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In Reply to: RE: Any Current Production 12xx7 Tubes Worth Buying Yet? posted by jaydacus on March 27, 2017 at 10:42:52
Ahoy!
Well, without more information about your equipment, it's a little tough to tell.
On the one hand, I agree. In a lot of applications, there's nothing like NOS to restore your equipment's performance. The tubes follow the specs to which they were made, and the gear reacts accordingly.
On the other hand, my research indicates that many NP (new production) tubes often fall outside spec right out of the factory, which is passed onto the distributors. While the tubes may work in a given circuit, further measurements and testing reveal some interesting (if not jarring) results. A lot of newer tubes simply don't adhere to the datasheet's indicated plate resistance, gain, transconductance, etc. And we're not talking a +/- 3% margin of error. No, we're talking 10-20%, if not more.
I'm having a little trouble at the moment to find the data I'm talking about. I've buried the link in more than one AA post, though.
My theory is that some tubes sound off as a result of operating points, rather than the often-highlighted "magic sound" NOS tubes have. I've had some NOS tubes that sound "meh" and I have had NP tubes that put into question the crazy prices some pay for tubes. Examples include the TJ Full Music 12AX7, the Sovtek 12AX7LPS (a tested and well-selected one), the Penta KT88SC (also known as the Preferred Series KT88), and the Gold Lion KT77. The TJ Full Music 12AX7's clock in at $60 to the pair - they ain't cheap, but they are serious contenders. They have a warmth and character I would have associated with old British valves, but with a delicate "modern" flavour to them. They're really something.
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May your tubes be lively, warm, and long-lasting. Holy be thy heater.
Follow Ups:
Hi TubeAcolyte. Per your mention of new production tubes falling outside spec right out of the factory. I have related details from 2 well-known tube sellers. Likely I have more details, but like you, I have buried where I filed that information.1) From one well-known tube dealer:
New production tubes can range dramatically. I get new production power tubes of a certain brand and type that ranges from 35% to 180% of expected value. I've had to learn from experience which portion of that range the tubes I want lie in. But the Maximatcher which is the industry standard tester for power tubes accepts them all as good tubes. And in most circuits, they will bias up just fine and work well. The life (in hours) of the tube is based on the number of electrons available in the cathode coating, not the measured strength of the tube on a tester. If biased the same the 35% and 180% tubes should last about the same amount of time. That is an extreme example, but the point remains.Brand new high grade 12AU7's from a reputable source regularly run in the high 60% to mid 70% range for mA and Gm.
So, no, new does not mean extremely close to 100% value. That is the target, not the actuality. Sorting tubes to be very close to 100% will leave you with not so many tubes.
2) This is a Jim MCShane quote likely sourced from one of his Asylum thread entries:
I think even more relevant is the fact that even brand new tubes test over a wide range of parameters. I have new 12AX7s that test 25-30% apart, that's very normal. And the tube that tests higher is not "better", just different.
Jim MCShane
Edits: 03/27/17 03/27/17 03/27/17 03/27/17
"I get new production power tubes of a certain brand and type that ranges from 35% to 180% of expected value."
EEP! D:
I know it could be a little off, but that's substantial! I guess it explains all these "high-current" off batches some suppliers have. You can get them cheaper than the average, but you need the bias supply to squeeze down that current.
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May your tubes be lively, warm, and long-lasting. Holy be thy heater.
That is not unusual even on old stock tubes. For example I have tested probably near 1000 NOS GE 6550As - a very fine tube - and cathode current varied by as much as 110%. Others would vary a bit more.
That variance is not a big deal at all - and it is NOT unique to current production tubes .
If you like variance look at modern solid state devices. By comparison tubes are close!!
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