12AX7 suggestions?

bruce ferrara · 15th June 2007, 01:17 AM

Hi,
I have a Symphonies Plus pre-amp..I like it. But I have the feeling that I could get something better with differrent tubes.
Anyone have experiences they can share? A good reasonable preamo tube?
Thanks
Bruce

Jim McShane · 15th June 2007, 12:02 PM

I recommend the Tung-Sol reissue 12AX7. It's a VERY good tube and it's very reasonably priced. I have a lot of customers who use them and the feedback has been really positive. It's quiet, low microphonics, and well made. It's a great value in a 12AX7, no doubt about it.

bruce ferrara · 16th June 2007, 02:50 AM

Jim,
Thanks
I have some phillips tubes as well as some old tungsrams.
I have seem that ei makes a tube that seems ok and groove tubes mullard copy...You feel that the tung sols are better?
The phillips that I have is a little grainy on the highs and the tungsram is warmer..but I hope to find something more open.
thanks..and it seems that you could reccomend a place to buy them?
Thanks
B

Jim McShane · 16th June 2007, 03:18 AM

First off, Ei is shut down, so finding an Ei ECC83/12AX7 is tough. And many were noisy or microphonic - the quality really slipped badly in the last of the production runs.

The GT "Mullard clone" can be a VERY nice tube as well. But the quality issues have darn near killed it. I stopped carrying them because the reject rate was over 80%! The GT is a warmer tube than the Tung-Sol, but the Tung-Sol has a very nice top end. One is not better than the other, they are just different. If you want more open sound the Tung-Sol is more likely to work for you than the GT.

I hope it's okay to say I have the Tung-Sols in stock since you asked.

15th June 2007, 01:17 AM	#1
bruce ferrara diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2006	12ax-7 suggestions? Hi, I have a Symphonies Plus pre-amp..I like it. But I have the feeling that I could get something better with differrent tubes. Anyone have experiences they can share? A good reasonable preamo tube? Thanks Bruce

16th June 2007, 02:50 AM	#3
bruce ferrara diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2006	12 ax7s Jim, Thanks I have some phillips tubes as well as some old tungsrams. I have seem that ei makes a tube that seems ok and groove tubes mullard copy...You feel that the tung sols are better? The phillips that I have is a little grainy on the highs and the tungsram is warmer..but I hope to find something more open. thanks..and it seems that you could reccomend a place to buy them? Thanks B

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15th June 2007, 12:02 PM	#2
Jim McShane diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southwest Chicago Suburbs	I recommend the Tung-Sol reissue 12AX7. It's a VERY good tube and it's very reasonably priced. I have a lot of customers who use them and the feedback has been really positive. It's quiet, low microphonics, and well made. It's a great value in a 12AX7, no doubt about it.

16th June 2007, 03:18 AM	#4
Jim McShane diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southwest Chicago Suburbs	First off, Ei is shut down, so finding an Ei ECC83/12AX7 is tough. And many were noisy or microphonic - the quality really slipped badly in the last of the production runs. The GT "Mullard clone" can be a VERY nice tube as well. But the quality issues have darn near killed it. I stopped carrying them because the reject rate was over 80%! The GT is a warmer tube than the Tung-Sol, but the Tung-Sol has a very nice top end. One is not better than the other, they are just different. If you want more open sound the Tung-Sol is more likely to work for you than the GT. I hope it's okay to say I have the Tung-Sols in stock since you asked.

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