AuditoryCanvas
500+ Head-Fier
Still working my way through burning in all the 12at7, 12au7, 7062, 6201, ECC801s, ECC81, E81CCs etc that I recently got in, but results are very impressive so far.
They all have very different character/sound sigs, and overall, I'd say they all have more character than typical 6922 types, with a few exceptions of course.
All of them have a bigger, more spacious soundstage than almost all 6922s and 5670s I have and have tried. I'd say they are very similar to the Ken-Rad 6c8g in terms of soundstage size, but with more character, and a generally warmer sig.
In comparison to 6922 and 5670 types, I'd say they are all relatively warm tubes, with some being much warmer than others. The Siemens ECC801s seem to be the least warm so far, with really extended upper mids and very present vocals as a result (less balanced sig than the E88CC and E188CC). The Sylvania 12au7 (square getter), and Tung-Sol (big D getter) being the warmest - the TS are very warm, but have good upper mid and high extension to balance it out, whereas the Sylvania are very warm in the low mids, and upper lows, and very recessed upper mids and highs.
Favorites so far are Telefunken (1950s angled o getter) ecc81, and Heerlen pinched waist foil d getter 7062 (very tall bottle) - I'm not a huge fan of Heerlen 6922 types, so I wasn't expecting to like these, but they sound relatively balanced with incredible competence in all areas.
I'll post a more thorough summary next month when they've all burned in and I have had time to thoroughly assess them all. Bear in mind the above findings are based on my chain (Schiit mj2, Schiit Yggradrasil, Focal Elear (with Sonarworks Reference 4 applied), silver calbes and interconnects), and my ears.
The prices are relatively better than 6922/5670 types at the moment, with lots of 1950s perfect print, and true NOS readings still being available. I wouldn't say they're 'cheap', but when compared to their 6922 equivalents, there's some real 'bargains' to be had. It doesn't seem like the market for them is as tapped out as the 6922 types yet.
If anyone wants to get adapters and start giving any a try, these ones work for 6922 pinout amps.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2piece-12AX7-ECC83-top-adapter-instead-6N2-6H2N-tube-CONVERTER-ADAPTER/191611239065?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649
It says 6n2p bottom, but that's the same pinout as 6922 etc, so they work fine.
Shop around, and check the sold items on ebay to get a good feel for good prices, it took me a while to get used to prices after spending so long in the 6922/5670 market. Everything seemed like a bargain at first
If you have a Lyr 2, or mj2, be careful of the different variants' heater current. Here's a chart of what I have researched so far in terms of what works and what won't.
These tubes can be run at 12 volts or 6 volts. The heater current listed below is for 6v operation - i.e. Lyr 2 and MJ2 :
YES for Lyr 2 and MJ2:
12AT7/ECC81/E81CC - 300ma
12AU7/ECC82/E82CC - 300ma
12AX7/ECC83/E83CC - 300ma
6201/ECC801s - 300ma
7062/E180CC - 400ma
7025 - 300ma
7728 - 300ma
7729 - 300ma
6681 - 300ma
5751 - 350ma
6211- 300ma
6679 - 300ma
NO for Lyr 2 and MJ2, should be fine in Lyr 1 (lucky fkrs):
12AZ7 - 450ma
12AD7 - 450ma
12AV7 - 450ma
5965 - 450ma
6085/E80CC - 600ma
6965 - 450ma
6414 - 450ma
6829 - 450ma
There are more, I'll update the list when I have time to complete it. Here's a good resource for tube datasheets if you want to find the heater current for other variants not on the list above.
Here's some good info on each tube type, and it's variants:
http://www.audiotubes.com/12at7.htm
http://www.audiotubes.com/12au7.htm
http://www.audiotubes.com/12ax7.htm
They all have very different character/sound sigs, and overall, I'd say they all have more character than typical 6922 types, with a few exceptions of course.
All of them have a bigger, more spacious soundstage than almost all 6922s and 5670s I have and have tried. I'd say they are very similar to the Ken-Rad 6c8g in terms of soundstage size, but with more character, and a generally warmer sig.
In comparison to 6922 and 5670 types, I'd say they are all relatively warm tubes, with some being much warmer than others. The Siemens ECC801s seem to be the least warm so far, with really extended upper mids and very present vocals as a result (less balanced sig than the E88CC and E188CC). The Sylvania 12au7 (square getter), and Tung-Sol (big D getter) being the warmest - the TS are very warm, but have good upper mid and high extension to balance it out, whereas the Sylvania are very warm in the low mids, and upper lows, and very recessed upper mids and highs.
Favorites so far are Telefunken (1950s angled o getter) ecc81, and Heerlen pinched waist foil d getter 7062 (very tall bottle) - I'm not a huge fan of Heerlen 6922 types, so I wasn't expecting to like these, but they sound relatively balanced with incredible competence in all areas.
I'll post a more thorough summary next month when they've all burned in and I have had time to thoroughly assess them all. Bear in mind the above findings are based on my chain (Schiit mj2, Schiit Yggradrasil, Focal Elear (with Sonarworks Reference 4 applied), silver calbes and interconnects), and my ears.
The prices are relatively better than 6922/5670 types at the moment, with lots of 1950s perfect print, and true NOS readings still being available. I wouldn't say they're 'cheap', but when compared to their 6922 equivalents, there's some real 'bargains' to be had. It doesn't seem like the market for them is as tapped out as the 6922 types yet.
If anyone wants to get adapters and start giving any a try, these ones work for 6922 pinout amps.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2piece-12AX7-ECC83-top-adapter-instead-6N2-6H2N-tube-CONVERTER-ADAPTER/191611239065?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649
It says 6n2p bottom, but that's the same pinout as 6922 etc, so they work fine.
Shop around, and check the sold items on ebay to get a good feel for good prices, it took me a while to get used to prices after spending so long in the 6922/5670 market. Everything seemed like a bargain at first
If you have a Lyr 2, or mj2, be careful of the different variants' heater current. Here's a chart of what I have researched so far in terms of what works and what won't.
These tubes can be run at 12 volts or 6 volts. The heater current listed below is for 6v operation - i.e. Lyr 2 and MJ2 :
YES for Lyr 2 and MJ2:
12AT7/ECC81/E81CC - 300ma
12AU7/ECC82/E82CC - 300ma
12AX7/ECC83/E83CC - 300ma
6201/ECC801s - 300ma
7062/E180CC - 400ma
7025 - 300ma
7728 - 300ma
7729 - 300ma
6681 - 300ma
5751 - 350ma
6211- 300ma
6679 - 300ma
NO for Lyr 2 and MJ2, should be fine in Lyr 1 (lucky fkrs):
12AZ7 - 450ma
12AD7 - 450ma
12AV7 - 450ma
5965 - 450ma
6085/E80CC - 600ma
6965 - 450ma
6414 - 450ma
6829 - 450ma
There are more, I'll update the list when I have time to complete it. Here's a good resource for tube datasheets if you want to find the heater current for other variants not on the list above.
Here's some good info on each tube type, and it's variants:
http://www.audiotubes.com/12at7.htm
http://www.audiotubes.com/12au7.htm
http://www.audiotubes.com/12ax7.htm
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