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RE: Recommendations For 6CA4 Tube Needed

Sondek,

I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your recommendation. I love the sound of the RFT 12U7 tubes, preferring them over every other 12AU7 type in my Mastersound Reference 845, integrated, SET amp!

When I first purchased that amp. I wasn't as knowledgeable about the 12AU7 family of tubes, as I am now. So I asked on a few audio forums, including this one, "What's the best sounding 12AU7 tube?" As you can imagine I got the usual chorus of buy: "Amperex, Mullard, Telefunken, Siemens or Valvo". Not knowing better, I quickly tried these different suggested tubes. However much to my surprise I wasn't at all satisfied with what I heard! I soon realized it was my ears that I had to make happy, not anyone else's. To that end I set off to try almost every variation of the 12AU7 tube I could find: 12AU7A, 12AU7WA, 5814, 5814A, 5963, 6067, 6189, 6680, 6CC40, 7489, 7730, CK5814, CV491, ECC82, E82CC, ECC802, ECC802S and M8136.

But I didn't stop there, oh no. Not only did I try all these different variations, I tried as many different manufacture's versions of these variations such as: Amperex, Brimar, Cifte, Electro Harmonics, GE, Mazda, Mullard, Phillips, RCA, RFT, RT, Siemens, Sylvania, Telefunken, Tesla, Tungsram & Tungsol Nor did I stop there, because I was looking for the very best, I also tried every different plate color: black, gray and chrome/silver/nickel and plate type: which included long, short, box, ribbed, etc. etc.

Here's what I discovered. The tubes so many other people cited as being "THE BEST" simply weren't when used in my amp! I found it was actually the Mazda 6189/E82CC/12AU7WA "chrome plate" and the East German RFT 12AU7 with yellow letter "mickey mouse ears." that sounded the best ---in my amp! They were both much better sounding than the highly touted Siemens "chrome-plate" or the much loved Amperex "bugle boys" or any Mullard I could find, yes even the 10M.

What I'm getting at is this: the ONLY people who might actually honestly be able to another person find a nice sounding tube(s) would be:

1) people who own your same component: Why? because they know what the different tubes sound like in that component. This is precisely why I appreciated your response so much! You tried these tubes in a Counterpoint preamp along with many others and greatly preferred the RFT EZ80 tubes.

2) people who listen to music you listen to: Why? because if you listen to New Age and another person recommends a tube listens to Heavy Metal you're probably looking for different sonic qualities in a tube and every other component.

3) people who listen for same sonic traits you listen for in music: Why? because if you listen to the same music if one person focuses on sound staging and you focus on PRaT, you might actually prefer different tubes.

Again I thank you for your suggestion. Now I just have to find some RFT EZ80 tubes...


I'm listening to: The Benoit Freeman Project by The Benoit Freeman Project






Thetubeguy1954 (Tom)

Central Florida Audio Society -- SETriodes Group -- Space Coast Audio Society
Full-range/Wide-range Drivers --- Front & Back-Loaded Horns --- High Sensitivity Speakers


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