Good tubes for Luxman pre-amp

[Andypairo]

Yesterday I fixed a old Luxman tube pre-amp, don't remenber exactly the model (but I can ask the owner) but it mounts 5 ECC83 (12AX7) and 2 ECC82(12AU7).

Well, I should have said "it should mount" because whan my friend had the tubes replaced the so-called "technician" mixed 'em up and mounted 5 ECC82 and 2 ECC83

I am new to tubes so, since he wants to put the right ones in the right place, I need a suggestion on which brands to choose.

I saw that there are some reasonable priced Electro-Harmonix (regular and gold-pin) around, some hi-priced Telefunkens.. but I have no clue.

Do you have suggestions?

I'm looking for good to very good tubes but don't want to rob a bank to buy them!

Cheers

Andrea

[stefanobilliani]

Andrea ,

some time ago I bought 2 ECC83 from Selection Components in Milano. They have more than one quality ( and prices ) for that tube. I remember I choose a cost around 15€ for 2 tubes .
If you like you may ask them for a suggestion.

[Brett]

Originally posted by Andypairo
I am new to tubes so, since he wants to put the right ones in the right place, I need a suggestion on which brands to choose.

I saw that there are some reasonable priced Electro-Harmonix (regular and gold-pin) around, some hi-priced Telefunkens.. but I have no clue.

Do you have suggestions?

I'm looking for good to very good tubes but don't want to rob a bank to buy them!

Selecting the "best" flavour of 12A_7 tubes is like asking who is the most beautiful woman.
Buy a set of th EH's from a reputable dealer for a modest sum, and use them. If you want to try tube-rolling later, it's easy enough, and after listening to the EH's for a while, at least you'll have a reference to choose from some of the more expensive candidates if you get the opportunity to try them out in your unit. And how will you know otherwise?

Some designs show up great differences in tubes, and others much less so. What I DO know is that everyone seems to have a preference for a particular brand/year/construction, and it never seems to correlate. I have no experience with the Luxmans (Luxmen?) so I can't offer a more definitive suggestion, but I'm fortunate in one regard; I universally dislke this type of tube.

I hope you friend enjoys his amp.

[richwalters]

Electo-harmonix ;Sovteks, Svetlanas have one thing in common. they are all made in former Soviet Union. I've been using both the S'SS (all stages) in my amps and cannot detect saleable differences and they last pretty well sim.....Interestingly, I recently had a new 6550C version fail whereas I've been using batches of Svet 6550B (clear getter version) for years without drooping.
I 'm having doubts that the new 6550C version with all that gold plating hung about inside is really up to reliability expectations.

In saying this, against reliability and cheapness I have a dislike for replica Red Lion brand from China and that goes for Shugang 300B's, KT series, all I found behaved queer at high current levels with shortened life.
I run my tubes hard, dammned hard. I cannot see the point for cheap tubes, but one does have to rob the credit card for properly made ones that last.
Only my view,
rich

[fdegrove]

Hi,

I 'm having doubts that the new 6550C version with all that gold plating hung about inside is really up to reliability expectations.

You're not alone here. I hear the same echoes all over.

Hang in there, Walt.

Cheers,

[fdegrove]

Hi,

Selecting the "best" flavour of 12A_7 tubes is like asking who is the most beautiful woman.

Not quite, I've been lucky enugh to enjoy the TFK ECC83.
A reference for any tube if there ever was one.

Even so there were better ECC83 equivalents around, beat a TFK? I'd doubt it.

The E83CC Tesla came close, very close. The ECC808 was definetily best in class and still is to this day even when it's not pin to pin compatible.

This type of valve isn't my favourite but if you need this kind of gain, the ECC808 is hard to beat.

This is one type I'd love to see revived, amongst a few others....

Cheers,

[Brett]

Aw, c'mon Frank, I meant in the context of this unit, one I can hardly see the owner spending $US400 a tube on for TFK ECC83's.

[Andypairo]

Thank you guys, I think I'll stick with the EH (maybe the "gold" ones.. but will there be any difference?), at least for now.

The best woudl be to use the original ones, but I think it would be hard to find them.

Cheers

Andrea

[Andypairo]

What about JJ tubes?

Cheers

Andrea

[Andypairo]

Talking again to the owner revealed that there are still problems, but at least now I can ask if someone knows the CL-32 or has schematics available.. a first search on the web revealed nothing.

Cheers

Andrea