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Best tubes for Earmax Pro? - Page 2

post #16 of 22
11/30/05 at 3:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by edisonwu
Give yourself more time to evaluate a set of tubes.
I have both the Sovtek 12AX7LPS and Electro-Harmonix 12AT7-G. The Electro-Harmonix 12AT7-G is softer, more detailed, sweeter, and more transparent than the Sovtek. Although Sovtek is faster, thicker, energic and has a bumping bass, it loss a musical and natural sounding.
Faster amd more energetic, yes, but by no means thicker and bassier, quite the opposite -- I'm talking of my Sovtek tube, which sounds leaner and more transparent than the EH 12AT7. How old is your EH 12AT7? Of course I ask myself if it will become more transparent and clearer again with burn-in, but that would contradict my experience -- usually tubes become smoother (and unfortunately often duller) with time. Yes, the EH is sweeter, but that's not what I want.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nik
I have sold my EarMax AE amps and all my tubes so... I cannot replay, but I know you are a very expert man in tubes evaluation!
No, I'm not, that's too much honor. But you're not serious anyway, are you?
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post #17 of 22
11/30/05 at 4:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JaZZ
No, I'm not, that's too much honor. But you're not serious anyway, are you?
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It indeed looks like Nik currently uses an Aural Audition as his amp, not an Earmax. I always follow the EMP threads closely, as my Melos uses the same type of tubes. Good stuff folks!
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post #18 of 22
11/30/05 at 4:20pm
Ut infra (see below). I use Philips (end of production from the factory in Heerlen - machines sold to EI, I believe) ECC81 & E88CC (SQ). Much richer and balanced compared to SOVTEK or SVETLANA.

I also like the cheap EI valves.

Nietzsche
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post #19 of 22
12/1/05 at 4:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JaZZ
Faster amd more energetic, yes, but by no means thicker and bassier, quite the opposite -- I'm talking of my Sovtek tube, which sounds leaner and more transparent than the EH 12AT7. How old is your EH 12AT7? Of course I ask myself if it will become more transparent and clearer again with burn-in, but that would contradict my experience -- usually tubes become smoother (and unfortunately often duller) with time. Yes, the EH is sweeter, but that's not what I want.
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No, I'm not, that's too much honor. But you're not serious anyway, are you?
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I'm using the Aural Audition as my amp for the L3000. I realy think that you are a very good man for tubes evaluation.

Best!
Nicola
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post #20 of 22
12/10/05 at 8:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JaZZ
In case the EH 12AT7 returns to its initial performance, I'll post an update here.
Something like that has happened indeed. Astonishingly the Electro-Harmonix 12AT7 has become the brightest, most detailed center tube I own. There's so much detail that it can sound a little sharp and border on fatiguingness. The bass is very controlled and well textured, like the whole frequency spectrum, but also quite lean. With the result that I nevertheless still prefer the Sovtek 12AX7 in the center position, which has more body in the bass and sounds more substantial with mids and highs, also a bit more natural. (This is after ~30 hours.)
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post #21 of 22
12/11/05 at 4:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JaZZ
Something like that has happened indeed. Astonishingly the Electro-Harmonix 12AT7 has become the brightest, most detailed center tube I own. There's so much detail that it can sound a little sharp and border on fatiguingness. The bass is very controlled and well textured, like the whole frequency spectrum, but also quite lean. With the result that I nevertheless still prefer the Sovtek 12AX7 in the center position, which has more body in the bass and sounds more substantial with mids and highs, also a bit more natural. (This is after ~30 hours.)
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I agree with you the tonal characters that you described on both the EH 12AT7-G and Sovtek 12AX7. As my signature shows I perfer EH 12AT7 for the center tube with two TFK E88CC on EMP. Overall sound is airy, soft, and musical. I will received some Mullards 12AT7 and TFK EEE81 some time next week. They may beat the EH 12AT7(?). The best driver tube I have tried so far is TFK ECC801s.

EMP needs good tubes more than EMP AE needs, as people rolling the worst tubes on EMP AE, it still sounds very good. Cables also affect the judgement. If there are three Sovtek's sitting, I will use Air 1 cable. However, Actually, I found Nordost Red Dawn is more matching with my EMP with those tubes(EH and TFK), although Red Dawn is less expensive than Air 1.

The strongest tube set on EMP should be Telefunken ECC801s(ECC803s) + Telefunken CCa, IMO. But they are pricy and hard to find.
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post #22 of 22
12/22/12 at 9:52pm

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