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In Reply to: RE: 12AX7 Suggestions ? posted by wiggy924 on August 12, 2014 at 15:32:51
If you are set on the 12AX7 tube, the Mullard is superior to any current or NOS production tube I have heard.
In the alternative, the 5751 tube is superior to the best 12AX7 tube(s). In general, NOS, 3 mica Sylvania black plates will best any 12AX7 type tube. GE, Tung Sol, CBS, and Raytheon windmills are also quite good.
I have not heard any current production tubes that are better than mediocre...nuts!
Cheers,
P
Follow Ups:
I'll have to ask VAC if a 5751 will be compatible in my integrated amp. How great is the difference between a 12AX7 and a 5751?
Thanks,
Wig
The 5751 is a drop in replacement for the 12AX7 - with 30% less gain The 5751 was developed to military spec, and it is less prone to microphonics.
The 12ax7 tends to be an unfocused tube, and that is what you may be perceiving as a weakness in your system. The 5751 has many flavors to choose from too!
The only circuit that I know does not work well with a 5751 in lieu of a 12ax7 - is Bob Hovland's HP100 preamp. Every other pre and amp have had jaw dropping improvements in sound quality and transparency.
Disclaimer - the 5751 are great tubes, but the best of the best are expensive. Joe's tube lore on 5751 is a good primer to learn about basic characteristics of the 5751.
I love NOS 5751s, but I think it is wrong to characterize them as always superior to good 12ax7s as Joe did in Joes tube lore. It depends on the equipment and the listeners priorities. Joe's priorities seem to be focus and transparency, and in these areas 5751s do for the most part trump 12ax7s. However, some 12ax7s seem to me to be more dynamic and "bigger" sounding than 5751s. Tone is another area of difference. For example, I prefer the tone of an early RCA blackplate 12ax7 to the RCA triple mica 5751. I love both tubes and roll them often in my amp. I can't say one is better than the other, they are both great.
Great to collect classic NOS tubes from the past and roll different flvours in the amp and pre.
Enjoy the roll!
Guys,
5751 are a no go in my Vac amp so I'll be looking into maybe a Mullard longplate or a Mazda silverplate; looking some something that's in the middle of these two tubes.
I bought some Blackburn Mullards and Amperex Bugle Boys and prefer them over the Mullards because they have some warmth and are great at ambiance retrieval.
How much better are the LP in terms of details/transparency over a Blackburn Mullard?
Thanks,
Wig
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