Best New Production Tubes for Amps...

[Gradofan2]

What are the best new production 12AX7 tubes for amps, or DACs?

I'm looking for "value" priced tubes with great sound.

NOS are nice, but they're prices are "out-of-sight," and I'm not convinced they're that much better than new production (i.e. that their lofty prices mean that sound proportionately better).

I understand the Tung Sol's are great, or perhaps the JJ/Tesla's.

 

[cotdt]

NOS tubes are actually cheaper. Try getting a GE 5751, a nice replacement for the 12A_7.

 

[Gradofan2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cotdt /img/forum/go_quote.gif NOS tubes are actually cheaper. Try getting a GE 5751, a nice replacement for the 12A_7.

I must be going to the wrong sites.

Most new production tubes I've seen are $10 to $20. I've yet to see any "good" NOS tubes for those prices - more like 2 to 10 times those prices.

The 5751's have only 70% of the gain of the 12AX7's... although I suppose less noise. But, I'm not sure noise is a factor in a good 12AX7.

 

[nikongod]

do you *need* all of the gain the 12ax7 has to offer? it is worth a few bucks to test-swap a 12av7, or whatever in its place. it opens up MANY doors if it works for you.

 

[cotdt]

all the 12AX7s I've used happened to be noisy, so I've abandoned them. the 5751 is much more quiet.

NOS tubes tend to run about $8 each if you know where to look. When it comes to the 12A*7 variants NOS sounds better than current production tubes, and cheaper.

 

[d-cee]

depends on the tube

there are some very expensive 12AX7 variants when NOS. some that come to mind are the Telefunken ECC803S ($1000 a NOS pair anyone?) and not as pricy but still moreso than regular 12AX7s are the Sylvania Gold Brand 5751s (look at about $150 a pair)

 

[finbad]

Quote:

Originally Posted by d-cee /img/forum/go_quote.gif depends on the tube there are some very expensive 12AX7 variants when NOS. some that come to mind are the Telefunken ECC803S ($1000 a NOS pair anyone?) and not as pricy but still moreso than regular 12AX7s are the Sylvania Gold Brand 5751s (look at about $150 a pair)

Exactly. I do know of one member here who has had Sylvania Gold Brand 5751s and swaped and sold them for current production tubes. I meant to follow up PM him, (he and I chat on the subject), in the thread when I asked he jokingly replied he wanted to keep it quiet. He has recommended the 9th gen Shuguang factory Chineese tubes to me before...And I have a pair of those in 12AU7s(EDIT: for my Foreplay preamp) and they have proved to be a very balanced inexpensive tube. You also could do a search over on Audioasylum tube subforum, for lots of discussion and recommendations and the Chineese 9th gens are also discussed, as well as to answer your question with other NS options in detail.

Good luck & have fun~

 

[d-cee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hi-Finthen /img/forum/go_quote.gif Exactly. I do know of one member here who has had Sylvania Gold Brand 5751s and swaped and sold them for current production tubes. I meant to follow up PM him, (he and I chat on the subject), in the thread when I asked he jokingly replied he wanted to keep it quiet. He has recommended the 9th gen Shuguang factory Chineese tubes to me before...And I have a pair of those in 12AU7s and they have proved to be a very balanced inexpensive tube. You also could do a search over on Audioasylum tube subforum, for lots of discussion and recommendations and the Chineese 9th gens are also discussed, as well as to answer your question with other NS options in detail. Good luck & have fun~

interesting, where would one buy such tubes?

i scored a pair of NOS gold brand 5751s for relatively cheaply, considering their worth, but wouldn't mind trying cheap new stock. love the 5751s though, warmest and most involving tube i've heard. turns the DT880s into something else completely

 

[finbad]

Quote:

Originally Posted by d-cee /img/forum/go_quote.gif interesting, where would one buy such tubes? i scored a pair of NOS gold brand 5751s for relatively cheaply, considering their worth, but wouldn't mind trying cheap new stock. love the 5751s though, warmest and most involving tube i've heard. turns the DT880s into something else completely

Hey DC,
The nice thing about NewStock is we don't have to have fears / risk of getting a bad tube or mislabled marked up tubes, so I would feel much safer dealing thru ebay for them. Also retail online there is "the tube store" check "tube depot" I've had good dealings with both, being in OZ I'm not sure about shipping though?

To me the nice thing going retail for these is combined shipping for an assortment, especially for my different phones with only one 5751 in V1 to swap....

Good luck~

BTW the Chineese 12AX7c is the proper designation of that tube I was refering to although not sure how it would compare to the wamth of what you use especially with our application, high resolution headphones and in your particular amp unfortunatly it really is trial / error endeavor isn't it?
Further reading here:
http://www.google.com/search?client=...utf-8&oe=utf-8

P.S. The NOS gold brand 5751 ....Any leads to P.M. me with

 

[PFKMan23]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cotdt /img/forum/go_quote.gif all the 12AX7s I've used happened to be noisy, so I've abandoned them. the 5751 is much more quiet. NOS tubes tend to run about $8 each if you know where to look. When it comes to the 12A*7 variants NOS sounds better than current production tubes, and cheaper.

Keep in mind the amplification factor of the 12ax7 is 100 vs. the 5751 which is 70.

 

[d-cee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hi-Finthen /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hey DC, The nice thing about NewStock is we don't have to have fears / risk of getting a bad tube or mislabled marked up tubes, so I would feel much safer dealing thru ebay for them. Also retail online there is "the tube store" check "tube depot" I've had good dealings with both, being in OZ I'm not sure about shipping though? To me the nice thing going retail for these is combined shipping for an assortment, especially for my different phones with only one 5751 in V1 to swap.... Good luck~ BTW the Chineese 12AX7c is the proper designation of that tube I was refering to although not sure how it would compare to the wamth of what you use especially with our application, high resolution headphones and in your particular amp unfortunatly it really is trial / error endeavor isn't it? Further reading here: http://www.google.com/search?client=...utf-8&oe=utf-8 P.S. The NOS gold brand 5751 ....Any leads to P.M. me with

cheers mate

found some on ebay for $6 so ordered a couple, they also specifically mentioned in the listing that they were made using the 9th generation tooling

i'll see how they fare when they get here

 

[Gradofan2]

Thanks for all your help... The Audio Asylum reference was very helpful.

Does anyone know why these tubes don't work in California Audio Labs equipment???

http://www.tubestore.com/12ax7.html

 

[pftrvlr]

Bought a pair from EBay too. Going to compare the 12AX7C9 with the 12AX7B.

 

[jamato8]

I have found the 5751 Sylvania Gold Brand to be very good. The black plate, which I have found to be less common are also more noisy, in my experience and I prefer the sound of the grey plate. The Telefunken smooth plate has a sound all unto itself and the Mullard long plate is very nice. The difference between the gain of 100 or 70 has never been noticable to me, it is just too small.

 

[Autochthon]

When I looked in to this a few months back for an old tube amp many individuals on tube sites mentioned the Sovtek 12ax7 lps as sounding similar to Mullard's. But this was for a speaker output not for a headphone amp. They run $10 - $12.