Best sounding ECC83 ?

[cs]

What is the best sounding modern version of the ECC83 (for HiFi use) out of the following manufacturers :

Golden Dragon
Ei Elite
Svetlana
JJ

[Yvesm]

The best sounding tube is the one that doesn't sound at all.
That said, what you hear has more to do with the way you use the tube than with the tube itself . . .

[Zoran]

I had very good experience from newer types of ecc83
with
Sovtek 12AX7-LPS
cheers

[MrCurwen]

For HIFI, I'd say any 6SL7 you can find. =)

[azazello]

ECC83, 12AX7 are not for HiFi.....but for guitar ampl!

[piero7]

the blackburn ones

[Alastair E]

Originally Posted by MrCurwen

For HIFI, I'd say any 6SL7 you can find. =)

Absolutely!

ECC83, Horrible tube IMHO!

Change the Socket and use summit Nice instead!

[SY]

It's a tricky tube to use, but used correctly, it's incredibly linear. I've posted data on this previously.

[Joshua_G]

There is no "best sound" for any tube. Various ECC83/12AX7 tubes have different sound characteristics, while different people prefer different sound characteristics.

The Sovtek 12AX7-LPS have exceptional details in the mid-high frequencies.
NOS Telefunken have much "body" in the mid-high frequencies.

[SY]

Really? No matter what the circuit they're used in, where the branded tubes originated, or when they were made (and hence internal structure)? Telefunkens have quite different structures depending on when and where they were made- the shape of the ink printed on the tube doesn't give them a common electrical characteristic.