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Two at the "opposite" ends of the spectrum

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In Reply to: Which tubes (12AT7) for exploration in a Manley Stingray? posted by haziz on August 17, 2004 at 19:01:32:

Hany,
I've tried quite a number of 12AT7s- in 5 pieces of tube equipment I use a total of 7 of the type, so I need a variety to suit the gear.
I don't know the Manley amplifier, but my thought for your experiments would be to try two models that, to me, are very noticably different- and also plentiful and not too expensive. The first is the GE Five Star 6201 which is a fast, punchy, almost percussive 12AT7 that also sell for $10-15 as tested NOS. Very good bass on these. The second would be the Sylvania 12AT7WA, the late 50's triple mica version. These are lush, deep, and round- very different from the GE- wonderful vocal tube and smooth, liquid sound. I bought some recently also for about $12 each NOS.
With these two as a kind of two ends of a spectrum, you could get a range. Most tubes will fall in between these and the differences may be very subtle, so you can see if you want a kind of vintage, lush sound or a more modern "quick" sound.
My all-round favourite 12AT7s are Siemens and the regular ECC81 and the premium E81CC triple mica are fantastic- very refined and great resolution and these work in modern and vintage well. I do use the Sylvanias in my microphone preamp as a kind of effect tube.
Happy hunting!
Cheers,
Bambi B

Follow Ups:

Can you comment also on au and ax? (nt) - peasoup 19:29:53 08/18/04 (2)
nt
- Re: Can you comment also on au and ax? (nt) - Bambi B 08:06:33 08/19/04 (1)
  peasoup,
  The 12AX7 is a big question. Here are the ones I've tried- not in any particular order:
  Siemens E83CC- 3 mica- Germany- NOS
  Amperex Bugle Boy ECC83- NOS
  Valvo/ Philips Holland- dimpled disk- NOS
  Valvo/ Philips 1-Mullard, 2-Holland - NOS
  Amperex- Globe- Holland- NOS
  Amperex -Globe- Mullard- NOS
  Sylvania 5751 3-mica, square getter, gold print, steel pins- NOS
  RCA 5751 black plate 2 mica-NOS
  Sylvania/Baldwin- sq gtr- NOS
  Sylvania/Baldwin-- microphonic- NOS
  Tesla ECC803S- frame grid- GP- NEW
  Dumont USA- 7025 - NOS
  RCA 12AX7A -NOS
  Telefunken-Dynaco- SPlate-USED
  Sovtek 12AX7LPS- NEW
  RCA- 12AX7A- late by RFT- NOS
  Sylvania JAN 12AX7 -NOS
  Sylvania- 12AX7A- China- NOS
  Valvo / Siemens E83CC- NOS
  So much depends on the equipment the AX is going into. For my modern stuff- Audio Research SP8, I like Siemens ECC83 and the (earlier) E83CC is amazing though some might find it "untubelike" it has a depth and presence that I like very much. The ordinary ECC83 is to me a very under-noticed tube. Certainly the Amperex Bugle Boy is wonderful too- smooth and well balanced. I should mention the other Philips, Heerlen tubes like the "Orange Globe" are indistiguishable to me in construction from the late 60's BBs and I don't think the difference in sound warrants the amazing premium for Bugle Boys- though I've not used the 50's BB. I have a couple of these that are Mullard, Blackbutn made and these appear to be identical to the Dutch ones. The Sylvania 5751's with triple mica and square getter are interesting too but will not work everywhere- not a good choice for Audio Research for example, but incredible in my microphone preamp. So, my all-round preferences are Siemens E83CC, Siemens ECC83, and Philips/Amperex/Valvo from the Herrlen plant. The older Telsa gold pin ECC803S will go in some places where I have Telefunkens in the vintage gear- very interesting sound. In current production, I've only tried the Sovtek LPS and though I didn't give them a full chance to develop, I could tell these are excellent. When my Fisher 800's 8-1965 Telefunkens give out- if ever- I plan to use a couple of Telsa ECC803S and the rest Sovtek LPS.
  12AU7s: My stuff uses only 3 of these in 1964 McIntosh -as opposed to 29-12AX7s and 7- 12AT7s and I haven't played with the type as much as the AX and AT. I have:
  Philips SQ/ Siemens 5814A -3 mica- NOS
  Brimar cleartop- NOS
  Sylvania JHS 12AU7WA- 6189- NOS 66
  HP/ Amperex-- NOS
  HP/ RCA- cleartop- NOS
  RCA- 5814A- black plate 2 mica- NOS
  RCA/ Textronix 2-matched prs cleartop NOS
  Valvo/ Philips ECC82- dimp disc-Holland -NOS
  Valvo/ Siemens E82CC- NOS
  CBS 5814A- JHS blk plate- stirrup gtr- NOS 1956
  I would have to say the Siemens triple mica 5814A is a great all-rounder- and is wonderful to liven up the softness of my old McIntosh. The RCA "cleartop" is another lively one fro the old stuff. The 1956 CBS with their strange stepped stirrup getter are for my Scott 330 tuner and should be a nice one. The odd ones here are the Brimar side getters and I have still never tried these. I also have only seen these for sale twice- once 4 years ago when I bought mine and on a Ebay Germany auction just last week!
  Sorry to ramble on- I hope this is a help!
  Cheers,
  Bambi B
  - thanks (nt) - peasoup 17:38:44 08/19/04 (0)
    nt
excellent response - Corbu 10:21:35 08/18/04 (0)
this is a very informative and well written reply. Good job.

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