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In Reply to: Re: Looking for 12au7 for my cary SLP94 posted by Bambi B on September 28, 2004 at 16:12:40:
actually a SLP 2002, the Amperex/Bugle Boy 7316s were the best. Oddly enough, the Mullard CV 4003s were almost as good, and wayyyyy cheaper. I recently bought some 7316s that were labled "HP" from SED Tube sales at vacuumtubes.com for $175/matched pair. Upscale Audio sells very select Mullard CV 4003s for much less.
Follow Ups:
"" actually a SLP 2002, the Amperex/Bugle Boy 7316s were the best. Oddly enough, the Mullard CV 4003s were almost as good, and wayyyyy cheaper. I recently bought some 7316s that were labled "HP" from SED Tube sales at vacuumtubes.com for $175/matched pair. Upscale Audio sells very select Mullard CV 4003s for much less.""
Funny thing on this forum that when someone has a really rare tube...like a Mullard 10M, or a CBS 7730...it has to be way better because it is so rare.Not once do I see someone take a real rare tube and say it sucks. The Amperex pinched waist 6922 is without peers the worst testing 6922 outside of the Sylvania. They are most difficult to keep quiet in a preamp, but both of them work fine in a buffer position like the Ah! Njoe Tjoeb.
I noticed this when I spplied some tubes to a magazine for a comparison. When I told them what I was sending, I commented on certain ones that I was just sending them for fun, and to not have people even bother looking for them, they are so rare. Guess which ones were the best sounding. The ones you can't get.
So I think it is psychological. But people have to look at who was buying these tubes in the 60's and 70's. If a company making tubes did not make many...it may be because they weren't selling, either because they were not a competetive product, or had bad distribution and did not create sales.
It's no different than any other product. "Yugo" brand cars did not sell because they are crap. You don't see people fawning over them because they are rare. A 1958 Ferrari Testarossa is wonderful, rare, and expensive...but hardly usable as a car for most people.
They are expensive because of collector value
KavinIn your opinion..What is the best buy 12au7 for the cary? Mullard cv40003?
Kevin Deal,I'm glad to read of someone else that subscribes to the two reasns for rarity- the thing was great and few were made because of the effort and expense to make it great OR it was so terrible few bought them and even fewer were maintained.
But your additional psychological aspect- that people will rate somrthing better if it is introduced as "rare" is an important addition.
I'm certain this has to do with the mass-produced world today. I don't think there was ever an age before the 20th C. in which old things were worth so substantially more than new. Someone might think of the very high prices of Titians or Raphaels in the later 18th C., but I'll wager a new Joshua Reynolds was close in value. I think the most expensive paintings in history relative to the value of money were Alma-Tademas that when new in 1890 cost $100,000. And simlutaneously, Van Gogh was giving paintings away for another shot of absinthe.
As for tubes, like paintings, the appreciation is more on a subjective basis. I certainly am not thinking about measurements when listening compared to the aspects of sound. And the introduction of "rare' or "expensive" or "acclaimed" will also certianly influence opinion. But, those of us who tend towards iconclasm though may react by trying to debunk fancy reputations!
Did you know that early Blazmo square-rigger, corrugated blue-plate special, pregnant-waist "Trumpet Lad" ECC8003SSTs are astoundingly better than the very common Telefunken ECC803S? Apparently only virgins were allowed to do the welding. But- try and find them at any price!
I, hHowever, have 100 for sale if anyone's interested..
Cheers,
Hi Kevin and Bambi B you are wright...Here is example of rare and pricy 12au7 tubes which I dont like in my pre
1. Philips-Holand 1955, long plate, foil getter 12au7
competent but litle to clinical, dry sound, unbalanced top
2. Telefunken small logo ecc802s
not magical at all, detailed and extended, very HI-FI
3. Brimar side getter, clear top ecc82
rich tone, warm mid with coloration, maybe to much bloom across the spectrum
4. Valvo ecc186, code Ct5, small O-getter, short plate
uninvolvong, not so musical but detailed
5. Pearl Cryo CBS JHY-5814A, 1956 black plate, copper grid, square getter
not nearly good as Raytheon 5814 - 1952
6. Siemens Munich made 1956 long plate, D - getter
litle cold and clinical sound, poor bass, bright topHere is example of rare and pricy tubes which I like in my pre
1. Valvo Hamburg 1955 foil getter long plate ECC82 - most musical, smooth, magical mid, rounded and airy.
2. Valvo mid 60s 6067 - most neutral and balanced, great soundstage, ultra transparent and refined, magic in top, very unique in family
3. Siemens early 60s silver plate ecc82 - clear, nice and litle coloration in mid, detailed, very extended top
4. Mullard 1956 sguare getter long plate ecc82 - very warm and rounded, little too soft, smooth top
5. Ratheon 1952 black plate sguare getter 5814 - dynamic, rounded, musical, good bass, involving, not transparent as some
Milos from Serbia
You want pre 1980s CV4003s if possible.
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