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I purchased a pair of National 7316 halo-getters ("Made in USA" on label), and I have to say that they are the best 12au7's I've heard in my system. They are amazingly balanced and clear from top to bottom, providing both a sense of individual instruments and the music as a whole (better than ANY other 12au7 I've had in there). Bass is phenomenally powerful and deep without taking over; the depth and width of the soundstage are exemplary; timbral accuracy and 3D imaging are remarkable.
Does anyone know anything about them?
TIA
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Hello TPCarter who lives in the beautiful Bay Area.Per your made in USA National 7316. I researched 7316's years ago. They were designed by Amperex as industrialized ECC82's/12AU7's. I believe the only real 7316's were made by Amperex in the Heerlen, Holland plant. Thus it is likely any tube labeled as a 7316 not made in that location is not a real 7316. Of course as 7316's sell for top dollar there is always a possibility that some shyster might re-label an Amperex ECC82 as a 7316 so be aware when you purchase 7316's.
Per the above I doubt Amperex USA ever made a 7316. It is worth examining your National 7316 for signs it was made in the Heerlen plant and not in the USA. If you look down on the tube from the top is there a ridge, like a raised thin straight line that goes from one side of the top thru the raised nipple to the other side of the top? Or possibly 2 such raised lines with one crossing the other at a 90 degree angle such that they divide the top of the tube into quarters?
If you examine the tube's glass envelope, near the bottom edge, are there any Philips ID codes? If so what are the codes? Such codes usually ID the specific tube type and version and when and where it was made. These details, among other things, can distinguish an Amperex ECC82 falsely labeled as a 7316 from a real Amperex 7316.
Note: During the production run of 7316's Amperex made 5 or 6 variations of the tube. Although all are supposed to be superb sonically they have different characteristics.
I used to live in SF and Marin. The Bay Area is fab!
Hope this helps.
Edits: 11/21/16 11/22/16 11/22/16
Think National doesn't make tube, but relabels other brands. I believe I've seen Raytheon or Tungsol made 7316, labeled as National. Been so long, can't remember any details.
> National doesn't make tube, but relabels other brands.
Right; in the 1980s it was difficult for me to find any tubes not National brand because that's what my local retailer sold. They should not be confused with National Union.
Ooh la la--National Union! My Dad worked there during the 1940s in R&D performing research on new vacuum tube technologies. I have a gorgeous photo of an employee dinner at a fancy hotel during that time. And if I recall correctly have a late 1940's correspondence from a colleague who mentioned inside details on one or several top people leaving the company.
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