12AU7 help,,,,

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Posted on April 28, 2020 at 22:37:14

Merlot_cat
Audiophile

Posts: 1437
Location: Northern Ohio
Joined: August 7, 2002
Contributor
Since: May 27, 2004

I am looking to do some tube rolling in my Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum integrated amp.
Any recommendations as to a good substitute for my stock 12au7 tubes. Thanks!!
The whole problem with the world is that the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.
-Bertrand Russell

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RE: 12AU7 help,,,,

sony6060

06:34:54 05/02/21

RE: 12AU7 help,,,,

sony6060

06:58:56 05/03/21

RE: 12AU7 help,,,,

Valva Actual

14:21:47 06/21/20

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RE: 12AU7 help,,,,

sony6060

06:34:54 05/02/21

RE: 12AU7 help,,,,

sony6060

06:58:56 05/03/21

RE: 12AU7 help,,,,

Valva Actual

14:21:47 06/21/20

RE: 12AU7 help,,,,

samstone

17:35:32 06/05/20

Brimar 13D5

Joe Backer

17:20:13 05/18/20

Raytheon blackplates...

samstone

07:24:03 05/05/20

RE: 12AU7 help,,,,

Merlot_cat

21:53:44 04/29/20

3

Since the Cronus only uses one 12AU7, you should be set for life. /nt\

Opus 33 1/3

03:28:46 04/30/20

2

RE: Since the Cronus only uses one 12AU7, you should be set for life. /nt\

DrN

06:28:10 04/30/20

oops. My bad. Was thinking of my old Jolida. It used a single 12AU7 preamp.

Opus 33 1/3

08:27:01 04/30/20

RE: 12AU7 help,,,,

airtime

14:21:27 04/29/20

2

RE: 12AU7 help,,,,

jedrider

08:43:44 05/01/21

I put a 6SN7 in the center of my VTA-120 and that was way better....

Cougar

18:49:59 06/12/20

RE: 12AU7 help,,,,

Sondek

13:37:13 04/29/20

RE: 12AU7 help,,,,

Story

12:00:26 04/29/20

RE: 12AU7 help,,,,

DrN

09:01:29 04/29/20

Several of my favorites

garymuffley

08:28:57 04/29/20

RE: 12AU7 help,,,,

rogerh113

06:38:11 04/29/20

When I had my Cronus,

Opus 33 1/3

03:53:55 04/29/20

When I had my Cronus,, posted on April 29, 2020 at 03:53:55

Opus 33 1/3
Audiophile

Posts: 4184
Location: D.C. Area
Joined: February 19, 2014

I found the best sounding preamp tube was an RCA clear top 12AU7. Link below.

Opus 33 1/3

RCA Clear Top

RE: 12AU7 help,,,,, posted on April 29, 2020 at 06:38:11

rogerh113
Audiophile

Posts: 508
Location: San Francisco South Bay
Joined: October 20, 2014

Useful to know what you are looking to accomplish, sound wise, by the rolling. Lots of tubes out there, which will give lots of different results. How do you want your amp to change / improve?

You might want to give Joe's Tube Lore a read, and that will give you an idea of the scope of things. I have generally found the information there accurate to my hearing. Plus there are more options, depending on what your system / you 'need'.

Several of my favorites, posted on April 29, 2020 at 08:28:57
garymuffley Dealer Posts: 445 Location: Maryland Joined: March 29, 2006	Listed in order of my personal preference: Psvane, Telefunken, Dutch Amperex, Brimar, RCA cleartop.

RE: 12AU7 help,,,,, posted on April 29, 2020 at 09:01:29

DrN
Audiophile

Posts: 366
Joined: January 31, 2014

This is what I run: RCA black plate 5963 (50's) on the outsides with the rest all Tellies. I have other combinations too.
A good one in the middle is also a Tungsgram ECC82 (12AU7) I have 2 of these NOS Upscale audio (not his prices) if interested. Mullard CV4003 is too warm in the middle. Amperex are good too, pricy. RCA clear 12au7 in middle a bit more forward detailed all depending on system.
Thge MAG 2 is a great amp to change things up and from my experience not hard on the small tubes.

RE: 12AU7 help,,,,, posted on April 29, 2020 at 12:00:26
Story Audiophile Posts: 10458 Location: NJ Joined: December 11, 2000	my fav after many years and tubes is the Tungsram as they never disappointed me in my system. The others mentioned are also very good and I could easily live with them. My Quads and ears seemed to prefer the Tungsram, so YMMV.

RE: 12AU7 help,,,,, posted on April 29, 2020 at 13:37:13
Sondek Audiophile Posts: 9632 Location: Fort Worth Joined: May 17, 2000 Contributor Since: April 5, 2002	No list of 12AU's is complete without mentioning the RFT. Not everyone's cup of tea, but in the right spot with the right supporting cast, it can be a real winner.

RE: 12AU7 help,,,,, posted on April 29, 2020 at 14:21:27
airtime Audiophile Posts: 11287 Location: Arizona Joined: February 4, 2003	I've tried a few in MY!!! amp. So far I like the new TungSol's. Clean, clear, punchy. I treated myself to the Gold Lion 12AU7. A very "full" sounding tube. If you need "heft" then that's the tube. It didn't work out in my situation, but I"m sure in the right amp it would be a winner.

