stupidmop
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2012
- Posts
- 129
- Likes
- 11
Cool. Sounds like the crack is all I need. If I didn't have it the ember would be hard to pass up. Jeremy and Frans are onto something here
Well I found a new flavor-of-the-month tube this week I haven't tried before. It's a Mullard 12AT7/ECC81 which, correct me if I'm wrong, is a lower output than the 12ax7. This one seems to have a great balance between clarity,body and depth whereas in my experience a tube usually gives up one of those qualities for another one.
I found some helpful reading about 12BH7A tubes.
http://oldstockaudio.blogspot.se/2010/05/12bh7-listening-test.html
...I can only compare GE grayplates and RCA blackplates and they're similar. The RCAs have a SOLID low end and buttery mids. Highs are dead neutral. Really nice soundstage. The GEs have a little more air to em. What I notice most switching from a 12au7 to these is the body and smoothness these tall bottles add. I also don't own an ember, this is on my sunrise II.
Lol, I consider my self to be very lucky that I can try a crap load of tubes without spending a dime. I have spent around $35ish in tubes (philips 12AT7 pair for $15 off ebay, and bugle boy 6DJ8 for $20). Even with all tubes I have access to, my Philips tube rarely leaves my amp. It just seems to compliment the AD's to well. It increases everything its good at, and decreases its treble harshness.
Yes the 12AT7 has a lower gain, but its not nearly as low as something like a 12AU7. My dad knows the numbers, but I know that the 12AT7 gain was decently close to the 12AX7.
Anyways I am not a huge fan of the Mullards. I think it was the treble that I disliked on those, and it was an overall darkish sounding tube compared to others. Granted it really depends on if the sound sig is a good match for the headphones you are using.
In your original post you list your favorites:
My Tube Rankings (from best to worst):
Amperex Bugle Boy 12AX7
Telefunken 12AT7
...
Where does the Philips you speak of in the quote fit in your rankings>
Yeah I listen to a lot of acoustic stuff, classical jazz and whatever else. The Daft Punk album is great and I do like the Sylvania or GE 5751 for electronic music.
Btw if you have a bugle boy 6dj8, does it sound pretty much the same as the 12AX7 ? The bugle boy I have sounds kind of fuzzy compared to my other tubes. maybe it's just past its prime...
I have a 6dj8 Buble Boy also and it definatly is not fuzzy. Clear as a bell and a little more detail than my other 6dj8's
The 12AT7 is the tube rollers secret gem. Brent Jesse says there are no bad ones foreign or domestic. I have to say I am using a GE 12AT7 in a Bellari SET HP amp and it blows away anything else. Haven't tried one in my Ember as I am enjoying my RCA 12BH7. I believe the 12AT7 is 60% gain of a 12AX7 the 12AU7 is 20% gain ???