12au7 tube?

Audiojan

There are tons of variables for 12 AU7s and 6SN7s, as you've already seen. Whenever I need honest advice and a HUGE selection of tubes, I reach out to Brent Jessee. His tubes are not the cheapest, but he carries a large stock, and stands behind his tubes. Send him a note with your equipment, and ask him for his recommendations; he's been spot on and I've been buying from him for 7 or 8 years

Best combination has turned out to be Melz 1587 and La Radiotechnique 12AU7WA. The perfect combination of air, details, natural sound (and never edgy or dull) and a soundstage that is unbelievably awesome!

I really appreciate these threads for information.

inna commented about some 50s RCA black tops, back in February. I'd recently been trying out 12 AU7s in both an Aric Unlimited II, and a Conrad Johnson PV-11. Battle of the preamps and their line stage tubes. I've got a modest collection, but the black tops arrived last week. I've liked the RCA clear tops, and some Cryotones among the existing crowd, but wow. The RCA black tops provided more of everything. I've stopped rolling for the moment, just surprised.

I had a buddy over a few nights ago, and he was looking around for the large speakers in the basement. They were just the little Dynaudios, pretending to be big.  I give some credit to these tubes for that moment.

Blacktops??

Do you mean black plates?

Yeah, he meant black plates, of course. I think, RCA actually invented both 12AX7 and 12AU7 tubes. 1948-1956 production years are thought to be the best.