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In Reply to: RE: Rogue Audio Ares tubes posted by PMC0607 on December 06, 2014 at 17:56:27
The Telefunken 12AX7 are definitely really really nice in the Ares, but they're certainly NOT worth paying a premium to a dealer. There's scads of "used but tests extremely strong, low noise" examples of this tube floating around -- there were a LOT of them produced over the years. I've paid between $70-$110 for used/strong pairs.I didn't try many 12AU7 because I have lots of 12BH7 which are better in most applications -- and you CAN use the 12BH7 in the Ares (I asked Rogue). The main problem there will be finding an acceptable quiet pair, since the big plates tend to be microphonic in phono stage applications (even in just the output buffer, as here).
Best combo I had in the Ares was the Tele 12AX7 plus Hitachi/Japanese 12BH7 (round plates). However, the Teles are not the proper choice when you need something to warm your system up and/or tame brightness (the Japanese 12BH7 are also very neutral; RCA are warm) -- but if not then I think they're amazing in the Ares. RCA black plate 12AX7 were also good (not as good as the Teles, though), and warmer.
For a more traditional 12AU7, I kinda like the GE 5814 3-mica gray plates (I've also used these in the Ares). Good sounding tube, drop-in sub for 12AU7, and not expensive. I've also used Upscale CV4003 in a Rogue Atlas (not Ares though) and wasn't really impressed vs. the cheap as hell RCA clear-tops.
I never tried the Brimar 12AX7; be aware that like Mullard there are box-plate-ish CV4004 military versions which are a different tube -- and with Brimar the CV4004-type tubes are the more common, though I believe Rogue's strong preference is to the domestic 12AX7. With Mullards, I definitely much prefer the long-plate 12AX7 (rare) to the box-plate CV4004 (common as hell).
Edits: 12/16/14 12/16/14 12/16/14Follow Ups:
Thank You mulveline for your post, somehow I hooked up with a tube collector from NJ and talk to him on the phone close to an hour. He is sending me 12AX7 & 12AU7 from Telefunken (smooth and grid plates), Amperex and Mullard all match pairs; for me to try and see witch combo I like best.
Boy it is going to be a tube fest coming here soon. I think this is going to take all day. all in all 16 tubes to try plus the JJ on the Ares.
Niiiiice!! Those are all fantastic tubes; great score. In the 12AX7's: long-plate Mullards are awesome, though I never tried them in the Ares somehow. The Ares was just so amazingly clean and detailed with ribbed-plate Teles, but watch it here if your system's bright. Short-plate Mullards will be waaarm (combat a bright system). I always seemed to have a noise problem in one tube of those stock JJ's (both times I had an Ares!), so never gave them a terribly serious listen.
Edits: 12/17/14
The JJ's is all I have been listening too and I have to say they are not that bad @ all. But I bet the NOS tubes are way better, soon to find out. I also purchase some AMR fuses to try them out, According to 10audio.com they are very good indeed and @ 20 bucks a piece not bad @ all compare to 115 for the Audio Horizons or 60 for the other brands. I just need to listen to them for my self so I can see if there is a big difference. Has any body here try different kind of fuses?
Oh and if anybody is interested in dampening a chassis or two I used Hush Mat witch I buy @ my local car stereo shop here in Austin. it made a big improvement in the sound quality of the Stealth phono. I just bought some more to put it on the Ares this Sunday wen I finish with my work week.
Well just a quick update, I installed the Telefunken 12AX7 & 12AU7 smoth plates, the tubes been new needed some break in and still do I think about 25 hrs should do, so far the sound is very good, a lot smother more detail better midrange, bass is deep control and abundant. Not to say that the JJ's did not sound good but this Teles are in another league. I still have the rib plate 12AU7 to try and them move on to the Amperex and Mullards. it is going to be a long process.
It's been a while since I posted any updates, I've been listening to the Teles and let me tell you they sound amazing, micro & macro detail galore, sound stage is supreme. I then change to the Mullards and they sounded very nice indeed but I like the Teles better. Next will be the Amperex and I will be finished with tubes for the Ares.I have to tell you guys something else,this tubes thing is addicting for sure,
I was wondering how a full tube front end will sound and I just happen to come across a three month old Rouge Audio 99 Super Magnum and I bought it.
Now I have a match quad set of RCA Red Base 5692 coming my way for the pre amp.
Edits: 01/17/15
Well I installed the RCA red base tubes and they are phenomenal it's really hard to describe everything in detail, because there is soo much going on. I never heard vinyl sound this good before. Thank You to all you guys that help me out with the selection of tubes, I'm done and now I'm gonna enjoy it for a some time.
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