12au7 tube?
Looking for a good 12au7 (JJ ecc802s currently). I know the Telefunken ECC802s is the holy grail, but it comes at a price that is just too steep for me to justify. Many will recommend Mullard, but I always find them a bit too "wooly", lacking in definition. They're going in a Mastersound 845 Compact.
What tubes would you recommend that fits between the clarity of the Telefunken (without the price...) and the Mullard? I don't mind spending a bit of money on a pair (let's say max $500 for the pair, prefer to be lower if at all possible).
I spent $450 for very close tolerance within 2% medical grade Telefunken with the red tips worth every penny and last for years. if you want a very good modern tube -12au7 at APIs audio Rays select tubes hand picked closely matched made to a very high standard and a full 1 year warranty for-under $200 . I have the Rays big bulb 6SN7 complementing the Tele 12AU7 in my LSA preamp is sounds very good . |
Rays select 12AU7 https://apos.audio/collections/top-sellers/products/apos-ray-tube-12au7 |
I like Telefunken very much. Always found them to be very open and musical. They last for yrs. In fact all of my tubes, doesn’t matter what brand last and have never worn out. The only tube I remember having problems was the Sylvania triple mica black plate 5751. It’s maybe considered one of the top 5751’s but for me always had a high failure rate. Even all my power tubes have lasted these 30yrs because I have several amps and I use all my amps so my tubes have never failed except for going faulty. I like the 6SN7 tube and I have a lot of the true Sylvania Chrome Domes made in 1952-53 which is a really nice tube. Also have the 1940’s Holy Grail 6SN7 Tung Sol round plate smoke glass. For me, I liked many many of the different vintage 12au7’s including the Mullards but my favorites were the Amperex. I felt Amperex had everything all in one tube. There are many different versions of Amperex 12au7’s, I liked Old World Logo and the 7316. |
I'm also going to test different 6sn7's. I already have a pair of Sylvania 6SN7GTB Chrome Tops and I'm getting a pair of Melz 1578's (which likely will take quite some time to arrive since they're coming from Ukraine). They're kind of on two different sides of the spectrum where the SYL is a bit darker and with better bass and scary good midrange than the 1578 which is supposedly a bit brighter, super detailed and widest/deepest sound stage, but lighter in the bass.
I'll keep posting my findings as I get some time to do a proper run through them all (and all combinations...) |
