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I've been doing a lot of tube rolling in my Audiomat Solfege Reference (integrated) and have come up with a couple of great combinations that I wanted to share:
1) Sylvania 12ax7 long black plate (late 40s vintage) + CBS 12au7 short black plate. The timbral accuracy and great detail/ability to handle complex passages of the Sylvania is a perfect match for the excessively warm CBS tubes. Together, I'm getting the best of both worlds -- intoxicating warmth with vocals and lower mids . . . and exceptionally clarity with all styles of music. The highs are sparkly lush without being fat, and the lows are rich without being bloated. (While I don't know about this, the Sylvania might have this taming affect with other 12au7's that are excessively warm.)
2) Tungsram 12ax7 + Sylvania 6189 (2). The Tungsram provides a great airiness to female vocals, and the Sylvania gives a great balanced treatment to all frequencies. This combination is not quite as forward as the above and not quite as warm, but the balanced presentation is remarkable.
If you haven't tried these combos in your system, I strongly recommend an audition!
Follow Ups:
That while a particular combination of tubes might be just the thing for a given preamp/power amp/speaker combination, it might not work as well in another system.
In particular, the way the tubes are run (plate voltage, capacitive and resistive loading, topology) could easily be enough to favor one tube in one preamp, and another tube in a different preamp. Add in balancing that with aural differences in the rest of the equipment chain, and I doubt that there are any absolutes in "best" tubes.
Lee is right.
That's why you gotta roll if you want to know.
You can never have to many tubes!
I've got a Tungsram 12ax7 and an RCA black plate 5963 in right now. Best combination yet! It has the warmth that the CBS gave without the slight bloat . . . and it has this wonderfully natural timbre and "feel" to all voices and instruments. Almost like a 3-D shimmer of authenticity. Delicious!
This is the first I have been made aware of late 40's Sylvania 12AX7!
Never had the opportunity to see one. I have several 1948 and 1949 RCA 12AX7, several 1949 Ken Rad/GE, and I have one 1949 Tung Sol 12AX7 Black Plate... I even have a Lansdale Philco 12AU7 from 49. But never seen a Sylvie.
WOW. That is too cool. I would love pics! Or is it simply the same design as the early 50's Sylvanias?
My amp has a 12AX7 pre and 2 12AU7 Phase Splitter driving 4 EL84, SO I have a TON of experience in this very tube combo! I have been in a selling mood lately... got rid of over 100 tubes, but still have a couple hundred Old Stock 12AX7/12AU7 and related types left....
Hmmmm... my fav combos right now would be a Tungsram ECC83, early type with welded plates, with a pair of Siemens ECC82 Silver Plates.
Another good one is a 1957 Mullard CV4004 Toast Plate goalpost getter mottled glass with 2 CBS-Hytron 5814a, or 2 CBS Hytron 12BH7A with tall square getter...
But, I could go on forever about this... haha
Andrew
Ever try German made Valvo or Siemens E82CC (6189)?
I like what I read about Valvo and Siemens, but I've never tried them. What are your impressions?
German made Valvo and Siemens E82CC rank up there with the CBS-Hytron 5814A, 7316, and 7318 --- in terms of classic, vintage tube tones, IMHO.
I find the German tube a bit cleaner mids and highs. The US made mil specs better bass and warmer mids. All last and last and last.
Sadly, very hard to find good NOS. Many available now, are not up to par with the ones available in the last century.
8^(
Just curious, but is your opinion based on your experience using them in guitar amps or stereo?
if you want more fun, pop out that sylvania 12ax7 blk plate and install a sylvania 12at7 black plate. you will lose a bit of gain, but the imaging should improve.
You are working with some good tubes. I like the black plate Sylvania 12ax7 (although I like the black plate RCA and Raytheon 12ax7s a little more). Not sure that the 12ax7 was around in the 1940s?
Enjoy the roll!
Agree about 1940s Sylvania 12AX7s, and choosing Raytheon, but thought of 5157 windmill getter instead. My favorite 12AU7 has been the 1960s Amperex Heerlen for years now. The 7316 in particular, but these have gotten rare and expensive, I have 2 counterfeits on my desk right now. Any thought of over warmness with these 2 should disappear immediately.
Sounds like you are having too much fun finding your perfect combination of tubes. But it is great that you found your magic combination. Now stock up with a back up set.
Keep up the fun.
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