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Are these noisy, or is there a 'thump' sound when using them? The current pads on my 983 Eb are about 10 years old, but they're still very quiet. Just wondering about replacing them...

I have them on my 6450. I put them on 2 weeks after buying my horn, and the previous felts were already quite worn down. Mind you, I routinely spend 4-6 hours daily with my tuba in rehearsals and practicing.

I put the PVAK on, and there was a definite noise difference. They are indeed louder than felts, but I believe the trade off is worth it. I've recorded countless hours of stuff in the past few months, and not once were they a problem "out front".

And though not part of your question, I had my repair guy go down the valves with his borescope, and very much like Cameron's pictures, they were perfectly aligned. For kicks, we stuck the 2 week old felts on and they were off almost 1/8th of an inch when pressed using "normal" pressure. But, of course... they're a placebo.. right?

there was a definite noise difference. They are indeed louder than felts, but I believe the trade off is worth it. I've recorded countless hours of stuff in the past few months, and not once were they a problem "out front".

I agree with JHardisk in that assessment. I have the same result on my Willson 3400 Eb and I play 4-6 hours a day, as he does. Notice the term "louder" than "felts." They are but they are not loud. And my valves lined up from thet moment I put them in and have stayed lined up. There is not much more I would ask of them.