Avoid The Mullard 6201

Posted by Luminator (A) on July 22, 2002 at 10:05:12

In Reply to: Question.... posted by Cut-Throat on July 22, 2002 at 06:30:11:

Pro: quiet, abundant, not microphonic
Con: terrible sonics

This tube sounds warm, opaque, dull, slow, and uninvolving. It has THE WORST reproduction of drums I have ever heard. If you bump your elbow on an oatmeal container, that's how the Mullard GP 6201 does drums.

The Mullard GP 6201 works where you need a quiet 12AT7 that can take abuse. I gave mine to my guitar-playing co-workers, who use these in guitar amps. They like this tube. According to one guy, if your Fender has too much bite, too much of a cold, cutting sound, the Mullard 6201 will give you swirling warmth.

The Sylvania Gold Brand 6201 is mightly excellent, much closer to neutral than many others out there. It has sharp, smallish images, which isn't exactly to everyone's tastes, and the overall sound can be small and "whitish." For larger images, and a softer but more full-bodied top end, go with black plate RCAs. For an average, across-the-board performer, find some Tung-Sols.

The ultimate 12AT7 is the Telefunken ECC801S. IF you want to know what a top-notch interconnect sounds like, but don't have $2000 for a 1-meter pair, I suggest you instead put Telefunken ECC801Ses in your preamp or amp. These go for about $135 each, which, while expensive for a tube, is much cheaper than equivalent performance from interconnects, anti-vibration devices, PLCs, et. al.

Be warned, however, that using neutral devices really only works in top-notch systems. In low nad mid-level systems, using a neutral tube like the Telefunken ECC801S only shows how mediocre your equipment is. Many audiophiles erroneously blame the neutral product, when, in reality, they should be blaming the poor-quality components.

-Lummy The Seahorse

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Are Mullard CV4024 and M8162 the same? - Don 07:32:42 07/21/02 (13)

Most M8162 are B.S. - Kevin Deal 05:41:51 07/22/02 (8)

Question.... - Cut-Throat 06:30:11 07/22/02 (7)

Re: Question.... - Willie The Squid 23:34:37 07/23/02 (0)

Re: Question.... - steven oda 13:23:21 07/22/02 (0)

Avoid The Mullard 6201 - Luminator 10:05:12 07/22/02 (4)

Re: Avoid The Sylvania GB 6201 - Aldovan 09:15:12 07/23/02 (0)

Mullard 6201 one of the best ever - Kevin Deal 19:47:31 07/22/02 (1)

Brand Name, I Guess - Luminator 21:02:27 07/22/02 (0)

Re: Avoid The Mullard 6201 - steven oda 13:12:25 07/22/02 (0)

Re: Are Mullard CV4024 and M8162 the same? - TY 01:43:43 07/22/02 (2)

Question for you Tim...... - Cut-Throat 06:06:21 07/22/02 (1)

Mullard ECC801S - TY 08:48:41 07/22/02 (0)

Re: Are Mullard CV4024 and M8162 the same? - Cut-Throat 10:08:33 07/21/02 (0)

Follow Ups

Avoid The Mullard 6201 - Luminator 10:05:12 07/22/02 (4)

Re: Avoid The Sylvania GB 6201 - Aldovan 09:15:12 07/23/02 (0)

Mullard 6201 one of the best ever - Kevin Deal 19:47:31 07/22/02 (1)

Brand Name, I Guess - Luminator 21:02:27 07/22/02 (0)

Re: Avoid The Mullard 6201 - steven oda 13:12:25 07/22/02 (0)

You can not post to an archived thread.