by ourselves. We are also a stocking distributor for S.E.D.

What are the differences between New and New Old Stock (NOS) tubes?
New tubes are the ones in production now, in Russia, (ex)Yugoslavia or China. There are only a limited kinds of these tubes available, but there is continuous supply of these tubes.
New Old Stock tubes are tubes that are out of production, and have been left unused. These tubes were usually a spare stock. There are only limited supply of NOS tubes in this world, as the production of most tubes, especially American made tubes, ceased decades ago.

How do you know NOS tubes are not some used tubes that look new?
To be really honest, we don't. Neither does everyone else who claims to be selling NOS tubes. We inspect and test every single NOS tubes we purchase, making sure that it has at least 85% of conductance value of a new tube. No matter how clean a tube looks, if it doesn't test out, we won't sell them as new or NOS.

Do you test all tubes?
We test tubes for filament outage, shorts, emission and gas. All tubes are also measured for their mutual conductance, and the measured values are written down on the box. This is the actual conductance value, rather than some percentage value on the meter. We do test for excessive microphonics on tubes that are normally used in audio equipment. Power tubes are also tested for plate current and conductance at high plate voltages. We use several calibrated tube testers, including an FAA standard equipment.

What are matched triodes and do I want them?
Certain tubes like 6DJ8 and 12AX7 have two triodes in them. In certain position in an amp circuit, it is beneficial to have these two sections matched. In other sections, it does not matter at all. Normally, you want matched trioed for phase splitter positions. These are normally the tubes that drive the output tubes.

Is the matching pair tubes like 12AX7 also triode matched?
Yes they are. Many of our customers request matching pairs of small signal tubes like 12AX7. We set aside matching triode tubes, then we pair up the ones that are the same. This way, all the triodes in the tubes are close to one another. We charge $2 per tube for triode matched or matched pair small signal tubes.

Do you offer matched power tubes?
Yes we do. The power tubes go through 24 hour burn in, then matched for Ip and gm. We match all power tubes ourselves We match using several methods, including our own custom equipment, often resulting in far better matching than those matched by the factory or distributors. We are also one of the very few who burn-in and match tubes like SV811-3 in quantity. Please refer to Power Tube Matching.

Can you match Sextets? Octets? How about 11 tubes?
We can match any number of quantities of tubes if our stock allows. We can do custom matching at any operating points up to 700V. There may be a nominal fee depnding on what you want. Please inquire if you have any special needs.

Do you allow local pickup?
Sorry, we don't. We are an Internet-only eCommerce business. As such, we have a workshop/warehouse area but we do not have a walk-in store front and cannot accomodate walk-ins at this time.

Why aren't you available on the phone often?
Like most tube vendors, we are not a big corporation that can afford a lot of administrative overhead. Instead, we put all our resources into not only processing your orders, but running various tests and burning-in and matching of several dozen different power tube types. This is how we keep our prices low and keep offering the level of service that you have come to expect from us. Unfortunately, this simply does not allow us to man the phone.

We are, however, always available by email. We answer your inquiries with detailed answers, and with courtesy, even at night or over the weekend. So please feel free to send us your inquiries and requests any time - 24/7.

Do you offer Cryo tubes?
Nope. Don't think we ever will.