Equivalents for 12AT7 and 6N11 ? (Sense G3 headphone amp)

[pingfloid]

Hi,

I have purchased the new Sense G3 headphone amplifier (formerly Phenix) that is an Earmax clone.

It came with these Chinese tubes:

Driver: 1 x 12AT7
Output: 2 x 6N11

I have doubts about the possible tube substitutions. I have 2 Siemens ECC801S, 2 Phillips E88CC and 1 Valvo 6201. I am wondering if the 6201 can substitute the 12AT7 at the driver, and the two couples of ECC801S or E88C the 6N11 at the output.

BTW: I love the sound. I did buy it with the idea of tweaking it, but I will wait before I cannibalize it. I’ll just try some tube rolling at the moment.

[SY]

6201 is a direct substitute for 12AT7. There are better 12AT7s...

[pingfloid]

Hi SY. Thank you for the answer.

I am going to try the Valvo 6201 replacing the 12AT7

What do you think that can be a better substitute?

I have seen Mullard E81CC for $95, Mullard 6201 for $75, and Telefunken ECC801 for $59.

I am willing to pay more if there are really good options, but I am afraid to buy something unnecesarily overpriced.

[tyo94]

ECC801S also direct replacement for 12AT7, and sonically sound so much better. If yours is the triple mica one, you're lucky as that's the best type.

[pingfloid]

I don't know if they have triple mica.

They are labeled Siemens ECC801S. This are the details that the seller gave me:

2xNOS Siemens ECC801S 12AT7 ECC81 Munich Germany NIB 1981. Etched date code. A perfectly matched pair. Long lived version at least 20,000 hours. Made for German army. Excellent resolution in the bass. Falcon logo on box. Tested on Amplitrex AT 1000. Brand new in original boxes.
Date codes:
C PHI
6 Not Equal To
1I
Triode emissions;
tube # 1 13.4 [mA] / 13.2 [mA]
tube # 2 13.1 [mA] / 13.3 [mA]
NOS is 10.0



I am impatient to start heating them

[SY]

Originally Posted by pingfloid

Hi SY. Thank you for the answer.

I am going to try the Valvo 6201 replacing the 12AT7

What do you think that can be a better substitute?

I have seen Mullard E81CC for $95, Mullard 6201 for $75, and Telefunken ECC801 for $59.

I am willing to pay more if there are really good options, but I am afraid to buy something unnecesarily overpriced.

If you're interested in performance rather than prestige... JJ for $10.

[tyo94]

You just need to look inside the tube, the tripe mica series usually had an extra mica on top of top mica (between top mica and getter). Not all ECC801S has triple mica

[tyo94]

Originally Posted by SY

If you're interested in performance rather than prestige... JJ for $10.

Are you serious that JJ is that good?

[pingfloid]

For $10 I will try it for sure. Now I am starting to remember that many years ago I used to have a Marshall JMP1 preamplifier, and the sound dramatically improved when I replaced the stock 12AX7 for a JJ. But I don't know if what is juicy for guitar may be good for audio.

What a memory lapse!!. Do we get older? :-)

[SY]

Originally Posted by tyo94

Are you serious that JJ is that good?

Yes. I tested multiple samples of quite a few alternatives and the JJ was head and shoulders better. Half the distortion of a 6201, for example.