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RE: Which current production 12AX7 ...

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In Reply to: RE: Which current production 12AX7 ... posted by greg7 on March 24, 2014 at 19:55:35

If you want NOS sound why don't you just buy NOS?
Can anyone here honestly say the Sovtec LPS can even compare to an RCA or Raytheon blackplate tube from 1960? I'm not saying the LPS is bad, I have them and even use them in my amp every now and then. But when they come out and something like the RCA goes in the difference is not subtle. NOS has warmth and bloom (musicality?) in the midband that current tubes like the LPS or EH just don't have. I have not tried the super-duper Chinese tubes, why bother as they cost as much as good NOS?
NOS 12ax7 tubes are still readily available and reasonably priced. They last for thousands of hours in most properly designed circuits. Used old stock 12ax7 are even more abundant and cheaper yet.
Take advantage while prices are still reasonable and supplies still good. Down the road things will get more scarce and costly, and new production may become the only game in town.

Follow Ups:

Sovtek 12AX7 LPS v. NOS - bjh 11:02:24 03/25/14 (0)
You should think of the Sovtek LPS as a specialist tube reserved for low noise requirement usage. E.g. in my Aesthetix Rhea phono stage they are used in the initial gain positions; it supports LOMC with tubes - no stepup transformer. There are also reissue Mullard in the circuit [and GL 6922 for that matter] selected for sound character.

Anyway if you are going to single out the LPS for comparison with NOS then your observation make sense, otherwise ...

Never trust an Atom, they Make Up everything!
RE: Which current production 12AX7 ... - SETdude 07:58:00 03/25/14 (0)
Mendel,

This is 2014 and there are some new production 12AX7's that are very good but sonics are circuit and system dependent.

I have and like Tung-Sol, Gold Lion, Groove Tube 12AX7-M (these are being produced again) and Psvane. The premium Chinese small signal tubes are very good. Also, there seems to be ongoing improvement in these tubes over the years. I have NOS too but am happy to know that the world of tubes has not stopped moving forward.

My 2 cents.

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