McIntosh Vintage C22 Telefunken 12AX7 or ECC803's?

Larryi,, yes I am referring to the NOS Telefunken 803s from the Ulm factory in West Germany. I agree with your assessment. I am considering the NOS 803s for the C22 but they maybe too bright. Hence why I was looking for opinions. Thanks for your post.

As larryi said there is no ready supply of NOS/OS Telefunken 803S. They are truly rare not the BS rare you see in ads. The cost is astronomical as well.
I can help make a tube recommendation if you provide what you want the tube to do to your sound. Telefunken ECC83 12AX7 types are indeed kind of steely. They provide a clear/clean and strong signal.

Mechans,

I like the sound that the currently installed Telefunken 12AX7s provide, very lush and not analytical . I have just 2 objectives with considering the 803s; reduction of noise for phono and increased performance in clarity or sound stage if possible.

I run MC cartridges with step up transformers. I don't have a noise problem but like to keep looking for solutions to keep pushing any noise that is inherent to phono down. Lower is always better.

As for improvement in sound, clarity or stage, we all push for more but in this case not at the cost of too bright which the 803s can do. Let me know what you suggest; solution maybe stay with what I have.

In the mean time I will have a few extra NOS ECC803s in a week or so I can swap in and listen to the difference. I don't think I need to replace all 6 in the C22, just 2 for phono test. I will have to check.

Thanks for your input.

You are trying the right tube for low noise and clean signal. If you can get ECC803S, then more power to you, they are selected for the reasons you are tube rolling.

Many consider Telefunken ECC83/12AX7s to be on the bright or lean side. If you consider them to be lush enough for you (I do as well), then you certainly ARE a candidate for appreciating the ECC803S. These have a similar tonal balance, but also, greater clarity and a bit more explosive dynamics.

You possibly could rationalize such an expense by the reputation of that tube outliving its owner.