12AX7A and AT7 tubes


I recently changed all 8 power tubes (KT88) in my 8 year old Mac 2102 power amp. Used Gold Lion tubes as recommended by the majority of the Audiogon respondents to I thread I ran asking for KT88 advice. As suggested, these tubes really made a difference in the sound produced by the 2102. I am now thinking that maybe I should be replacing the 4-12AX7A and the 4-12AT7 tubes as well. I am pretty sure there is nothing mechanically wrong with the OEM tubes currently in the amp. but I am just interested in what this change would do for the sound, if anything. I have some questions about this move. First, do you think this is a worthwhile investment? Second, if this is a good move, what tubes do you recommend? Lastly, should I also change out these tubes in my C2200 preamp? If cost gets to be a factor, would you do the preamp first, last, or not at all? (As an aside, Upscale Audio recommends the Mullard CV4004 and CV4024. The CV4004 tubes are a whopping $80.00 each. Are they worth it?)
frepec

Showing 3 responses by lapierre

Depends if your direction is wanting to extend highs and smoother midrange with very low noise floor. The 12AX7s will effect your sound the most compared to the KT88s.

I would change the tubes in the preamp after you complete the MC2102. I put more money in my preamp tubes than the my MC275 amps. If I had to do it over I would have increase my money into my MC275 tubes using long plates with big warm sound and lower noise.
Frepec finish the MC2102 and then later move to the C2200. In the MC2102 you have to replace 4 input and 4 driver tubes compared to 2 phono and 2 high level tubes for C2200.
Frepec might as well replace the cheap fuses with audio grade fuses like HiFi or Isoclean.