RE: 12AU7 help,,,,, posted on April 29, 2020 at 21:53:44

Merlot_cat
Audiophile

Posts: 1437
Location: Northern Ohio
Joined: August 7, 2002
Contributor
Since: May 27, 2004

Thanks all for your advice!!

After doing some research based on your responses I ordered 3 NOS
RCA Clear Tops with the side "D" getter.

BTW Rogerh113, Joe's Tube Lore was very helpful
The whole problem with the world is that the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.
-Bertrand Russell

Since the Cronus only uses one 12AU7, you should be set for life. /nt\, posted on April 30, 2020 at 03:28:46
Opus 33 1/3 Audiophile Posts: 4184 Location: D.C. Area Joined: February 19, 2014	Opus 33 1/3

RE: Since the Cronus only uses one 12AU7, you should be set for life. /nt\, posted on April 30, 2020 at 06:28:10
DrN Audiophile Posts: 366 Joined: January 31, 2014	There are 3> 12AU7 in there or variants.

oops. My bad. Was thinking of my old Jolida. It used a single 12AU7 preamp., posted on April 30, 2020 at 08:27:01
Opus 33 1/3 Audiophile Posts: 4184 Location: D.C. Area Joined: February 19, 2014	And two 12AT7s for drivers. Opus 33 1/3

Raytheon blackplates..., posted on May 5, 2020 at 07:24:03
samstone Audiophile Posts: 926 Location: midwest inner city Joined: August 11, 2002	There is an asylum member (not me) sellling them for 10 usd each in the "for sale" section. Way recommended!These are equally as good as Bugle Boys or RCA clear tops IMO. Pictured is one I have in my Vincent.

Brimar 13D5, posted on May 18, 2020 at 17:20:13
Joe Backer Audiophile Posts: 1033 Joined: July 10, 2011	I'm using them on both my Lamm Pre and Hagerman Trumpet Phono pre. Sound wise they have killed everything else. I'd say they separate themselves from others in soundstage layering and tactile feeling of fingers on instruments. I can just feel the placements of instruments front to back better than with other 12au7s I've tried including Amperex and Mazdas. Wonderful tubes!

RE: 12AU7 help,,,,, posted on June 5, 2020 at 17:35:32
samstone Audiophile Posts: 926 Location: midwest inner city Joined: August 11, 2002	Don't overlook the Raytheon blackplates The ones branded Baldwin are great too. There is NO better "bang for the buck" that these 12AU7 tubes. Here is one pictured in my Vincent PHO-701. Every bit as equal as the RCA clear top (which is nice too).

I put a 6SN7 in the center of my VTA-120 and that was way better...., posted on June 12, 2020 at 18:49:59
Cougar Audiophile Posts: 4593 Location: SoCal Joined: June 25, 2001	Sounding. Then I tried a 6H8C from upscale audio in the middle, that was the ticket! Haven't looked back. I have Northern Electric 12AU7 on the outer tubes, This was even better. Next I plan to put Northern Electric KT88s in my VTA-120.

RE: 12AU7 help,,,,, posted on June 21, 2020 at 14:21:47

Valva Actual
Audiophile

Posts: 183
Location: PNW, USA
Joined: December 19, 2009

When I got my first tubed preamp, the buzz on the RCA cleartops was not to be ignored. They do give a lively sound in my Cary preamp, but I soon found several tubes with more clarity and a better top end. I don't know your gear, but the 12AU7 that have excelled in my Cary preamp include (This is not a boast, it is more of a confession: I have maybe literally tried every well-regarded 12AU7 or variant in the Cary. An excessive and expensive fixation, but now I know):

Raytheon 5814 blackplate : (!)
RCA 5963 blackplate (old Military boxing)

The old Amperex/Philips family, and Telefunken have also been great, just not up to the two above.

RE: 12AU7 help,,,,, posted on May 1, 2021 at 08:43:44
jedrider Audiophile Posts: 15168 Location: No. California Joined: December 26, 2003	Thanks for recommendation. I'm going to try a pair. That's what I'm looking for, too: Clean, clear and punchy, not syrupy. Already have a bunch of Gold Lion's in preamp and they are very 'creamy'.

RE: 12AU7 help,,,,, posted on May 2, 2021 at 06:34:54
sony6060 Audiophile Posts: 1465 Location: USA Joined: August 8, 2014	Two RCA clear top exist. US made and made in Mexico. The USA made are superior, but rare. 12AU7 is not a great tube. RCA knew it and immediately made a more linear tube one year after the 12Au7 was released. It was called the 5814. Best 12A7s are Brimar 13D5 long plate and CBS/Hytron 5814. Some Brimar 13D5 are labeled Pinnacle.

RE: 12AU7 help,,,,, posted on May 3, 2021 at 06:58:56
sony6060 Audiophile Posts: 1465 Location: USA Joined: August 8, 2014	USA made RCA 12AU7 clear top has straight slits in the top mica and Made in Mexico has crescent shape slits in the top mica.

Tubes Asylum

12AU7 help,,,,

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